Icekat
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Icekat
Unique bottle is the only thing worth mentioning about this scent
I love sweet fruity scents, so I tried to give this fragrance a chance. I really tried. Lola got so much publicity going for it with its unusual bottle and a promise to vow me with its youthful and fun composition. Unfortunately this scent is worse than many celebrity scents I have tried.
The composition starts with citrus and awfully synthetic pear. The overall effect is unpleasant and frankly I had an urge to scrub it off. There is a bit of improvement as the scent settles on my skin into a sweet non-distinctive rose composition. The scent has formidable strength and tenacity to remain on my skin even after I washed it off, so both, sillage and longevity are nice.
The best part of this perfume is the bottle. It is certainly unusual and unique. When I saw it in person for the first time, I did not know what to make of it. It really walks the fine line between being unique, fun and whimsical, or cheap and tacky. After much debate, I think, somehow, it does manage to remain in artsy rather than trashy category. So I will give credit to Marc Jacobs for its unusual path with the bottle creation.
There are many nicer fruit floral scents on the market, so if you are looking for a fun girly scent I would recommend looking elsewhere. Overall score 5/10.
The composition starts with citrus and awfully synthetic pear. The overall effect is unpleasant and frankly I had an urge to scrub it off. There is a bit of improvement as the scent settles on my skin into a sweet non-distinctive rose composition. The scent has formidable strength and tenacity to remain on my skin even after I washed it off, so both, sillage and longevity are nice.
The best part of this perfume is the bottle. It is certainly unusual and unique. When I saw it in person for the first time, I did not know what to make of it. It really walks the fine line between being unique, fun and whimsical, or cheap and tacky. After much debate, I think, somehow, it does manage to remain in artsy rather than trashy category. So I will give credit to Marc Jacobs for its unusual path with the bottle creation.
There are many nicer fruit floral scents on the market, so if you are looking for a fun girly scent I would recommend looking elsewhere. Overall score 5/10.
1967 - Summer of Love, Psychedelic Music and Miss Balmain
1967… The new, rebellious age of liberation meets the sophisticated, well-dressed glamour of early 60th. The wind of new changes sweeps through all layers of society. The psychedelic, experimental music of the Beatles, the Doors, Pink Floyd and others take the pop-culture to the places where it has never been before. The fashion, style and of course perfumery is caught in this whirlwind of changes and that’s when Pierre Balmain releases Miss Balmain.
Recently I have become a huge fan of Mad Men show, which has its 5th season set in spring of 1967. And as soon as I tried Miss Balmain, I thought that’s what the new Mrs. Draper (portrayed by beautiful Jessica Paré) would wear. A bit rebellious but classy and sophisticated, just like Megan herself who managed to catch an eye of a man like Don Draper.
The scent captures the 1967 era perfectly, but yet it never goes out of style with its beautiful, complex and sophisticated composition. I was impressed by it from the first sniff. The beginning is very chic layer of aldehydes and green galbanum notes with this gorgeous leather scent. Just simply beautiful. The scent has long development arc as it gracefully transitions into the floral bouquet of lily of the valley, jasmine and ylang-ylang well balanced by the woods and leather. Nothing is out of place. I love that the floral bouquet is not overpowering or stinky, which could happen with jasmine, but rather soft and sophisticated mixed with creamy notes of rosewood and sandalwood. The scent becomes even more leathery as it develops towards the dry down, but in the same time, it remains feminine and alluring. The sillage and longevity are both great.
There are scents from the by-gone era that I like to try to travel in time and experience the past, but I would not consider wearing outside of my living room. But not with this one. I love wearing it. It is one of the best leather scents I have ever tried. Overall score 9.5/10
Recently I have become a huge fan of Mad Men show, which has its 5th season set in spring of 1967. And as soon as I tried Miss Balmain, I thought that’s what the new Mrs. Draper (portrayed by beautiful Jessica Paré) would wear. A bit rebellious but classy and sophisticated, just like Megan herself who managed to catch an eye of a man like Don Draper.
The scent captures the 1967 era perfectly, but yet it never goes out of style with its beautiful, complex and sophisticated composition. I was impressed by it from the first sniff. The beginning is very chic layer of aldehydes and green galbanum notes with this gorgeous leather scent. Just simply beautiful. The scent has long development arc as it gracefully transitions into the floral bouquet of lily of the valley, jasmine and ylang-ylang well balanced by the woods and leather. Nothing is out of place. I love that the floral bouquet is not overpowering or stinky, which could happen with jasmine, but rather soft and sophisticated mixed with creamy notes of rosewood and sandalwood. The scent becomes even more leathery as it develops towards the dry down, but in the same time, it remains feminine and alluring. The sillage and longevity are both great.
There are scents from the by-gone era that I like to try to travel in time and experience the past, but I would not consider wearing outside of my living room. But not with this one. I love wearing it. It is one of the best leather scents I have ever tried. Overall score 9.5/10
Violets and Osmanthus Sprinkled with Pepper
Unisex, unusual and abstract, Ultraviolet is a cool, green, peppery blend of osmanthus and violets. The pepper is hit and miss for me in perfumes, but in this composition it is played well with other notes. Interesting combination indeed. It has cool and relaxing vibe which makes it a great perfume for spring and summer time.
The pepper is a bit overpowering at first, but then the composition settles into a nicely balanced scent of osmanthus with slight hint of violets. I am not seeing violets as listed note on this site, but I definitely smell it here. Not usual sweet-natured, predominant violets, but more like a soft violet layer underneath the osmanthus cover. The composition remains light and refreshing. There are woody notes towards the dry down, which make this scent softer and smoother with slight natural sweetness.
Overall this is a nice composition, but I do not think that it is a blind buy material. I would definitely test it first. A note for violet lovers – not my favorite one for violets. There are much better violet scents that showcase the natural beauty of this flower. But if you are looking for a light and unusual spring scent and enjoy spicy-green-floral scents then give it a try. Overall score 7/10.
The pepper is a bit overpowering at first, but then the composition settles into a nicely balanced scent of osmanthus with slight hint of violets. I am not seeing violets as listed note on this site, but I definitely smell it here. Not usual sweet-natured, predominant violets, but more like a soft violet layer underneath the osmanthus cover. The composition remains light and refreshing. There are woody notes towards the dry down, which make this scent softer and smoother with slight natural sweetness.
Overall this is a nice composition, but I do not think that it is a blind buy material. I would definitely test it first. A note for violet lovers – not my favorite one for violets. There are much better violet scents that showcase the natural beauty of this flower. But if you are looking for a light and unusual spring scent and enjoy spicy-green-floral scents then give it a try. Overall score 7/10.
Subtle Elegance of Violet Leaf and Leather
A graceful rider on a white horse is dashing through the morning mist on a beautiful spring day. The calm serenity of green scenery is surrounding her while the birds are greeting the arrival of the first light. The dawn is breaking, softly unveiling the mystery of a new day. The air is filled with a scent of fresh leaves, mist and a gentle scent of leather. This beautiful moment is captured perfectly in the soft, elegant and fresh scent of Balenciaga L’Essence.
The composition is centered on the violet leaf with its gentle green and fresh beauty. It is so soft and calm, cool and refreshing. I love how the composition creates this aura of freshness without going into the laundry or straight-out-of-shower scent category. It is clean but also very sophisticated. As the composition develops, there is a gentle leather scent that is layered on the green notes. The floral presence is only slightly powdery and never overpowering. All notes are perfectly woven together creating this absolutely gorgeous and elegant scent. The scent is not too strong, but it certainly is noticeable and lasts for hours.
This is a great everyday scent. Sophisticated yet subtle and easy to wear. I love this scent and would not hesitate to recommend it. Overall score 8.5/10
The composition is centered on the violet leaf with its gentle green and fresh beauty. It is so soft and calm, cool and refreshing. I love how the composition creates this aura of freshness without going into the laundry or straight-out-of-shower scent category. It is clean but also very sophisticated. As the composition develops, there is a gentle leather scent that is layered on the green notes. The floral presence is only slightly powdery and never overpowering. All notes are perfectly woven together creating this absolutely gorgeous and elegant scent. The scent is not too strong, but it certainly is noticeable and lasts for hours.
This is a great everyday scent. Sophisticated yet subtle and easy to wear. I love this scent and would not hesitate to recommend it. Overall score 8.5/10
Tomato and Roses – A match NOT made in heaven
I am always interested in new and unusual scents especially when it comes to my favorite queen of the flowers, the rose. In Rose Poivree, the rose is mixed with the vegetable cocktail and sprinkled with spices. Unfortunately, this is not a match made in heaven. The combination is awkward and unpleasant.
The scent opens with a gentle scent of a rose mixed with strong vegetable, and, in particular, tomato juices. The spices are a central part of this scent – pepper, coriander, and I also smell cumin with its distinct strong savory side. The quality of the scent is nice. The scent smells natural and gentle. And if smelled vegetable side of this scent on its own, I would probably like it. But this cumin – rose – tomato combo is just not something that mix well together.
I wore my sample multiple times trying to acquire a taste for this composition. But definitely not my thing. I’ll give it 6/10 – mostly for the unique and original composition…
The scent opens with a gentle scent of a rose mixed with strong vegetable, and, in particular, tomato juices. The spices are a central part of this scent – pepper, coriander, and I also smell cumin with its distinct strong savory side. The quality of the scent is nice. The scent smells natural and gentle. And if smelled vegetable side of this scent on its own, I would probably like it. But this cumin – rose – tomato combo is just not something that mix well together.
I wore my sample multiple times trying to acquire a taste for this composition. But definitely not my thing. I’ll give it 6/10 – mostly for the unique and original composition…
