Vera Wang Princess

Princess is not an unknown perfume.  It was created in 2006 by Ilias Ermenidis and Harry Fremont. It is considered an oriental floral.  While packaging shouldn't be important, let's face it, we all appreciate a lovely bottle. This particular bottle is a heart shaped jewel.  It is supposed to have a youthful, carefree feeling to it.  And it does.  Between the color of the juice (lilac), the name of the perfume (princess), and the shape of the bottle (heart), we are made to see something very young and sweet.  Lilac + Princess + Heart = SWEET!

You will notice that my bottle doesn't have the adorable little crown on it.  That is because I opted to purchase a tester bottle.  I was able to get the largest bottle available for a fraction of the price.  I'm completely okay with this because, really, very few people see my selection of perfumes outside of myself and my family.  And, at the end of the day, I'm wearing the juice inside and not the bottle. :-)

Onto the fragrance itself!  When I first spray this on, it takes a couple of moments to really come to life.  It opens, on me, with delicious sweetness.  There is a hint of zing from the mandarin, but it is swimming in a pool of vanilla. There is something floral in there that doesn't come off loud at all.  It is just enough to keep this perfume from being 100% edible.

At the 10-15 minute mark is when I, personally, detect the dark chocolate.  It isn't exactly sweet.  It actually is slightly bitter.  I read somewhere that said it is dusty and hinting at patchouli.  DING DING DING!  Spot on.  It really does have a dusty patchouli quality to it. The vanilla is also livening up even more at this point.  There is something a bit fruity tip-toeing in, but I couldn't put my finger on it.  While researching, I came across some information about guava and I believe that must be the note.  It is almost lemony citrus-like, but without being kitchen cleaner sharp.

About one hour in, something about Princess reminds me of Coach Poppy.  It has the same cozy sweetness to it. The difference is that Princess is easily detected.  In Poppy, it was there, but you had to breathe deeply to find it. This is vanilla, vanilla, vanilla, and snippits of amber.

I can definitely see where everyone says this is a young, youthful scent.  However, I enjoy wearing it.  It is playful and lighthearted.   It is just a very happy fragrance.  I'm pleased that I went with the big bottle because I've enjoyed wearing this often.

Van Cleef & Arpels Oriens

Oriens comes from the house of Van Cleef & Arpels, who are mostly known for their jewelry. This perfume was launched in 2010 and is considered a chypre floral.  One of the first things you'll notice is the stunning lid on the bottle.  This bottle was actually designed after one of the Van Cleef & Arpels rings, the Arbre aux Songes ring, to be exact.  That translates to the tree of dreams.  Isn't that beautiful?  It already gives a romantic, fantastical image for the perfume. The perfume is supposed to bring to life the Orient, or the East.

This is the Arbre aux Songes ring.

Upon first spritz, I was a bit shocked.  I always anticipate the initial spray is going to be the strongest and most powerful.  Oriens was definitely NOT a fragrance bomb.  In fact, it was very light.  It had a fresh, slightly scented-water quality to it.  I picked up on something very sweet, like candy.  There was almost a bubblegum quality to it.  Along side that I picked up on a juicy berry.

About 15 minutes in I really detect the praline note.  It is creamy chocolate with a hint of something nutty.  Creeping in is also a boozy berry quality.  It is like a bubbly champagne. I also notice that the perfume is getting stronger and blossoming.  YAY! There is something about it at this point that reminds me of Miss Dior. I think it is the orange blossom and jasmine coming to life.

Right around the half hour mark, I smell vanilla.  It is a delicious, sweet, creamy vanillic aroma. Beyond that, the strong scent stepping forward is patchouli.  I have a real love for the earthy, dirty form of patchouli.   Maybe it has to do with my mother wearing patchouli oils for as long as I can remember or every year going to renaissance festivals and being greeted by the shops selling incense and oils.  I've always had a love for patchouli...at least for as long as I can remember.  While some people enjoy the odd smell of gasoline, I adore the smell of fresh turned soil (which is similar to a dirty patchouli). I went off on a tangent.  Anyhow, the patchouli is quite an earthy one in this perfume.

Three hours in, this perfume is still going strong! The amber is noticeable now.  It has become something creamy, and cozy in scent. It has melted with the natural skin smell and is warm and....well....cozy! HAHA!

This is quite long lasting on me.  I put it on late afternoon and the next morning I could still smell it in the crook of my arms as well as on the sleeve of my night shirt.  Same with day wear.  I can put it on in the morning, and that evening I am still catching whiffs of it.

I think the bottle is stunning.  Photos don't even capture how beautiful it is in person.  I have heard some say the bottle is cheap in appearance.  I disagree.  I think it is elegant and doesn't cross into tacky territory. But, that is just my opinion.  I enjoy looking at it.  It has some serious heft to it, too.  It is much heavier than I expected it to be.

All around, I really enjoy this perfume.  I think this is a fragrance that can be worn, pretty much, year round.  The only exception I, personally, would make is wearing it on very scorching summer days. I would probably pass at that point because I think it might be a bit too heady for the very hottest days.

Top Notes: mandarin orange, black currant, raspberry
Mid Notes: jasmine, white flowers
Base Notes: patchouli, praline, amber, vanilla




*Photo of the Arbre aux Songes ring from the Van Cleef & Arpels website.

Cover Girl Clump Crusher Mascara

After hearing rave review after rave review on this Cover Girl mascara, I had to try it out for myself.  I'm a sucker like that!  HA!  I can only stand it so long before I have to put it to the test on my lashes.  This is the, quite popular, Cover Girl Clump Crusher mascara.  

It is a relatively new product to hit the drugstore shelves.  I've never been a big fan of Cover Girl mascaras, but the fact that this one had some lofty claims intrigued me.   I, initially, tried to get it from Target.  The stock was nearly wiped clean!  They had the brown-black or black-brown available, but I wanted to get a rich, deep black so I skipped buying it there.  I ended up finding it at a Meijer store (in the color Very Black).  I almost walked right by it!  It wasn't in a large, noticeable display.  It was sort of pushed off to the side.   The only reason I even found it was because I was scouting out the newest Maybelline Color Tattoos.  I can't recall the exact price, but I want to say it was cheaper than Target.  For some reason $7.99 sounds right, but don't quote me.

The wand on this mascara is a bit different and unique to others on the market.  It is a rubber style bristle, which I will admit isn't my favorite, typically.  Also, the brush sways or scoops down. But, it doesn't really curve a lot at the top.  This really does help to push the top lashes up as well as fitting into the corners of the eye.  I don't have large eyes, and I found this easily fit around my lashes.  I didn't feel like there were any that I couldn't reach.  

Let's talk about the curl factor, because I know that is a huge deal with lashes.  I, personally, don't feel that this mascara curls lashes.  However, if you curl your lashes first and then apply a coat of this, I do think it holds the curl nicely, and because of the shape, won't pull out the curl as you swipe on the product.  The way that I applied this mascara was to first curl my lashes, then apply a single coat to the top lashes.  Immediately after finishing one coat to the top, I'd use what is still remaining on the wand to coat the bottom lashes.  At this point, I do dip the wand back into the tube and proceed to apply a second coat to the top lashes.  I found this to be the perfect time between coats.  It was enough to let the first coat set up, but not enough to allow it to completely dry.  If I do let the first coat completely dry, it doesn't look as nice and fluttery.

The major claim on this mascara is that it won't create clumpy, spidery lashes.  Did I find that to be true?  YES!  It had the ability to really grab and evenly coat the lashes, but even as I layered it, it didn't get clumpy. I am not a fan of spider lashes (to each her own, right?), and it seemed that no matter how much I tried to build it up (within reason, obviously), it just didn't look like lashes were joining forces and turning into a total of 5 lashes around my eye.  It was amazing!  I noticed that it really opened up my eyes and even, sort of, lined my eyes.  What I mean by that, is it was nice and full at the base of each lash, creating a darkened liner-like effect, but then splayed out at the tips.  I am very impressed!

While I am not a big Cover Girl mascara fan, this particular one has 100% won me over.  I will be repurchasing it again in the future.  I highly recommend everyone check it out, especially for those who usually don't buy Cover Girl.