Spring Scents Series

Estee Lauder Beyond Paradise 

Beyond Paradise EDP; 3.4fl.oz/100ml; $150

This is THE stereotypical tropical scent but I love it. In fact I've loved it since high school and have gone through 4-5 of these gorgeous bottles. It's pretty much my signature scent year round but it definitely gets an extra workout once the weather warms up. When I combine this perfume with my favoured bright floral dresses for spring/summer, I always feel like I'm on a tropical island even if I'm surrounded by concrete. 

It's composed of exotic flowers, fruits and woods and includes things like orange blossom, pink honeysuckle, jaboticaba berry, and zebrano wood. 

To be honest, I struggle to pick out all the separate notes with my not so sensitive nose but I do get the sweet florals, zesty citrus and a hint of musk. I find them to be perfectly balanced and as soon as I get a whiff of it, it takes me straight to a warm, exotic location that has the fresh ocean nearby - i.e. tropical paradise, just like the name suggests!! 

I'll admit that the perfume isn't the most unique or interesting one, but it simply works for me. It works with my skin chemistry, fits with my outfits and it just has this crazy ability to lift my mood regardless of what's happening around me. I love this and I know that I will continue to love this for years to come. 



xoxo
Sorry it's been SOOOOOOO ridiculously long, but I'm back now and loving it! Hope you've all been well!!

Spritz Me!

Watermelon & Pink Grapefruit Body Spritz 

Grace Cole Watermelon & Pink Grapefruit Body Spritz, 250ml/8.45fl.oz ($6.99)

I stumbled upon this when I was trying to kill some time a while ago. The colourful range caught my eye and I was hooked on all the fruity scents. I just had to bring one home with me. The scents in this range include coconut and lime, passion fruit and guava, peach and pear, strawberry and kiwi, and pineapple and passion fruit. It took me forever to settle on watermelon and pink grapefruit and I'm definitely looking forward to going back for some of the others. 

So, onto the spritz itself! Like the rest of this range, it is made in England, paraben free and comes in a 250ml (8.45 fl.oz.), brightly coloured bottle. The scent of both fruits come through clearly. The fresh and light watermelon scent balances out the citrusy pink grapefruit and keeps it from becoming too overwhelming. The spray also comes out in a fine, even mist and doesn't leave a sticky residue on the skin. 

The only issue with this spritz is that the scent fades a bit too quickly. I can barely get 20 minutes out of this and while I know it's not a perfume, I still expected a little more. I originally planned to use this after I hit the treadmill but it just doesn't last long enough. It's also too impractical to carry around so the lack of staying power really limits its usefulness.  

Body Butter, 250ml/8.45 fl.oz. ($4.99)

However, I liked the scent so much that I went back to pick up the matching body butter in the hopes that layering the two would make it last longer. And it does. The body butter carries the scent much better than the spritz. The problem is that the body butter is just too thick and it never fully absorbs. 

I only use this combo on my lazy days when I don't intend to go out for anything but a grocery run. I'd apply a thin layer of the cream on my arms and follow up with the spritz on my wrists and elbow. The scent lingers long enough for me to get through my errands. Most of the time I just use the spritz on its own after I get home. The fact that it's not long lasting or cloying means there's no chance of a headache by the time dinner rolls around. And overall, I just find it to be a very happy scent that's also light and refreshing so it's perfect as a pick me up. 

I think I will eventually buy another spritz from the range, probably the strawberry and kiwi one, but I definitely wont be repurchasing the body butter. 

Final note: I love this scent but I have to warn that it can be a bit polarising. In fact, my dad thinks it smells like an air freshener of ours that I actually hate!  

xoxo
Hope you have a beautiful week ahead!

Fragrance of the Moment

Pure DKNY

This was released in 2010 and created in cooperation with CARE to support women in Uganda and educate people about global poverty. It focuses on one single ingredient, Ugandan vanilla.  

As much as I love perfume, I'm still terrible at detecting notes. However, according to fragrantica.com, the fragrance notes for this EDP are sandalwood, orchid, lotus, freesia, jasmine, white amber and Bulgarian rose.


I first noticed this fragrance in a magazine. I can't remember which one but it had a two page ad where you could scratch a section on the side to smell it. I fell in love with it right away and loved it even more when I finally tried it in person. 


At this point in time, as Australia leaves summer behind and goes further into autumn, Pure is my perfect transitioning scent. 

It reminds me of cool, crisp mornings in the countryside. A bit of a strange description but the scent always brings me back to the early mornings of past getaways to escape the city. I picture myself at 7am, pulling on a jumper because of the early chill, and stepping onto the balcony/porch with a cup of coffee to sit under the morning sun. To me it's a very, very comforting scent.

Final thoughts:  Decent lasting power, easy to wear with minimal sillage. Perfect for everyday, daytime wear. 

xoxo
Lots of love from Mel!