Showing posts with label Perfume. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Perfume. Show all posts

12/06/2019

Bottega Veneta EDP by Bottega Veneta

I have three perfumes that people I don't know ask me about, and Bottega Veneta EDP is one of them.

Bottega Veneta EDP was Bottega Veneta's first ever perfume and the result was a brilliant contemporary fragrance and an instant classic.

We leave in a time in which perfumes are launched every six months, a time in which fashion trends have turned perfumes into another accessory, and in a time where mediocre or bad perfumes are packaged in pretty bottles and sold at high prices. Discovering Bottega Veneta made me belief that there is still room for old perfumiers' savoir-faire, there is the space to take the time necessary to develop an unique fragrance that is not discardable in six months or smells like any other. Old perfumiers used to take years to work and develop a perfume, and you would get something unique, a great scent and a great quality one. This is what Bottega Veneta just did with their first ever perfume for women.

Bottega Veneta EDP is classified within the Chypre family of perfumes but smells more of an light oriental woody floral turned mutant on me. The scent is sophisticated, timeless, seductive, and feminine. It has a very distinctive smell that is modern and classic at the same time. It is nobility luxury not bourgeoisie luxury. If I had to describe the smell I would tell you a story that captures the world that this perfume transports me to. Imagine you have a hut in the forest somewhere in Western Europe, and your hut is furnished with very comfortable leather furniture that smell of new; your hut is surrounded by bushes, wild berries and moss are everywhere; you have a small lemon tree in your backyard and a jasmine plant on the ledge of your window; a small breeze enters through the window and you smell everything at once and you get a multilayered earthy organic smell that is fresh and deep at the same time, something that you feel all around you.

Every essence in Bottega Veneta EDP makes sense, complements each other organically, and it is not overdone. The fragrance tantalises your senses but does not overwhelm them.  A priori, I am not a fan of patchouli because it reminds me of the stinky hippies of the 70s. A priori, leather is something that I would not want to smell in a feminine perfume. Although I love citrusy fragrances, I consider them summery, fresh and not very elegant.  I usually define perfumes with jasmine as 'stinky'. Moss is something wintry that smells funny. Alas! All of those ingredients are part of Bottega Veneta EDP and this is one of my all-times favourite fragrances.  

This perfume has a day-long longevity and, at least on me, it changes little from first outing, once of the lemony horses run away, to when the scent is sealed onto my skin. In a way, the fragrance is flatter than others I have, but also less deceiving when you smell it at first. The sillage is medium, enough to leave a trail when you pass by, but not too strong to make it unbearable to others.

I find this perfume perfect for autumn and winter, from morning to evening, and also good for night outings if I am not doing anything too formal. I have used for work as well, and it suits a lady-like suit. 

The minimal packaging is elegant and timeless, it does not target any age, any class, or any type of woman. It makes you look inside, to the perfume. Nothing to show off, for sure. 

Bottega Veneta EDP is timeless modern classicism, so the perfume is an honest representation of what the Bottega Veneta fashion house is.


The following variations on the perfume and the latest Bottega Veneta perfume suffer from the same sin as other fashion houses -- they are an object of commerce, not a perfumier's perfume and cannot compete with this little wonder. 

 The 30 mls bottle starts from 100+ dollars. It is worth it.

7/11/2016

Narciso Eau de Toilet by Narciso Rodriguez

Photo courtesy of Fragantica

Narciso Eau de Toilet, is a fresh version of Narciso For Her. However, while I find the NfH masculine, "stinky", chemical,  and dry, I find this EDT version toned down and morphed enough to ring all the bells  I want in  a perfume.

The first notes, to my nose, are a mix of very fresh green and young flowers, sweetish without being sweet, a bit acidic, and a bit berry-ish as well. Once this exhilarating coup of  freshness evaporates, you get what is the core of the perfume and what you will smell of the rest of the day - a woody floral scent with some smoky muskiness undertones. 

Narciso EDT is a sophisticated scent, but it is not classic by any means as contains cedar and vetiver, ingredients that have been traditionally used in masculine fragrances. In that regard, the perfume is feminine but not romantic, it is more mysterious than seductive, and it has a light masculine energy that is constantly challenged by the sexiness of the musk and the femininity of the the peony and Bulgarian rose. Unlike Narciso Eau Poudrée, Narciso EDT is not an EDT for everybody, so spray it on you at your nearest store and see how the fragrance evolves on your skin throughout the day. 

Narciso EDT reminds me of the original Bottega Venetta EDP, but it is way more daring  and quirky, and also more complex from first outing to settlement. If you like Bottega you'll probably like Narciso EDT. If you want a dark twist to you Bottega's, this is it!

Despite being an EDT, this fragrance has more longevity and sillage than some EDP scents I have. It lasts on me all day, on a low key, but it is clearly noticeable when I smell my wrists. 
 
I find this perfume perfect for autumn and winter, great for casual afternoon and evening outings if you want to smell good and interesting but are not overdoing your outfit or yourself. This is also a good fragrance for meetings if you apply it half an hour earlier, as you will be wearing a perfume that is feminine, assertive and mysterious at the same time, so it doesn't smell of "make love to me", but of "lets make a deal together". 

The bottle... Another square chunky bottle. Come on Narciso! Yet, in this particular case, it has a good vibe. It reminds me of those old bottles of blank ink my father used to have for his fountain pen when I was a kid. Black Ink would have been a good name for this perfume in a way it is that.  
 
Not cheap, but cheaper than other Narciso's scents, Narciso Eau de Toilet starts at 80 bucks the 30 mls bottle.

2/07/2014

Travalo (Online Shop UK)

Website
Online shop
Facebook

Do you use perfume regularly? Do you travel? Do you go away for long weekends? Are you on the move and want to carry your favourite scent/s without having to carry the whole bottle/s?

Travalo - a Scottish Company- came up with the perfect solution: small refillable spray and rollerball containers that can be filled and refilled directly from the perfume bottle. They are very small and light, leak-free, aircraft-approved, easy to carry, stylish and colourful. 

To fill in the container, you first remove the nozzle of the perfume, plug the stem into the bottom hole of the Travalo container, and pump it until it is full. The different models of Travalo can load 4-5ml of product, giving you about 50-65 sprays. 

Although the product can be found in some local and international perfumeries, I found that the variety of colours and models is just Spartan in Perth, so I have been ordering mine from the Travalo's online store directly.

They have different types an colours suitable for women and men. Pricing goes from the 25 bucks for the Rollerball models to the 20 bucks for the Classic models. They have a gorgeous variety of colours, which come handy when you have more than one perfume and want to identify them easily. 

Shopping from their website is very easy, and you will receive a confirmation email when you place your order, and another one when the order is fulfilled. You can use PayPal or your preferred credit card for payment, and the site is SSL secured. Good thing for Australians - an Australian company settled in Queensland (Brandpoint) fulfils the orders, so you will get yours in about onr week. They deliver to your door, but if you aren't at home, they will take your parcel to your nearest Post Office, from where you can collect it. 

Customer service has been very friendly and prompt to any enquiry. They do not provide (or at least me) with a tracking link, but they diligently reply to any enquiry about your order. 


KUDOS
Easy to order and shop.
Fast delivery.
Very informative website and great customer service.
No need of registration for online shopping, although you might want that.
Gift packs available.
Pricing can be set in USA, AU and Canadian Dollars and Euro.

DOWNSIDES
The products are pricey. 
The website lacks a bit of information on International shipping costs and timing.
The online shop is a bit temperamental at times.

TIP
If you get the register/login page when accessing the online shop, refresh the page and the products page will show.

6/13/2013

Cosmetics Now (International Online Shop)


"Cosmetics Now" is an international etailer with offices in the USA, Australia and the UK that sells male and female cosmetics, make-up, and fragrances. The Company is very similar to StrawberryNet and OzCosmetics, but I consider "Cosmetics Now" an upgraded version regarding the looks of the site, and the number of beauty and perfume houses available in the site. Prices are very similar to the other two etailers, but they  have regular discounted specials. 

Let's take one example:
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion pump 125 ml
> Retail Price in Australia: $74
> Cosmetics Now: $46 ($42 on special)
> OzCosmetics: $46
> StrawberryNet: $48

 What makes "Cosmetics Now" a stand-out for me is the fact that they have niche perfumes for sale. Niche perfumes! They are not cheap, but certainly cheaper than at your local perfumery, even with the extra fee you pay for shipping. Some of them are not available for sale in Australia and/or in Perth. The good thing is not only the good prices, is that you won't have to stand the rudeness of any shop assistants, as it happened to me last time I decided to visit my local perfumery. Some of the niche perfume houses available are: Comptoir Sud Pacifique, Amouge, Robert Piguet, E. Coudray, Etro, L'Artisan Perfumeur, Il Profumo, Maitre Perfumeur et Gantier, and many others. Not all of these houses' perfumes are available, and the ones on offer sell fast; if the one you are seeking is available, you will save a  bunch of dollars.   

Placing your order and checking out is extremely easy and no-fuss. You can pay with your credit card and Paypal. Shipping is free for all products, except for the perfumes -this is a difference with the other two etailers- and you will be charged a $10 fee.

Their email Customer service is very friendly, but a bit slow, and misinformed at times. I asked about a niche perfume I was interested in; I was told that the product was not available in their warehouse and it would not be back on sale. I was surprised at hearing such a bold statement. About three weeks later, the perfume was back in stock! In case of need, call their 1300 number in Australia or the company number in your country of residence.

Registering as a member is always convenient. "Cosmetics Now" has a Wish List, which always comes handy. They state in their website that they will email you when any out-of-stock item in the list is back for sale; however, I did not receive any email. They also have a reward points system (expenditure pro-rated), which you can exchange for discounts at your next check-out. 

My product was dispatched the day after I placed my order, and two tracking links (International and Australia Post's) were provided right away. I got it at home four days later! If you aren't at home they will take it to your nearest Post Office. 

I have read some reviews on damaged packaging and odd things regarding the products received. I can only say that this was my first experience shopping with "Cosmetics Now", that the product I received was genuine, arrived in perfect conditions in record time, and it is something I could not get in Perth and Australia at all. There you have it! 

UPDATE JANUARY 2015
I have to correct some of the info provided above. 
> Since this review was written I have been emailed regularly bout items in my wish list being back in stock, which did not happen when I first reviewerd this place. > Also, they regularly send you updates of your point rewards system, usually monthly.
> Their service has always been excellent, and I cannot recommend them enough.


5/08/2013

The Perfume Shoppe (online shop, USA)

"The Perfume Shoppe" is a family-operated American perfumery located in Stottsdale Arizona that also sells online. They are specialised in exclusive, hard to find, niche male and female perfumes. They sell perfumes from about 30 different world-class perfumiers. Some of those can be found in similar Australian online sites, or in exclusive shops in your city - "Mariposa" sells some of those (not all) in Perth. However, TPS is excellent for something that we crave in Australia, and in Perth - vials and pre-packaged samples of exclusive perfumes. This is one of the specialities of the TPS, and what brought me to them. 

The price of an average bottle of these exclusive perfumes is so high that you do not want to buy anything you haven't tried a few times. It is difficult not to love perfume samples, especially when each of us have a specific reaction to and relation with the perfumes we wear, and fashion has little to say about the ph of your skin and how a perfume smells, precisely, on you. On the other hand, samples are great to test perfumes you have never tried, to build up a perfume wardrobe (to use in different seasons, events, mood states, outfits, and so on), to use them while travelling, or carry them in your handbag to  spray on any time.The TPS's sample program allows you to do any of those things. I love the fact that you can get sophisticated products within a budget. That sounds like heaven to me.

You have different shopping options and all of the samples are shipped worldwide for free:
1/ Five scents of your selection from their whole range for $20.00. They use decanters to fill in mini-vials (no spray), which come with handwritten labels. 
2/ Pre-packed samples, provided by the original perfumiers, usually five, for an average price of $25.  TPS doesn't make the selection, they just send them. 
 
3/ Six scents from the family of perfumes of your selection (floral, gourmand, fruity, oriental, marine, and so on) for $25. The mini-spray samples are pre-packed by the original perfumiers, but the guys at the TPS choose the perfumes for you depending on availability. I ordered the female gourmand and fruity collections, and I am quite pleased with the quality, presentation and smell of most of them; you can give away those you do not like.   
 

4/ Fill in a travel or trial spray atomiser with your choice of perfume for, about, $30. It contains 4-5ml, which lasts for about 60 sprays.

The TPS  staff are very kind, and they always add an extra free sample to your purchase and attach a Thank You card. The staff are also very nice and promptly reply to any of your queries by email.  

The shop does ship to Australia, not only samples. Alleluia! Once you order, you receive two emails, one confirming the payment and another the order, and a third one will arrive after dispatch. Parcels with samples take about 15 working days to reach Australia (or at least Perth).

THE ONLINE SITE
The TPS's website is SSL protected, so you can shop without any worry. You can save your personal details in Your Account, and the system will automatically fill-in the check-out forms next time you shop. Shopping from there is truly hassle free.


Colours and style are nice, but the navigation lacks functionality at times due to the structuring of the site; moreover, some of the photos have been badly inserted, stretched beyond their size capability, and some of the icons need a transparent or black base to match the site's background. 

The site does not have a logout button. A logout link does exist, but it is a faint grey line, not even underlined, written at the bottom of Your Account area, barely distinguishable per se. You can also see a blue underlined logout link while you are checking out, but you are checking-out, therefore processing your payment, why would you want to sign out from there? Helloooo web designers!

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
= They need to make their website more customer friendly. Simplicity is a great virtue, but good organisation and good design are also good ones. Creating an specific logout button or clearly visible logout link in all private areas, inserting icons properly, and removing photos that aren't clean and good are simple tasks that will improve the site enormously and are easy to implement.  
= They should create separate areas devoted to women and female perfumes, perfumes by categories (floral, marine, citrus, oriental, and so on), and create an area devoted to things that aren't strictly perfumes, like perfumed candles for example.  

THEIR REWARD SYSTEM
They have a points rewards system. You get one point for each dollar spent, and you can exchange 10 points for 1 dollar discount at your next checkout.  You can redeem all or some of your points from "Your Account" area. Do mind - the points are allocated to any purchase in which you are not redeeming points. If you spend, say, 100 dollars, and use a reward point discount on that purchase, you do not earn any points on it instead of the 100 points you could have earned if you had not claimed any of your points. Therefore, use your points wisely! 
 
MIND 
> You need to register to order. No shopping as a guest allowed.
> No Paypal available as way of payment.
> No tracking link is provided after dispatch of samples. You can get one on full bottles depending on the shipping method you select.
> Do not order with a hurry, because your parcel takes a while to get to  Australia. Dispatch, according to the site, takes 24 hours. My experience has been of nearly 48 hours every time. Add to this the about fortnight you need to get your parcel.
> You might not like some of the perfumes you receive in the pre-packed lots. But you know this beforehand and you are a risk taker, right?

***
The Perfume Shoppe, despite the little flaws of its website, provides male and female perfume lovers with a great customer service and awesome fragrances delivered at your doorstep. This is especially important in Perth WA, where getting perfume samples is difficult, and finding samples of exclusive perfumes is like a miracle. Imagine if you live in a little town or in rural Australia. You can get 5/6 vials for 20-25 bucks and brands that you cannot get in Australia at all. A bit pricey for samples, but they are worth the price. And everybody is going to be asking you about your perfume. 

Let us smell divine for the sake of our own un-royal noses.