KILIAN PARIS ANGELS' SHARE {REVIEW}

In the run up to Mother's Day here in South Africa I have another 

fragrance review.

This was another generous deluxe sample size that was part of the 

Skins Cosmetics Christmas box.

Here is some background to the brand

KILIAN PARIS

Heir to a long line of French cognac makers who were pioneers in luxury, 

Kilian Hennessy (Hennessy Dynasty) decided to take up the torch

 of family tradition. 

Creating a new luxury brand was definitely a challenge worthy of 

his predecessors, and in 2007, 

Kilian launched his own namesake fragrance house.

The brand is a true reflection of not only his ambition and distinct personality,

 but is also a perfect alliance between elegance and uncompromising luxury.

His “eco-luxe” philosophy that each bottle can be refilled and kept for a 

lifetime catapulted the brand to the top of the fragrance market and into

 a niche of its very own. 

Today, the world of Kilian includes more than 35 scents, spanning across 

5 distinctly unique fragrance collections.

It also falls under the Estée Lauder group of companies.

Angels' Share by KILIAN Paris 

is a fragrance from the Liquors collection, inspired by the heritage 

of Kilian Hennessy, with woody notes accompanied

 by cognac, hazelnut and oak.

Angels’ Share contains the essence of Cognac derived from the liquor 

to lend it a natural caramel colour. 

Opening with cognac oil, upon a blend of oak absolute, cinnamon essence

 and Tonka bean absolute, the scent’s long-lasting notes of sandalwood,

 praline and vanilla make for a delicious finish, a rare concoction 

only angels should experience.

This is a fragrance that I should not like, it's dark, woody and intense,

 the exact opposite from my usual sparkling, light, bright, fruity 

yet I like it, not enough to purchase a bottle, but enough for me

 to continue to enjoy my beautiful deluxe size throughout this winter.

Not an ideal scent for the South African summer but one

to enjoy in the cooler winter months. Whilst I would say that this 

has a more masculine appeal, I'm sure there are many females 

that would enjoy this rather unique and distinct offering from Kilian.

 As you can imagine it is a

statement fragrance and has "staying" power and definitely one

to try, in-store, before you buy.

KILIAN PARIS

ANGELS' SHARE

50ml

R

3,560

£

185

$

230

Kilian fragrances are available in SA from

skincosmetics online or instore.

 

BYREDO GYPSY WATER {REVIEW}

BYREDO

is one of those fragrance brands that I find quite daunting, a little

reminiscent of the JO MALONE LONDON brand, as they both seem

 to have an endless line-up of fragrances, that all look the same and

I just know that much trial and error is needed before I hit on the

ONE that's for me.

That's why it is so important to try before you buy and considering the

prices its more important than ever.

My journey with JO MALONE was somewhat epic and after many

years and many tester sprays later, I finally hit on 2 that I now adore and

form part of my fragrance wardrobe.

My personal wardrobe consists of 4 fragrances that I have stuck with

 for several years now.

If you would like to know what they are then Click Here  

I have reviewed another BYREDO fragrance previously

MOJAVE GHOST and whilst I liked it, sadly it failed to WoW me and

 make it into my rather exclusive "Fragrance Wardrobe".

To read my full review

BYREDO 

GYPSY WATER

This particular best selling fragrance Gypsy Water 

is an ode to the beauty of Romani culture and was formulated to waken 

a dream of colourful lifestyle made of innate nomadism 

and gypsy nights spent in the forest.

The ingredients include:

Top: 

Bergamot, Juniper Berries, Lemon, Pepper

Heart:

 Incense, Orris, Pine Needle

Base: 

Amber, Sandalwood, Vanilla

On paper this fragrance had so many ingredients that I normally

enjoy, but as we know they can be formulated in so many different ways

 and proportions.

As with many fragrances nowadays its vegan & genderless and a

matching body lotion/cream, hair fragrance and hand cream is available.

Unfortunately I experienced this fragrance to be very delicate and soft on

my skin, which was quite surprising considering it's an Eau de Parfum

and on a side note it certainly didn't awaken anything in me...

BYREDO 

GYPSY WATER

EAU DE PARFUM

50/100mls

R

2995/4250

£

140/200

$

205/290

BYREDO

 is found exclusively in South Africa at

 Skins Cosmetics

 

SISLEY IZIA LA NUIT EDP {REVIEW}

This is a 1st for me, my first review of a product from the

luxury french brand SISLEY.

The SISLEY Black Rose Cream Mask will be my 2nd and my review will 

be posted in a week or so.

SISLEY have a surprising amount of fragrances on offer and the only

one that I know of is their popular Eau de Soir and that's due

to it being the signature fragrance of my UK BFF and this distinct

floral fragrance reminds me of her and is a perfect match for

her, sadly it wasn't for me...

Izia La Nuit 

is a new encounter that was launched in 2021,

 an ode to the night that follows on from 

Izia 

that has been around since 2007

Izia La Nuit 

Is a fragrance for a daring, elegant woman looking for an olfactory signature

 that reveals her slightly but not completely. 

An extraordinary, rare and sophisticated perfume. 

This nocturnal, opulent and deep fragrance is like an encounter that awakens

 the unconscious and stimulates the senses.

 A dizzying array of sensual, full, radiant notes emerges, developing and 

evolving over time like a metaphor for the countless facets of love. 

The sculptural bottle created by artist Bronislaw Krzysztof is adorned with a mysterious, glossy lacquer. Its deep black shade contrasts with the 

delicate golden film that reflects the luminous juice.

Top notes:

 Fresh and vibrant (Blackcurrant, Mandarin, Cardamom) 

Middle notes: 

Floral and luminous (d’Ornano Rose, Freesia, Magnolia) 

Base notes: Woody and sensual (Ambrox, Patchouli, Vanilla)

As with all fragrances the advertising/packaging used are great indicators,

 as to what lies within the bottle.

As I always say "fragrance is a very personal choice" and I

already had my doubts as to whether I would like this fragrance and

you guessed it, this floral-oriental was not to my liking.

Just as the box and the bottle suggests

I found it to be quite intense, deep, sensual and long lasting and that's 

exactly what the perfumer wanted to achieve.

This award winning fragrance is quite complex and despite loving several 

of the individual elements like Rose/Freesia/Blackcurrant/Vanilla

it wasn't enough to win me over.

SISLEY 

IZIA LA NUIT 

EDP

30/100 ML

R

2100/4250

£

100/205

$

142/292

BYREDO MOJAVE GHOST {REVIEW}

BYREDO

 is a European luxury brand founded in Stockholm in 2006 

by Ben Gorham.

Byredo creates and develops a range of products such as fragrance, makeup, 

home, leather goods and accessories, and is sold in more than 40 countries

 in a very high-end exclusive network worldwide.

Byredo conceives objects using the highest quality materials available

and has a Cult following worldwide.

By the way, the Byredo name comes from the old English word 'redolence',

 which roughly means sweet-smelling and aromatic.

Mojave Ghost

Inspired by the wonderful, extremely rare and incredibly powerful

 'ghost flower' from the Mojave desert, blooming without nutrients and water.

Top:

Ambrette

Heart: 

Magnolia, Sandalwood, Violet

Base: 

Cedarwood, Chantilly Musk, Crisp Amber

It's 83,4% natural and classed as a Woody fragrance.

It's also genderless and of a medium intensity

For the past week I have been trying out a 2ml sample of the 

BYREDO Mojave Ghost Eau de Parfum.

Having tested in-store, several of the most popular of the

BYREDO fragrances, I haven't yet found the one for me.

That being said I did enjoy Mojave Ghost, but I didn't love it

enough to make me want to buy a bottle.

As I have mentioned in previous fragrance reviews, for me

a fragrance needs have that WOW factor and it must draw me

in and have me repeatedly lifting my arm to take-in more

of the fragrance and sadly this didn't.

As with many of the niche brands that have an extensive fragrance 

selection, sometimes it takes many tests to find 

THE ONE... 

BYREDO

MOJAVE GHOST

EDP

50/100ml

R

2680/3775

£

127/182

$

196/276

Available exclusively in SA

Skins Cosmetics

MOLTON BROWN FIERY PINK PEPPER EDT {REVIEW}

Over the decades Molton Brown has established a reputation for being 

London's bath, body and beauty connoisseurs.

 From humble beginnings in South Molton Street in 1971, to a globally

 recognised brand today.

Molton Brown regards themselves primarily as a perfumery house, 

producing some of the UK most celebrated perfumes, shower gels,

 body lotions, candles and hand care products blend exotic ingredients, 

with a touch of London eccentricity for bold fragrances and bright colours 

that stand out on the shelf.

You'll find Molton Brown in five-star hotels, stylish homes and high-end 

department stores across the world and yet their heart remains in London

 with a flagship home on Regent Street. 

Expertly created fragrance collections proudly hold a Royal Warrant for the 

supply of toiletries by appointment to Her Majesty the Queen.

Having recently received a sample of their hugely popular

Fiery Pink Pepper Edt, I was excited to try the fragrance variant of the 

same in the Bath & Shower Gel which I already adore, but then I

enjoy all the fragrance options in the Bath & Shower Gels.

Classified as a fresh, sultry, woody fragrance with:

Top notes

 of pink pepper, tangerine and elemi.

Heart notes

of nutmeg, ginger and jasmine.

Base notes

 of patchouli, cedarwood and oakmoss.

From the initial spritz I thought I was going to like this fragrance, but sadly

 as it developed, it turned into another "nice" fragrance and this is why it's so

important to give fragrance time on your skin, thus allowing the

notes to develop during each phase.

I'm personally looking for more than a "nice" fragrance and I could pick up

on the over riding pepper and ginger aromas, which

I didn't enjoy, however everyone is different as your "nose"

hones in on different elements of a fragrance.

Many fragrances today are unisex and I feel this fragrance would smell

better on my hubby than Moi

It just goes to show, despite liking the Fiery Pink Pepper Bath & Shower Gel,

 it doesn't automatically mean that you will enjoy the matching scent.

MOLTON BROWN

FIERY PINK PEPPER

EDT

50ml

R

1220 

(currently reduced online Skins Cosmetics 

Archive)

£

60

$

80

 

COACH DREAMS EDP {REVIEW}

This past week I've been wearing the COACH Dreams EDP and I would have managed to get several applications out of my 1.2ml sample size spray,

but one spritz was all I needed.

They say:

Coach Dreams evokes the freedom and adventure of a road trip across America. Inspired by a sunny road trip full of possibilities, Coach Dreams takes you on a journey from beginning to end, evoking anticipation, the open road and 

memories in the making. 

Crafted by Master perfumer Antoine Maisondieu, the radiant, woody scent opens with notes of bitter orange and juicy pear, revealing a warm heart of gardenia and cactus flower before drying down to sensual Joshua Tree and Ambroxan musk. 

“Coach Dreams is playful and lighthearted.

Fragrance family: fruity-floral.
Top Notes: Bitter Orange, Pear
Heart Notes: Gardenia, Cactus Flower
Base Notes: Joshua Tree, Ambroxan

 

Unfortunately this fragrance was not for me as I found it rather too 

warm & heady from the onset and the notes of Gardenia 

I suspect were the cause.

It was overpowering the other notes so much that I couldn't smell the 

fruitiness of the Pear or Bitter Orange and it was only after quite some time

that I found it to be a much softer and more acceptable.

I find the best part about this fragrance to be the bottle that is

reminiscent of vintage apothecary bottles, the glass bottle is finished 

with a silver spray cap. A refined leather ring at the base of the cap

 nods to Coach’s rich history of leather craftsmanship. 

And lastly the pretty, eye-catching box twinkles with pink glitter, 

evoking the magic of dreams...Unfortunately those dreams were not for me.

COACH 

DREAMS EDP

60/90mls

R

1295/1620

$

82/-

£

41/58

JO MALONE LONDON WOOD SAGE & SEA SALT COLOGNE {REVIEW}

Who doesn't love JO MALONE LONDON, I adore

the whole Georgian London Townhouse vibe along with the now iconic 

luxe cream boxes with black ribbon, yet

despite having a huge selection of fragrances to choose from I, personally, have 

really struggled over the years to find a scent to fall in love with.

Having spent many years dealing with the marketing of fragrances, I

find that I'm really under whelmed by so many and impressed by so few.

Perhaps what I'm trying to say is, I'm picky when it comes to fragrance.

Not having a Jo Malone boutique in KZN I often made a bee-line for

the counters in Duty Free and the boutiques on my travels, but sadly

I just couldn't find THE ONE.

That was until a couple of years ago when I discovered one of my

all time fave fragrances ever...Earl Grey & Cucumber Cologne.

There's a back story to this fragrance, as I dismissed it from the onset

of my search, due to the name and I convinced myself that I wouldn't

be the ONE for me, so didn't even give it a spritz.

How wrong I was, as it proved to be THE ONE and was my first 

Jo Malone fragrance.

Earl Grey & Cucumber Review

Recently I found my 2nd Jo Malone scent in the form of

Wood Sage & Sea Salt

and dare I admit to this, but again I dismissed it, as I really didn't

think I would like it due to the ingredients.

How could I make the same mistake twice, so in future even if I don't like 

the name of a fragrance I will try it first and hopefully I'll discover some

new fragrance likes.

Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne arrived on the fragrance scene in September 2014 accompanied with a perfumed body care collection. 

 Complex Ingredients include ambrette seed, sea salt and sage, along with red algae and grapefruit. Sea air is mixed with salty and mineral texture of sand and stones and the scent of driftwood adds a natural and fresh sophistication.

Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne was created with the intention to evoke the

 feeling of pleasure, freedom and escape into nature, inspired by the unique character 

and quality of British beach. 

As with many Jo Malone fragrances, fragrance pairing is encouraged

 and this fragrance can be mixed with

 Lime Basil & Mandarin or Nectarine Blossom & Honey eau de cologne.

As I always say fragrance is a very personal choice and that's why it's so

important to try on your skin to see how it develops and finally settles.

I personally buy the smallest size initially, generally 30ml and then move

 onto to purchase the more economical 50ml or 100ml sizes.

Both the Earl Grey & Cucumber and the Wood Sage & Sea Salt are lighter

Citrus/Woody/Aromatic fragrances and for me are ideal for daily Summer wear.

Both are unisex and my hubby also is partial to a spritz of

Wood Sage & Sea Salt...

It's taken me several years of perseverance with Jo Malone fragrances, 

but I feel the wait was worth it, as I Love both of my choices.

JO MALONE

WOOD SAGE & SEA SALT

COLOGNE

30ML/100ML

R

995/2100

£

50/100

$

72/142

Please let me know in the comments below as to which are your favourite

Jo Malone scents.

VIKTOR&ROLF FLOWERBOMB #TBT REVIEW

I lifted out of my sample jar a VIKTOR&ROLF vial to review as part of

my Sunday Sample post only to realise that I had already reviewed this fragrance back 

in October 2017.

My opinions on this fragrance unfortunately haven't changed from what 

I originally thought...

*Prices may have changed*

~~~~~~

It's surprising how many spritzes you can get out of a 2ml vial fragrance spray, which meant that I used my FLOWERBOMB Eau de Parfum sample from designers VIKTOR&ROLF several times during the past week.

Initially I wasn't a fan of the heady whirlwind mix of Gourmand and floral top notes, which I found to be quite intense and sweet, so it didn't do it for me, but then on the dry down I did somewhat enjoy the softness of the Freesia, Rose, Patchouli and then the linger of Amber and Musk.

Created in 2005 FLOWERBOMB is classified as an Oriental/Warm fragrance and therefore develops better in a colder climate and I found it to be too heady and intense even in the Durban winter. 

Despite having a loyal fan base worldwide, its beautiful bottle and delicate pink packaging this fragrance just wasn't for me, but if you're a fan of FLOWERBOMB notes then this could be one to consider, so next time you're passing a fragrance counter give yourself a spritz.

Top Notes:

Bergamot

Mandarin

Middle Notes:

Jasmine

Osmanthus

Freesia

Rose

Base Notes:

Deep Amber

Patchouli

Warm Vanilla

VIKTOR&ROLF FLOWERBOMB 

30ml EDP Spray

R1,107.00

R1,730.00

£52

$85

Available from selected Red Squares and online