Mini Review: Burberry Body Eau De Parfum

I bought Burberry Body in a holiday set for good value, although personally have never liked Burberry scents. They all seem similar. Body starts with sweet and powdery whiff but its a heavy fragrance, like winter air. It has notes of musk, sandalwood but though heavy it does not overpower the nose. Staying power is around 3 hours which is pretty less compared to earlier EDPs I had.

There is hint of rose in it but the powder does not faint. I find it classy and appropriate to wear in the office but Burberry Body disappointed me. The fragrance is nothing special, one gets bored of it and staying power should be more of such an expensive product. 

I think Burberry Body got its hype from the adorable bottle its housed in and how Burberry always champion the marketing. Due to its package, one would think that its a sensual fragrance but alas. This is a one time purchase and does not earn any recommendation from me.

Mini Review: ZARA Los Angeles Eau De Toilette

When the months of summer and hot winds start to leave, you see sprouts of green grass and tiny yellow flowers coming out, you don't fear going out even in daytime and the weekend coffee seems a bit more soothing. ZARA Los Angeles Eau De Toilette is a citrus scent with hints of tropical fruits. Its not overpowering and easy to layer up whole day. Although the scent speaks summer but who does not love a simple perfume to have in bag.

The scent does not last long though, 2 hours may be. The glass bottle is all ombre green - blue like beach waters. This is my current everyday perfume and definitely recommended as happy-go-lucky fragrance.

ZARA Black Amber Eau De Toilette review

Zara Black Amber is a spicy addition to the brand's affordable scents. This perfume ups the game as it smells like high end for the price. Also being my first post from the Arabian desert, this oud-like scent is apt to review.

Quantity - 50 ml
Price - INR 790

On first spray it is citrus and strong, but in seconds it turns sweet and woody. I feel its a versatile perfume with rich notes of amber without the heaviness. Black Amber seems a mix of spices, dark wood and aromatic oils wrapped in sheets of velvet. Still the fragrance is smooth and your nose would not get a spank out of it. What hurts me is although being a woody scent, it wears off quickly (2-3 hours) even after spraying heavily.

The box is black with gold lining which seems classic and Chanel-esque. The uniquely carved glass bottle with gold cap is a gradient black and looks very beautiful. Packaging is well thought upon and complements the scent housed inside. Looking at the price, packaging and scent, I feel Black Amber is a gem of Zara products.

Recommendation - Black Amber is well suited for night and feels quite original if one is not a perfume expert.

Ralph Lauren Big Pony 2 for Women Eau De Toilette review

Got this tiny mini perfume as gift from my best friend when it was launched in 2011. Some people swear by Ralph Lauren perfumes and they do spell quality. Big Pony 2 is very sweet, fruity fragrance and apt for young people. Among the hordes of fruity fragrances, this is flirty and makes people wonder. It smells so sweet that I think its edible. Big Pony 2 oozes of cranberry scent and housed in a pink bottle it looks like juiced cranberry.

The one I have is 15 ml bottle without a spray, but the cap works fine and there is no spillage. Not a very original or signature fragrance but makes a good gift for the holidays and upcoming summers. The fragrance is not heady but yummy and juicy, stays for 5-6 hours. I almost feel like surrounded by berries.

Recommendation - Buy it as your first perfume or a gift for someone. Holidays are here.

Zara White Eau De Toilette review

Clean, white winter days call for clean, fresh fragrance. Zara has been retailing a good range of fragrances in Bangalore recently at steal prices. White is such fresh, no-fuss perfume that one almost feels like spritzing on all washed clothes.

Quantity - 30 ml

Price - INR 590

I find the fragrance completely citrus, no flower notes and very feminine. The very first spritz brings out the images of sweet orange and grapefruit. Its an everyday perfume, nothing high end about it, but its price and quality is special. Zara White is clearly a day fragrance as it is fresh and fruity. You wear it more on daily jobs, going to markets or just some errands. It stays for 3-4 hours maximum being a light, breezy fragrance.

The white outer packaging is paper box and it opens up like a cigarette pack. The bottom half of box has engraving of rose flowers which confuses me, as I cannot smell any rose in the perfume. The bottle is glass and the cap is heavy plastic which is bit loose. This being a 30 ml perfume, I obviously wish to carry it around but the glass bottle is fragile and a loose cap calls for spillage. I have to handle it carefully even at home. Overall, its a great buy compared to designer perfumes and the small quantity gives me an option to try new ones.

Recommendation - Totally buy this reasonable perfume and wear it all the time.

Kenzo Pour Femme Once Upon A Time EDT review

Little story I came up with, for this special fragrance. Once upon a time in faraway Japan there lived a princess, black as raven her hair and white as swan her skin, she has been sleeping for so long that the nights never seemed to end. Only to be woken up by a scent with earth's depth, soaked in night rain and plush as velvet.

In modern times, the house of Kenzo churns out this oriental perfume in a royal looking garb. Kenzo Pour Femme Once Upon A Time was launched as their 40th anniversary limited edition perfume in 2010, guess I bought it in Oct-Nov that year. It is an Eau De Toilette 100 ml version. This is an intense perfume,  a mix of floral, spicy and earthy scent. If Chloe was summer and cool, then this perfume speaks winter and warm. When I tried Kenzo Femme there was absolute confusion what it smelled like but I loved it. Then after few uses it struck me, as absurd it may sound,  a mix of betel leaf and coffee. The floral notes open up with the caffeine concoction, hints of cardamom, cinnamon and something earthy. There is no citrus scent in it which makes Kenzo Femme stands apart from a hoard of citrus / fruity perfumes. The earthy and woody notes provides such depth to the perfume, from the very first spray it inclines to royal. Some might find this an unisex perfume. After spraying the perfume, there is a moist feel attached to it and the longevity is around 5-6 hours.
The packaging is in sync with fragrance, deep teal colored bottle with oriental illustration of flowers, dragon scales and polka dots, in shades of fuchsia. The bottle is very heavy metal, it won't break but not exactly travel friendly.

Recommendation - I feel Kenzo Femme is great for monsoon and cold weather. Kenzo perfumes are distinctive from other brands and this again is an addition to it. You won't find something similar to it. If you are a fan of heavy fragrance and Japanese dark stories allure you, then Kenzo Femme is game.

Chloe Eau De Parfum review: Rose of parfumerie, lily of my heart

Chloe Eau De Parfum had me lovestruck at the first whiff and I still am. The scent is a charming rose with fresh floral and fruity notes. It reminds me of innocent summer romance, cool breeze and shade in gardens, smelling fresh roses and watching twilight.

The glass bottle housed in nude beige box opens with an oval cap, has silver accents and a blush colored ribbon tied on the neck. I am not a fan of the packaging as it is an expensive perfume but the gorgeous scent compensates for it. As mentioned by the design house this sublime rose scent is accompanied by hints of peony, lychee, freesia, magnolia, lily of the valley, warm amber and cedar wood. Chloe accentuates the feminine and free spirit of woman. I feel it captures the emotion of falling in love.

(image courtesy: pinterest)

The fragrance wears for all day long, starting with clean rose and floral scent and fading with powdery hints. The scent lingers and grows on you, loving it more and more. While wearing this perfume I could think of a blushing bride holding lily of valley flowers and looking at her groom. Chloe is a signature scent for me, it has that quality to be unique and everyday perfume. It is a very soft perfume, very feminine but confidence of its own (think Blair Waldorf).

Recommendation - Head out wearing this perfume everyday, but still won't get enough of it. Wear this on romantic date on your favourite silk-chiffon gowns and dresses.