Party On The Lawn

Grass is such a simple plant and yet it is everywhere. In the 1990s, GAP came out with a perfume called Grass and it was an instant hit. People went nuts for that fresh green, slightly aquatic scent, a huge departure from the heavy spiced florals of the 80s. Minimalism was trendy in 1994 and GAP Grass was the perfect minimalist scent. GAP Grass is now discontinued and extremely hard to find. Not to worry, I have a roundup here of some perfect "summertime on the lawn" fragrances for you to try right away. 


Hermes Un Jardin Sur le Toit 

 This might be my favorite "freshly mowed lawn" scent. It starts off sweet from the pear and apple notes and then quickly becomes a dewy morning grass, intensely green and summery. The nose behind this is Jean-Claude Ellena, one of my favorite perfumers. (When you get as into perfumes as I am, you start to see the noses like rock stars and you await their next release with great anticipation) I really don't pick up distinct florals here, they're just seamlessly blended in to round out the grass notes and prevent any sharpness. Jean-Claude Ellena was inspired by the rooftop garden of the Hermes building, a private tranquil oasis above the busy streets of Paris. I've seen photos of this rooftop garden and it definitely looks like a place where I could easily lose an entire day to reveries. This is actually better than GAP Grass because it's realistic but also smells expensive, higher quality with a French chic that GAP could never have achieved. Makes me excited to picnic with friends this summer, sipping riesling and nibbling on sliced fruit. Un Jardin Sur le Toit is not a head turner, but it is fresh, youthful and bubbly. 

 
Crabtree & Evelyn Summer Hill 

This really smells just like the grassy hill at my grandmother's house. Many afternoons as a child were spent rolling down this grassy hill. The scent of wildflowers was thick in the air... black eyed Susans, mullein, Indian paintbrushes, clover, daisies and the thick bed of dried pine needles in the nearby woods. This isn't something that's my personal taste for a perfume, as the florals are very "dry" (unsweet, like green plant stems and sun warmed earth)... but oh my if this isn't the perfect snapshot of a hot afternoon in the countryside.
 

Lauren by Ralph Lauren 

There is something about Lauren when I first spray it that makes me think MINTY. I actually see the color mint green in my mind's eye. (Same thing happens with Anais Anais so perhaps it is the carnation note?) When that dies down a bit I smell CLOVER, a huge field of it. That smell you get from the open windows as your car twists and turns along country roads, past farms and forests. I was too young to know Lauren in its heyday but apparently it was a hit with young ladies in the early 80s. I have a coworker who must have scent memories of Lauren because whenever I wear this one to work (maybe every four months or so) she remarks "Which one is that? Oh it is so familiar to me!!" Every time. I laugh and tell her she must have deep memories with Lauren but doesn't even realize it. Like many perfumes of the 80s, it is potent so you only need one or two sprays for the entire day. Side note, the bottle is very pleasing to me with it's garnet colored glass cube and brass door handle top. You would never guess by looking at that dark opulent bottle that such a fresh floral lives within. 
 

L'Artisan L'Ete en Douce 

One sample of this had me adding it to my wish list. More than a smell, it was an entire emotional experience for me. It's from L'Artisan, a house I already love and have sampled extensively. The nose behind this is Olivia Giacobetti, the talent behind my beloved Dzing! as well (See December 2014 post 'A Little Too Personal') Notes of linden blossom and orange blossom mingle gorgeously with a very realistic sweet hay accord. This lasts for half the day and then fades off into a smooth skin musk that makes me wish I had someone to hold me close and smell me. This is the sweet air that breezes through a hot summer day, refreshing and somehow nostalgic. The magic of summer days that go on forever. 
 

Andrea Maack Coven 

Saving this for last because it's not exactly a grass scent but it still fits into the style of this post. The grass notes are there, for sure, but it's more of a wet, freshly overturned soil accord. That fragrance of walking into the underbrush following a hard rainstorm and everything is muddy. A very cool feeling perfume but with something alive underneath it all. A snake or a frog in the grass perhaps. If you've ever been digging in the garden for hours and actually enjoyed the mixture of dirt and leaves on your hands, this is the fragrance for you. 

What I Wore: HAWAII

This spring I had the opportunity to take part in a luxury vacation getaway to Hawaii. It was a once in a lifetime event and of course I had to go. Now, I am the person who plans out what perfume I am going to wear each day up to 3 months ahead of time. It's true, I am a giant nerd and I make a perfume calendar. So after I said yes to my friend's invitation, I started thinking about what I would wear on my trip. I knew I would be book-ending Hawaii with two weekends in Seattle, that I would be flying carry-on bag only and that I wanted to purchase some Hawaiian perfumes while there. I made all of these things happen. Here is my travel story as told through the lens of a perfumista.
 
 Kate Spade Walk On Air 

Walk On Air just so happened to be my Scentbird subscription flask for the month of March. It turned out to be the perfect pick! First of all, the name. This was my airport perfume... light, fresh, calming. That last aspect, calming, turned out to be necessary as I went through some of the worst turbulence I'd ever experienced and spent a lot of flight time praying. Walk On Air was also perfectly suited to the rainy early spring weather of Washington. It's a lily of the valley perfume first and foremost but it sidesteps the normal pairings of other high pitched floral notes and instead is balanced by a lot of greenery... fiddle ferns, linden blossom, violet leaves... and some surprise accords when I finally looked up the official notes. A plant called Solomon's seal was in there, which made me smile because I named my child Solomon. Another note listed was crinum lily, which I had never seen in a notes pyramid before, didn't even know what it was, but lo and behold the pool area in Hawaii was decorated with a low hedge of crinum lilies. Walk On Air ended up being a very happy random buy, and the Scentbird flask fits TSA liquid rule requirements.


Profumi del Forte Vittoria Apuana

I brought 3 samples along in my liquids bag, each one milliliter of perfume. We arrived in Kona quite late at night and found our way to the air b&b where we were camping for the night. It was a cute tent setup in the backyard of a quiet pretty neighborhood. My traveling companions and I passed out pretty quickly on the comfortable mattresses inside the tent. I woke up early the next morning to the sound of strange bird calls and plumeria blossoms falling softly onto the ground outside the tent. After using the charming rustic outdoor shower, I selected Vittoria Apuana for the first day's adventures. Upon applying, this smells like a smoothie from Orange Julius. That dies off after about twenty minutes and by the time we had said goodbye to Kona and were zipping north along the Highway 19 coast, the scent had changed. The banana note came forward in a very creamy, pudding like way. Underneath was a coconut and vanilla smell, almost like I was wearing sunscreen. I had not put on sunscreen yet, as the day was overcast with scattered rainshowers. Even with no sunshine, the island was a beautiful dream come true. We skipped along hardened lava flows at a state park, bought local fruit, flowers and coffee at a roadside farmers market and finally we reveled in the billionaire worthy condo just outside Puako where we were making ourselves at home for the week. The bright, fruity, summery scent of Vittoria Apuana went perfectly with the blissful feeling of aloha that was quickly infusing my soul. 


  James Heeley Coccobello 

 Day two on the island and it was still rainy and overcast. No worries because I woke up in the nicest bed possible and was able to take my morning coffee by a roaring fireplace, with a view of the waves crashing against the rocks just past our backyard. We took a walk along the water and I dipped my feet into the Pacific Ocean for the first time in my life. Coccobello was my scent choice for the day, a very woody fragrance, unripened coconut still green and attached to the palm tree. We saw crazy looking neon fish swimming along in the shallow water and plumeria blossoms were scattered everywhere. Coconut was a theme for that day, we drank pina coladas and ate dried coconut chips. James Heeley Coccobello was woodier than I expected it to be, but that actually went rather well with all the getting caught in the rain. I became a palm tree and leaned into the weather, leaned into the woody green lifestyle.


Montale Intense Tiare 

 Growing on bushes along the lanai outside my room were hundreds of white tiare flowers. Tiare is a type of gardenia plant that grows in the Pacific islands, native to Polynesia. Every day I would tiptoe out along the stone path and stick my face into these bushes and in those moments I truly knew heaven. Montale Intense Tiare was my selection for the third day I spent in Hawaii. My friend balked at how strong and sweet the smell was after I had just put it on, almost like grape juice. "You're going to get chased by insects all day!" she warned. Luckily that never happened even though we spent a large part of the day in a tropical botanical garden. I'm not sure how much was the perfume and how much was my surrounding environment but all day I was surrounded by the sweet almost honey like scent of tiare, coconut, ylang ylang and jasmine. It was gorgeous, made me think if Thierry Mugler's Alien went on vacation and traded her edgy city slicker garb for a sarong and sunglasses. This was my favorite of the three sample vials I had packed for the trip. Quite lush and elegant.


  Forever Florals Hawaii Plumeria 

Day four in Hawaii and we were finally blessed with sunny skies. I had made my Hawaiian perfume purchases.. Forever Florals, a Honolulu based company, had inexpensive island scents available in every corner grocery, and I had scooped up the Plumeria and the Pikake, two flowers I had been smelling in the air everywhere since I stepped off the plane. I sprayed myself down with Plumeria and hit the beach. It's such a light and feminine petal scent. The scent of the $5 lei I bought from a woman on the side of the highway, stringing the blossoms with her young daughter helping. Whenever I have worn this perfume since the trip, I immediately feel blissed out and taken right back to the beach, sipping fancy cocktails and napping on the sand. Incredibly unique smell, reminder of the humid air filled with these blooms. And even though it's inexpensive, it does not smell cheap. It felt perfectly suited in a 5 star sushi restaurant for our final dinner of vacation. 


Forever Florals Hawaii Pikake 

 The last morning in Hawaii and I did not want to leave. But alas, all good things must come to an end and there would be flights to catch that day. I sprayed myself thoroughly with Forever Florals Pikake and took my final morning coffee on the lanai, watching a spectacular sunrise over the ocean. As I sipped my Kona brew and reflected on the beauty I had seen over the week, I wondered if I was smelling my own perfume or if it was the star jasmine bushes surrounding the doors to the living room. On the plane ride back to the mainland, I kept getting wafts of the most beautiful musky laundry floral and I was ready to ask the woman seated next to me what she was wearing. Then I realized it was me! This fragrance changes as it wears, going from a highly indolic realistic jasmine to a soft musky, slightly vanillic warm skin scent. And it last and lasts, through several time zones, all day long. Not bad at all for a $10 perfume! I went to reorder online and realized how steep the shipping costs are from Hawaii, so I might have to find something comparable that's locally available. That is, until I can get back to the big island and stock up in person. What a gorgeous reminder of being in paradise. 

When Life Hands You Lemons

Would you believe me if I told you that lemon doesn't have to conjur up images of cleaning products? What about images of lemonade? Lemon meringue pie? A twist of lemon peel in a martini? A grove of lemon trees along the bank of the Mediterranean? Quality lemon note in perfume is so uplifting and zesty, it's actually one of my favorites. So much that 10% of my current collection is fragrances which highlight lemon as a main player. Here is my roundup of top 10 lemon-centric scents that you should not miss.

Maurer & Wirtz 4711 Original Cologne

The textbook cologne, possibly the great grandfather of all lemon based colognes. Originally created in 1792, it's the oldest running formulation I've tried. I've been familiar with 4711 since I was a child, my earliest sense memories are infused with the strong bergamot-citrus oil. It is not long lasting, rather it's meant to be used as a pick me up on a hot day or an after bath splash, tingly, refreshing and brief. Many people keep 4711 in their medicine cabinets to help relieve headaches, nausea, sunburn... you name it. 
 
Acqua di Parma Colonia
  
Quite possibly my favorite lemon, this wears like a luxurious piece of silk. Originally created during the first World War, it was meant to perfume men's handkerchiefs. It has that simple classic barbershop appeal, quality lemon perfectly blended with a touch of bitter herbs. Why I have only sampled and never owned a bottle is due to the fact that it's justifiably expensive.
 
Eau de Rochas

A cologne in the 1970s style, the lemon shares the spotlight equally with oakmoss, lime and basil. When I first sprayed this, I was a bit put off. It just doesn't smell anything like the modern citruses. The oakmoss places it squarely in the vintage category. Notes of coriander and patchouli lie underneath, contributing an almost dirty animalic sweat quality to an otherwise bright and uplifting potion. This should not discourage anyone from trying it. If you can't find it anywhere, O de Lancome is still widely available and smells a lot like Eau de Rochas. Try either and see what you think of a "dirty" citrus. 
  
Annick Goutal Eau d'Hadrien 

Another incredibly hyped scent that I initially had lukewarm feelings toward. When first applied, I got a serious dose of furniture polish, which made me feel like I had made a mistake and why in the world was everyone raving about this one? The more I learn about perfume testing, the more I learn to pretty much ignore the first 5-10 minutes after spraying. The alcohol needs to burn off a bit and the various accords need to sort themselves out and find their place. It's the olfactory equivalent of the noise an orchestra makes warming up just before the conductor takes the stage. It just sounds like a cacophony of random noise but give it a few minutes and you will experience a beautiful symphony. When I give Eau d'Hadrien a few minutes to dry and adjust itself, the lemon stops yelling and speaks in a normal indoor voice. This allows the piney outdoorsy cypress accord to make itself heard. Now it's no longer furniture polish but a real lemon tree on the banks of a river, surrounded by balsamic green trees and honey sweet wildflowers. 

L'Artisan L'eau de L'Artisan

I really really enjoy this one. It mixes lemon balm with mint and basil and marjoram and tea... it absolutely reminds me of my mother's herb garden at my childhood home. It's bright and zesty while at the same time conjuring up images of finding a spot of cool shade on the hottest summer day. If I ever decide to drop beaucoup dollars on a niche citrus aromatic, this one would certainly be a top contender. I wish everywhere I went in the summer smelled as intoxicatingly herbal as this.
 
Calvin Klein cKone

What to say about cKone that I haven't already? It's super nostalgic for me. When I was fifteen, Calvin Klein introduced cKone and those ads really caught my attention. It was the era of grunge, and this was perfectly encapsulated by dual page black and white advertisements featuring skinny models dressed in flannels and white undershirts wearing insouciant facial expressions as they leaned against one another in a way that seemed to hint at free love, or at least polyamory. Such independence! Such alternative styling! This appealed to my suburban living, squeaky clean self. Still a virgin but wishing I wasn't, I decided this was the year I would finally get a boyfriend. And if I had to buy Doc Marten boots or cKone or the entire delia's catalog to do so, then so be it. Problem was, I didn't have the budget for that and neither did my parents. So I was forced to wear JC Penney's clothes and wish I knew anything about eyeliner. I bought this for my son as his first cologne and it's really perfect for a young person. A nice green citrus that unfolds to a powdery light floral musk. 
 
Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Girl

Tommy Girl is really nice and I don't care who hears me say that. I am not embarrassed to like this, even if Tommy Hilfiger is a dorky overrated brand in general. This is a very safe perfume, you really aren't going to offend anyone with it. I like that the fizzy lemonade/ green tea accord is paired with country florals like honeysuckle and apple blossom. How 'girl next door' is that? There's even a hint of clover or mint.. something that gives it that straight off the farm, aw shucks appeal.


Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue

 Everyone has smelled this, it's the new king of modern bestselling lemon fragrances. If you've never smelled Light Blue then you must live under a rock. There is just as much cedar in this as there is lemon, giving it real texture. It's a "light" summer scent with big sillage that lasts and lasts and lasts. It has the nice effect of kicking up the volume when you start to sweat. It's sparkling, always reminds me of a can of 7Up. This was to the early 2000s what cKone was to the 90s... everywhere and everyone wore it. Very refreshing and people will ask what you're wearing mostly because they recognize it. 


Adrienne Vittadini Capri   

This is very Italian style. A creamy lemon oil powdered with iris and deepened with oak moss. I've sampled it twice in the last decade and both times made a huge impression. There is something slightly salty in this, like a fruity drink with rock salt on the rim. Like sailing on the open sea and the sun is shining but the breeze is chilly and it's whipping your clean wet hair into your face. Oh and you're a gorgeous Italian model.

  Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Forte

How many people have I recommended this too now? I've lost count. I mean, sure I do have a crush on Francis Kurkdjian (look him up! you will too!) but this fragrance is so quality. I heard a reviewer call this "what the towels in heaven smell like" and that's accurate. This is actually a jasmine (or possibly lily of the valley?) perfume upfront, with the lemon note peeking in and out of the bouquet. So dewy. It makes me think of getting out of the shower and feeling the summer breeze through the window as you dress. This is a high end fragrance, the price is out of most people's range but if you get lucky enough to have it, you will know heaven. A soapy and sweet musk that more hints at lemon than actually being a lemon.

My Name Is My Credit Card

Another roundup of celebrity scents. As long as they keep making celebrities, they will keep making celebrity perfumes. Many are wholly forgettable but others are definitely worth buying a bottle.
I know some younger readers might not find these celebrities to be current or relevant, but never the less, these celebs are from my young adulthood and it's my blog. To be quite honest, I have tried offerings from Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj (more current and more relevant to millennials) but I was unimpressed with any of it. So much fruit salad and grenadine syrup! Aren't you lucky you have someone like me to test everything for you and give you the scoop? Here are a few that warrant a sniff and there's not a single fruit punch in this punch.


Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely

I assume most of you are familiar with SJP Lovely by now, it's been out for well over a decade and is widely available. But if you are not, I will fill you in. Lovely is, in my opinion, the perfect musk. It's a blend of the powdery animalic musk notes, a bracing crisp herbal note from lavender, and a sweet fresh pink flowers note that keeps things very feminine and romantic. This is just so fresh and so clean. I also heard this has apple martini accord in it...I wouldn't be able to tell you that's what I'm smelling here but there is an ever-so-slightly fruit and booziness underneath all the wood and leaves. I hate to use the word "shampoo" so often when writing about perfume but shampoo has a freshness while still being a chemical....so I think it works when describing a smell. You don't even have to know *which* shampoo, because it's already been rinsed out, metaphorically, and you are left with wet clean hair and scalp. Lovely makes a great everyday, any place, "go-to" scent, especially for people who find themselves in an environment that frowns upon strong perfumes. If people smell this, they'll assume it's a blend of your soap, your shampoo, your dryer sheets and the natural musk that emanates from your skin. I love Lovely and can't wait to have another bottle in my collection. I've gone through three already, it's so useful. 


Jessica Simpson Fancy Nights 

You better not ask who Jessica Simpson is. Ok, fine she was a pop star back when I was young. Then she married another pop star and they had a reality show. Then they got divorced and I think she married a football player and started popping out kids and peddling a home decor line? Maybe? I might be wrong about some of that... doesn't matter, let's talk about her perfume line, starting with Fancy Nights because it's the best. This one is a warm spicy chypre reminiscent of vintage perfumes. For patchouli lovers only, because the patch in this is not messing around. Fancy Nights conjurs up images of mystery and antiquity... old libraries or Egyptian tombs. Every now and then the smoky-sweet vanilla rises through the herbal layers and reminds me of vintage Shalimar (yes!). The bottle makes me think of some object lifted from the Emerald City in Wizard of Oz. I love this style from a celebrity, it's quite risk taking and such a departure from the rest of Jessica's fragrance line, which follows the more mainstream trend of sweetness. (Fancy Love is practically a dupe of Burberry Woman) I did enjoy Jessica Simpson Signature, which was a light refreshing vanilla. But if you're going to try her line, be bold and give Fancy Nights a shot for some real old school glamour. It's been compared to the expensive Prada Amber by people with better noses than me. 
 

Adam Levine for Women

I believe that Adam Levine would have a real shot with me if only he'd try a little harder, but that is beside the point today, which is perfume. I bought this solely based on the number of times it's name came up as a suggestion for a budget sandalwood. This is almost a skin scent on me, I don't think it's possible to over apply. It just sinks right in and doesn't radiate out, but it's still enough to let me enjoy it. I tend to wear this when I'm lounging around my home, it has a lazy weekend feel. Mostly sandalwood, sweetened with vanilla and lightly sprinkled with saffron. I'm not too familiar with the scent of marigold but it must be that little something extra, that slightly sharp green I notice only when I first apply. This is sexy but not in an "out-to-seduce" way. It's more sexy in the manner of snuggling on the couch with a long time lover. This also makes a nice base layer all over with a few drops of Samsara on the pulse points. I think this one would work well in any season and it's affordable enough to use liberally. Again, a nice break from all the fruit laden celeb scents. Adam Levine also makes a "For Men" which is supposedly a fresh citrus, but I have not tried that one. I might need that aforementioned lover first.. put it on his skin and see if he turns into Adam Levine.
 

Elizabeth and James Nirvana White 

This was a real surprise and treat for me! Unfamiliar with the Elizabeth and James clothing line, I researched it only to find that it's the creation of sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Yes, the Full House Olsen twins are now big shot fashion designers. Nirvana White was my introduction to their perfume line and what a beautiful one it was. I love the smell of peony, it's a lot like rose but even fresher and airier. Sort of a cross between roses, lilies and carnations... that's the power of a peony. Yes, those flowers that use ants to help their blossoms open and can be smelled across the yard. Nirvana White is like the name suggests... purity, lightness, freshness. A silky musk lingers in the drydown a few hours past the florals fading. I also got the chance to sample Nirvana Amethyst, which was totally different but equally quality, a sweet moist tobacco with a hint of white flowers underpinning it like a slip. Wonderful! I almost bought a bottle but restrained myself because I need to pare down my current collection a bit first. I will definitely be trying all of this line. Good job, Mary-Kate and Ashley!


Jennifer Aniston J 

This summer I discovered the existence of Jennifer Aniston perfumes and have been trying them all.(Sadly I have only able to get the body spray version of Beachscape, I think it may be discontinued) But so far "J" is my favorite one. It's hard to describe... definitely has that salty aquatic ocean air element, but also mixed with a creamy floral, I believe it's magnolia I smell...like a beautiful white flowering tree. There is a touch (just a hint!) of lotion-esque vanilla sweetening the whole thing up. J is the perfect balance of cool aquatic, salty, sweet and floral. As if those 4 elements created a perfect square. I adore the gradient turquoise glass bottle, so tranquil and pretty. This would make such a nice vacation perfume, it's quite beachy. I know I will be repurchasing. Lesson: Always give celebrity scents a whirl because you just never know, sometimes they are fabulous.

Happiness At The Drugstore, Vol. 2

One of my first posts on Essences & Reveries was about the cheap goodies I found at the drugstore when I was young and had almost no money to my name. In the nine years (!!!) since that post, I have encountered quite a few more cheapie favorites. Remember, just because something is inexpensive does not mean that it will smell cheap. I encourage you to stop by your local Walgreens, CVS, Whole Foods, etc. and have a look at what can be found for under $20.

Revlon Ciara

There is nothing quite like Ciara. A 1970s favorite, it's still available in drugstores today and it's a surprisingly smoky-sweet oriental. You will be noticed if you wear Ciara, it is not for the shy. Something about this one brought back a memory to me of being a child in the early 80s and maybe an older cousin or aunt was wearing this. I see tooled leather purses, macrame belts and feathered hair as one of them leans in close to me. There is a very distinct sweetness of synthetic raspberry and amber, but also a grownup smokiness from incense and resins.
I will never forget later in life wearing a spritz of Ciara to an ill fated job interview. "You may not wear perfumes if you work here!" the joyless interviewer told me. But I believe Ciara stirred up a memory for her as well. She became very testy and went off on a tangent asking if I was an honest person and would I tell my friend if her husband was cheating. I cut that interview short but Ciara is memorable for sure!


Dana Tabu

Widely available and cheap as chips, people tend to overlook Tabu. It tends to sit on the bottom shelf with other classics, not attracting attention to itself but still being regularly purchased by it's loyal followers and curious perfumistas. This perfume, which has been around since the 1930s, holds a special place in my heart. My mother wore a number of different perfumes when I was a child, but the one she wore most often, that I will always associate as "the Mom smell" is Tabu. It unfolds over many hours, in many layers of warmth... amber, clove studded oranges, root beer spiked with Southern Comfort.... but mostly it's mom. It's the smell of poking around in her top dresser drawer, it's the smell of her sweater when you sat close to her, it's the smell of someone who will take care of me, it is the smell of someone who will punish me. It's mom all the way and when I once tried a sample of this on my own skin, it felt weird. Like I was wearing someone else's pantyhose.

Jovan White Musk

A clean, simple white musk and an unbeatable price. Can be compared to the scent of high end musks. This is a great perfume for people who are shy about wearing a perfume at all. The effect is like wearing a soft knit cashmere sweater and speaking in a gentle tone. Very cuddly and soothing, like a hug from a dear friend. Soapy but in an earthy bohemian sort of way, not crisp but creamy. This does not project but lays close to your skin, to be enjoyed only by those you allow in close enough.


Bijan

An 80s oriental that is soft enough to not smell like "an 80s oriental". A woman who I used to babysit for wore this on her date nights and it was perfect for her, a flower child turned career woman. Her house was decorated in handcrafted art from around the world, her family ate organic foods and her demeanor was as sweet as the honey note in this perfume. I was surprised to find that Bijan was relatively inexpensive and available at drugstores. It's a balmy summer afternoon sitting in a field of warm wildflowers, heavy with pollen. The wind blows and on the breeze you catch a waft of nag champa incense burning somewhere down the road.


Pacifica French Lilac 

The Pacifica line can be found at all Whole Foods grocery stores. They are natural ingredients, which is perfect if you're around someone who is sensitive to aromachemicals. Pacifica doesn't test on animals, which is always a bonus when a company's products are ethically sourced. French Lilac was my introduction to the line, and it is a VERY REALISTIC lilac. It's like sticking your face into a bush of white lilacs in early May. When first sprayed, it's a bit heavy but give it an hour or two and it dries into something light and breezy. While it's very much lilac-centered, I detect other florals like heliotrope and magnolia giving it even more green creaminess. And even though it's listed nowhere in the notes, I keep feeling a hint of patchouli leaves underneath it all. I'll have to try this layered with vintage White Shoulders and see how they play together. I have tried a few other scents from Pacifica and was very pleased. I recommend the Spanish Amber, Island Vanilla and Hawaiian Ruby Guava as well.