Comments on: The Big Question: Sadly Not in Smell-O-Vision

By: is it better to buy travel size perfume or the normal bottles in bath and body?

is it better to buy travel size perfume or the normal bottles in bath and body? — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:49:57 +0000

[...] The Big Question: Sadly Not in Smell-O-Vision » Manolo for th… [...]

By: Serious Skin Care C Body Butter

Serious Skin Care C Body Butter — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:17:38 +0000

Hi – just wanted to say good design and blog -

By: Neroli Essential Oil Soap

Neroli Essential Oil Soap — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:46:14 +0000

Good Day Guru, what made you want to write on Manolo for the Big Girl!? I was wondering, because I have been thinking about this since last Saturday.

By: Cat

Cat — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 18:17:04 +0000

To the Kimocean and the Lunakitsch: Thank you! After reading your comments about Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, and particularly Lunakitsch’s description of the Vice scent (I am a fiend for chocolate scents), I visited the website and ordered some Vice and also some Gluttony and some Eden. They arrived yesterday and they are fantastic! I’ve found in recent years that I can’t tolerate most traditional perfumes any more — something about the alcohol content makes them all smell a bit off to me. But these perfume oils are wonderful! Plus, they included a huge pile of samples with my order. I’m going to order more scents this week. Thanks, y’all!

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:44:07 +0000

I’ll wear Stella by Stella McCartney any day. The amber and tuberose work all seasons. In the summer, I tend toward the honeysuckle and jasmine in Marc Jacobs. My absolute favorite, hands-down, is a layering of two Creed scents. It’s a bit too heavy for summer in Texas, but worth it anyway. I layer white flowers and original santal together…so fine.

By: Sarah C.

Sarah C. — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:43:56 +0000

I wear Donna Karan’s Black Cashmere. It was discontinued a couple of years ago, but I was lucky enough to find out in time to buy a huge bottle (which is still sealed, as I had just bought one a month before that which is just now running out). I’m not quite sure what I’ll do when that one’s gone… Occasionally I’ve been wearing Prada instead, but even though I love it, it’s not quite “the one.”

I’ve gone through “signature scents” over the years- they usually last 2-3 years and then I move on. Past ones have been Paris, Paloma Picasso, Hypnotic Poison, and Cashmere Mist (which is the lightest one I’ve ever managed to pull off) alternated with random body shop/bbw sprays in the summer. The heavier scents work with my chemistry- lighter ones disappear completely, citrus turns rank the second it hits my skin, and heavy, spicy perfume actually smells much lighter on me than on others. Fortunately.

By: matryca

matryca — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:22:48 +0000

I have worn Paloma Picasso since i was 19, (I am now 40). I have been stopped on the street three times in Manhattan and three times in Boston, by persons of both sexes asking what I was wearing. I took that as a good sign! I usually wear it in the evening and only dab on a little as it is very strong. For eeryday, I tend to wear a rosemary/mint body spray. It has such a fresh smell and make smy skin tingle!

By: Kimocean

Kimocean — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 21:10:39 +0000

I’ll drop the discussion after this Canadian Chick, but I’ve come to know Beth (the founder of BPAL) in real life and I’ve never met anyone whose business integrity was so high. It’s part of why I enjoy supporting the company. I have a hard time believing she’d say it was 100% natural if it wasn’t. She did elaborate apprenticeships in herbal work and scent work for many years before starting BPAL and I’ve heard her talk about how she has worked to perfect bouquets (blends of other natural ingredients) to replicate scents that aren’t available or safe in natural form.

I’m not entirely against synthetics in perfumes and still love some of my more traditional perfumes that do use them but with BPAL I’m pretty certain I’m getting a 100% natural product.

By: Canadian Chick

Canadian Chick — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:25:13 +0000

Kimocean, I know they say that, but I’m very very skeptical of their definition of natural. There are some essences that are just not practical or safe in their natural form, that most companies either eliminate or use the “nature-identical” form of.

but, this isn’t the place for that discussion, is it? *grin*

By: chachaheels

chachaheels — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 12:02:15 +0000

I’ve been crazy about perfume since I was about 5 years old; I remember making a special trip downtown with my mother so we could go to Simpson’s, at that time a huge department store in Toronto, where she bought a gold and pink purse-sized atomizer of Miss Balmain perfume. It was a Big Deal, I got a lovely spritz of the perfume to wear home after our day out shopping, and I felt very grown up and sophisticated, like my mommy. Now I’ve got dozens of bottles on my dressing table, but the ones I love the most are the most difficult to find.

As a teenager, I wore Guerlain’s Nahema (and later, YSL Paris, similar and available, since Nahema was discontinued). I still love YSL Rive Gauche and Nu; Chanel Cristalle and Allure; Shalimar, Jicky, and Rosa Magnifica by Guerlain (but try to find that last one now) Lancome’s Magie Noir, and my real fave, Issey Miyake’s Le Feu.

The ones that get the most compliments: Fracas, Hermes Rouge, Guerlain’s Samsara, Givenchy Organza, and Nocturnes by Caron, a blend of amber, vertiver, and lily of the valley, among other things.

I love a great smelling man, too: if he’s wearing Estee Lauder’s JHL, I’m in trouble. Otherwise, Chanel Pour Homme, Dior’s Eau Sauvage, or Aveda’s dry, delicious “Men” scent.