Oooh I got a pretty bottle of this Hello Kitty perfume, 2011 Sephora collection. It’s a beautiful bottle with a soft, pretty fragrance. Then I had to get another bottle. But not because I used up the first…
Many years ago when I was in Israel I chanced upon a Bazooka Bubble Gum logo transfer in Hebrew. I’m not a t-shirt/sweatshirt girl by nature, but you can bet I slapped that puppy on a long sleeve and wore it proudly for years. While the bubble gum of said company leaves (quite) a bit to be desired in the taste department, the very kitsch of this childhood product makes it desirable. In that regard, I suppose it makes sense that some how, some way, Bazooka would find an intertwined destiny with songstress Mariah Carey.
Ah, Mariah. She’s half human, half goddess, and proponent of junior high fantasies – for girls. This is the woman who likes shiny so much, she debuted in a movie called Glitter. So what’s in a name like Lollipop Bling for fragrances? Rumor has it her tender beau, Nick Cannon, proposed to Mariah by giving her a Ring Pop (Bazooka tie-in) with a diamond wrapped up inside. Elizabeth Arden, already handling Mariah’s fragrance launches, thought it was ideal to capture this moment in a scent. Before we head into the product, take a look at the ring Nick gave to Mariah when they renewed their vows this year:
Omg, too cute. I hope this is less PR and really a token of love. They do make a cute couple.
Onto the product. There are three “Flavor Inspired Fragrances” named after a few of Mariah’s songs:
Mine Again
Chocolate Raspberry w/Magnolia
Ribbon
Blue Raspberry
All light scents, this seemed the lightest. Very blueberry-ish.
Honey
Honey and Pineapple
This very much came across as Peach.
The Good:
The Bad:
What’s Different
I went in to pick up Bulgari or Vera Wang’s Princess and left with Lollipop Bling in Mine Again. There is that initial alcohol, but after dry down, on my way to the car there was a cloying chemical scent. I went back and exchanged for Honey.
The staying power is good on Honey, but a reason I want a fragrance is to combat that blech feel from summer’s high humidity. I have to press my nose to my wrist to pick up any scent. I’ll likely use this up just because, but I wish it was a little more power packed like Carey’s vocals. These all have a great scent, but if you wear a fragrance that no one can smell, does it defeat the purpose?
Congratulations to Joanna Smith. She will receive one bottle of Natori.
2010 starts with a beautiful piece of art – the Josie Natori fragrance. This is a very exclusive release on the Natori site, with Saks and Nordstrom. Now you have a chance to get a bottle through Solessence. Please see the previous review I gave for this item.
This giveaway ends Sunday, January 31st Pacific Time 11:59pm.
You must check back on the site to see if you have been selected as we have had difficulty contacting people. This giveaway is sponsored by the firm representing the perfume line; all bottles will ship direct.
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Giveaway: This item is for (1) bottle of Natori by Josi Natori.
Please see the previous review I gave for this item.
This is a debut release for 2009.
How to Enter:
1. Place a comment in the section here on why you would like a bottle of this fragrance.
* For a Bonus Entry:
2. List/Add Solessence on Twitter and or join our Facebook Page to keep updated on upcoming giveaways (and the best in unique beauty/fashion news, ‘natch!). You can leave individual comments here that you did both of these actions too. That will total 3 entries for the person doing all actions.
3. Check back on the site to see if you have been selected.
That’s it!
This giveaway ends Sunday, December 6th Pacific Time 11:59pm.
You must check back on the site to see if you have been selected as we have had difficulty contacting people. This giveaway is sponsored by the firm representing the perfume line; all bottles will ship direct.
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As we are finalizing the tally for the Siren by Paris Hilton giveaway, we are ramping up for yet another. Christmas is coming, and have we got more gorgeous fragrances for you!
Second Giveaway: This item is for (1) bottle of Queen by Queen Latifah. There will be 3 people drawn, each will receive 1 bottle.
Queen by Queen Latifah is a fragrance I received a small sample bottle. It was decanted (poured from a larger bottle) so at first I didn’t realize what it was. A quick spritz had me sold!
The bright touch of citrus scents with something more serious lurking underneath pull me through the colder months. That is what Queen is about. The fragrance is described as having:,
Top Notes: Golden Tequila accord, Italian Bergamot, Mediterranean Mandarin.
Mid notes: Baie Rose, Jasmine Noir, Cognac, Moroccan Coriander.
Base Notes: Indonesian Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vanilla Absolute, Tonka Absolute, Egyptian Incense, Musk.
This is a debut release for 2009. $60 USD retail value
This giveaway ends Sunday, December 6th Pacific Time 11:59pm.
You must check back on the site to see if you have been selected as we have had difficulty contacting people.
How to Enter:
1. Place a comment in the section here saying why you would like a bottle of this fragrance.
* For a Bonus Entry:
2. LIST Solessence on Twitter and or join our new and lonely Facebook Page to keep updated on upcoming giveaways (and the best in unique beauty/fashion news, ‘natch!). You can leave individual comments here that you did both of these actions too. That will total 3 entries for the person doing all actions.
3. Check back on the site to see if you have been selected.
That’s it!
This is the second release of self named scent by famed lingerie designer Josie Natori, and is found at Saks Fifth Avenue and at the Natori website. Interestingly, the first version seemed a bit of a departure from the line, and was sold through Avon. If you previously purchased Avon Natori, it is the same designer, but not the same fragrance.
“A floral oriental chypre, this fragrance opens with an effervescent bouquet of fresh rose petals enriched by deep, dark plum notes. The heart is an exotic and alluring hybrid of Ylang Ylang, Purple Peony and Night Blooming Jasmine. Slipping languidly over pulse points, Black Patchouli, Amber and a hint of Satin Musk complete this mysterious and tantalizing fragrance.”
In layman’s terms I’ll say this: This is definitely a 90’s type of perfume lite. For me, at first it is a bit powdery, then as it warms, begins to develop a bit of a candy sweetness. If you liked Dior’s original Poison, this is in the same camp, only lighter. Poison is one of the biggest selling perfumes of all time (myself as a customer included), so that’s big fan base potential.
In addition, the kicker to making it a “must have” is the packaging. Face it beauty lovers, half of the joy is the product, and the rest is what encases it. Natori knocks it out of the park with a super stunning, deep purple bottle said to resemble the opening petals of the lotus flower. It fans out at the top, yet is narrow and smooth and comforting. It is pleasing to hold, like a worry stone. Toward the bottom, the bottle indents with little glass windows. I don’t know what other purpose it provides, but it adds an interesting visual touch, and insight into how soon you will need to replace your bottle. Work. Of. Art.
The silk body creme jar also comes in very pleasing packaging, and I find perfumes often translate very well into cremes. This is worth picking up for the collector.
When John Paul Gaultier first came out with his line of “corset” perfumes, they looked all too familiar. That’s because two Elsa Schiaparelli bottles have sat on my dressing table since high school, passed on to me by my incredibly fashionable aunt.
As someone interested in design, I instantly fell in love with the dress forms the bottles were mimicking. If you look closely at the smaller bottle, there is actually a measuring tape, and seal underneath. The large bottle had been full of the signature scent Shocking. During a move, it opened, corroding the flowers and ruining the tape. Ah well, it is still lovely.
I love everything about these bottles. The beauty of the forms. The glass and enamel leaves and flowers. The embossed lace design. The velvet lining. The smaller bottle still has the stand, it is just not attached in the photo. The underside is shocking pink. They’ve got some wear because they were used, but they represent a time when beautiful detailing was crucial to packaging, not a project cost killer. Oh the thrill to touch the throat with the golden, glass stopper. This is part of the experience a simple spritz cannot match.
Schiaparelli was Coco Chanel’s biggest competitor, and was known for bringing fashion to the masses. After the war, her perfumes sold particularly well, but the downfall to her line 
was that it was easily copied. I don’t know if this is the case, but I’ll give Gaultier the benefit of the doubt and cast his line as a tribute.
If you’d like a good read, check out this designer who pushed the creative envelope for fashion. If you’re a fan, give Schiaparelli a shout out!
