Sensational Scents from Escentual

From a casual e-mail exchange with someone at Escentual the other day I was very fortunate to be sent a bottle of Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Solution. More of that in a future post as I’m testing it at the moment but what was a real surprise was a whole selection of perfume samples that came in the parcel too!

You’ve probably heard me say – all the way through spring and summer  – that I was looking for the perfect summer scent. Well, I reached autumn without finding a favourite.

I really love it when samples have a spray and usually pop them in my make-up bag to use during the day. Over the past few months I’ve been using them up and was running really short of choice until these babies arrived!

Escentual have such a great selection and often have offers and these samples demonstrate the great range that they have from classic to contemporary. Here’s what I got.

Acqua Di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Bergamotto di Calabria When I first smelled this I really loved it and then for a moment or two wondered whether it was designed for men or women. After discovering that it was both I was at first reassured but then realised that I liked it so much that it wouldn’t have mattered – I would have worn it anyway.

They say:

“Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Bergamotto di Calabria, with its exhilarating benefits, will transport you to the fascinating region of Calabria. The fragrance opens with a burst of vitalizing energy. The green, sparkling top notes of bergamot are exalted by the freshness of citron, also from Calabria.The perfume slowly unlocks its soft, intense bouquet, revealing the fruity, floral accord of bergamot in its heart notes, emphasized by refined nuances of cedar wood and red ginger.”

For me it smelt warm and heady like a summer evening on a warm mediterranean resort. It helped me to latch on to the last threads of the summer as they were disappearing over the horizon. It lasted for a good few hours before it faded. Gorgeous!

It costs from £54.00 – £78.00 here.

Cartier Baiser Vole Lys Rose This is the most attractive of the samples visually. It’s really a travel size and I love how it looks. It’s a light floral fragrance and I have to say it’s very light. While I don’t really like the strong rose scents that are popular now this is so light it’s almost not there. I would say it smells the same a when you hold a flower to your nose and it’s not very scented – you can just about smell it.

They say:

“Sun-kissed and radiant, the Cartier Baiser Vole Lys Rose Eau de Toilette is an ode to the supremely feminine lily. For this chapter in the Baiser Vole saga, perfumer Matilde Laurent explores the vibrancy of a blooming pink lily, a flower of pure passion. Full of highly charged emotions, it is a fragrance to love and be loved in. Cartier Baiser Vole Lys Rose explores every aspect of the lily, including its crystallised petals that convey both delicacy and vividness. When combined with subtle touches of raspberry, the powdery and delicate notes of Baiser Vole are sublimated. Lys Rose is a noble perfume that leaves a lingering trail.”

I wish that I could recognise any of the description above. Maybe it’s just me. I’ll display it with pride because it’s Cartier and because I love how it looks but I doubt if I will bother wearing it.

It costs from £37.80 – £78.30 here.

Givenchy Dahlia Divin This new offering from Givenchy is sheer glamour, a true grown up scent. I’ve loved Givenchy since I bought a precious bottle of Givenchy III when I was 19 and have always thought of it as a class act.

They say:

“The fragrance of a modern-day goddess, Givenchy Dahlia Divin Eau de Parfum is an enchanting elixir of precious gold and light. Crafted with sublime attention to detail and fine materials, Dahlia Divin is like an Haute Couture gown, enveloping the body with intricate golden threads. The woman who wears it has all of the qualities of a contemporary idol, creating a lasting impression with her luxuriously sensuous fragrance. Dahlia Divin opens with notes of a rare golden fruit, the Mirabelle plum. This subtle sweetness is paired with plush white flowers including jasmine, which shines like a ray of pure light. In the base, the alluring woody tones of sandalwood caress the skin, ensuring a striking aura.”

It costs from £40.50 – £70.20 here.

Juliet Has a Gun Mad Madame I’d never heard of this brand and the whole edginess of it is intriguing. The sample came in a sealed envelope with the words Juliet Has a Gun on it and then inside is the tester of the Mad madame fragrance.  The branding is all about guns and bullets and I wasn’t quite sure why. Still – I thought that it smelled different and exciting and the advertising blurb tells the same story:

“Misbehave with the Juliette Has a Gun Mad Madame Eau de Parfum, a decadent, aphrodisiac fragrance for women. The daring Eau de Parfum is for a woman who is provocative and fascinating. No one is left indifferent to her presence: she whispers and ignites conversations in her wake, and she loves every second of it. The Mad Madame perfume is the perfect accompaniment to this charismatic yet enigmatic woman, a deeply sensual, explosive eau de parfum that leaves no doubt about its intentions. The green chypre fragrance revolves around the slightly metallic rose oxide note, together with a bright ribbon of blackcurrant bud absolute, and a resonating woody-modern ambroxan accord. A more mature Juliette Has A Gun fragrance, but no better behaved.”

If you’re feeling a little bit naughty I’d recommend you try this; It costs from £75.00 – £95.00 here.

So thank  you Escentual for allowing me to try out the newest and most delectable scents. II’m not certain that I’ve found the one yet but there are hundreds of others here to choose from.

Have you tried any of these before. I’d love to hear what you think.

Hazel

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