Swell Smells: Miss Pucci & Marc Jacobs Daisy

I am going to be totally honest here - I'm writing about this purely because I like the bottle. I wish I could see it in person, hold it in my hand, because I'm so intrigued. Is it flat-ish? Is it heavy?

So much goes into the making of a fragrance - no detail is overlooked - and when it comes to bottles, well they can be a powerful selling point. The prettiest bottle I have is a silver version of Marc Jacobs Daisy. I love to shoot it because I can catch a good reflection off of it - lots of fun. In the case of Daisy, you get a whole rang of flankers, too -  pins, necklaces, special edition bottles. Great idea - a collector is going to want all the different versions and someone who might not otherwise try Daisy might be drawn to one of the other versions and think, hhmm I think I need this in a big bottle....

The Miss Pucci is all new modern-version of a Pucci scent and it's available exclusively at Sephora.

Fragrance notes: Sicilian Lemon, Turkish Rose, Comoros Ylang-Ylang, Tunisian Orange Blossom, Arabian Jasmine, Texas Cedar, Florentine Iris, Musk

Do you have a favorite perfume bottle?

Image credits: Sephora and Chase Your Bliss Photography

Swell Smells: Kat Von D & Adora

It looks like Kat Von D has a new fragrance in addition to her new man, (in case you haven't heard, she's dating recent Sandra Bullock ex, Jesse James. Whoop de doo...... Gossip, gossip, gossip...).

I like the bottle, but the top notes are a little fruit-heavy for my nose. Although, I do love the base notes of Patchouli, Musk, and Amber Wood. Sephora shoppers give Kat Von D's Adora 4.5 out of 5 stars. If you've had a chance to smell it, I'd love to hear your opinion.

Adora means "Beloved One" in Latin. For Kat, Adora reflects the next chapter in her personal evolution—an introspective renaissance discovered through deep layers, stories, and scars. She's a romantic soul with an edgy exterior. Adora is a sensual and passionate perfume journey—unexpected and provocative. This scent reveals a stirring glimpse into an enigmatic life…tortured, beautiful, and brutally honest. At the top, crushed juicy notes of lychée and boysenberry intertwine with thyme and a crisp shot of cassis. The heart fuses the distinct sweetness of hyacinth with jasmine to create floral notes, enhanced by freshly peeled mango. At the base, patchouli finds her spiritual matches with sheer musk and amber wood.

It's only available at Sephora. The rollerball Parfum is $16 and the 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum is $55.

Adora fragrance notes: Lychée, Boysenberry, Thyme, Cassis, Hyacinth, Jasmine, Mango Flesh, Patchouli, Sheer Musk, Amber Wood

Image credit: Sephora.com

Swell Smells: 5 Fresh Summery Fragrances

Do you change your fragrance when the seasons change? Something lighter for the warmer weather?  There are some fragrances that I wear year round, but in the Summer months I do seem to be drawn to the light notes of water accord, fruits, especially the fresh scent of citrus.


If you are in the market for a new Summer scent, here are a few fragrances that launched recently featuring notes of fresh citrus or exotic flowers. Floral, Fresh, or Spicy - there's something for everyone.

*Calvin Klein CK One Summer
Top note: Watermelon, Pear, Mandarin, Kaffir Lime Leaves
Middle note: Violet Leaves, Marigold, Verbena, Water Lily
Base note: Patchouli, Skin Musk, Vetiver, Cedarwood

*FlowerByKenzo La Cologne
Notes: Poppy, Bergamot, Bigarade Leaves, Orange Blossom, Neroli, Musk, Vanilla

*Rio Bikini by AVON
Top note: Pitaya Fruit, Juicy Kiwi, Watermelon
Middle note: Coconut Milk
Base note: Beachy Accord, Sandalwood, Musk

*Rio Rhythms by AVON
Top note: Jasmine, Coconut Water, Peony
Middle note: Gardenia, Lilac
Base note: Vanilla, Milky Accord, Warm Wood, Amber

*St. Tropez Dispenser by Smell Bent
Notes: Jasmine Absolute, Coconut, Aloe Vera, Vintage Musk.

**Calvin Klein, Kenzo, and AVON fragrances were all furnished to me for review**
Image credit: Michelle Hamor Smith

Swell Smells & Style: Stella Solid Fragrance Necklace

When I was a little girl, I got a little yellow chick pin for Easter. I think it was made by AVON.  If you lifted the chick's head, there was a little pan of solid perfume underneath. I loved that pin. Even though I'm a big girl now, I still enjoy double-duty accessory-fragrances.


Several fragrance lines carry these items - I have a pin/necklace in the Marc Jacobs Daisy fragrance. That one is sort of triple duty, since I have the choice of wearing it either way. 

Stella McCartney is now offering a solid fragrance necklace. It's in her Stella fragrance, a little silver disc locket with the Stella McCartney logo on the top and the Stella fragrance inside. I like this one, because it's so non-frou-frou. Simple and modern. It's only available for a limited time and it's only available at Sephora.

The Stella fragrance is a Floral with notes of Rose, Peony, Mandarin, Rose Absolute, and Amber.

Image credit: Sephora

Swell Smells: ULTA's Free Tote Bag Offer

ULTA has a great gift with purchase offer going on for fragrance lovers. Make a $40 fragrance purchase and get a free tote. The totes come in great Spring shades like pink, green, white, yellow, and 2010's hottest color torquoise. No savings code is required, you chose your tote color at checkout.

What to buy? How about Marc Jacobs Lola? Described as being a bit like Daisy's older sister, Lola is a warm Floral. Once, while walking through the grocery store with my daughter, I thought, "Mmm, who smells so good?" Then, I realized that it was me, wearing Lola for a fragrance review. Plus, check out that bottle. How cute is that?

Top note: Pink Peppercorn, Pear, Ruby Red Grapefruit
Middle note: Rose, Fuschia, Peony, Geranium
Bottom note: Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Creamy Musk

Image credit: ULTA.com

Swell Makeup & Smell: Kim Kardashian Gift Set From Sephora

My youngest daughter loves to watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Me, not so much, but I have to admit that I love Kim Kardashian's style and makeup. She is a gorgeous lady and she really knows how to create the perfect smoky eye look.





Not that long ago, I got a chance to sample her Kim Kardashian Eau de Parfum for review. It's nice and not at all what I expected. I expected sexy, because that's what her image projects, but it's more of a feminine Floral with a strong note of Gardenia. My daughter, Bailey, uses it every day and the last time we were in 7-11, the clerk said, "Oh, your smell is good." I said, "It's Kim Kardashian," and he answered, "No. It is her." Ha!

Sephora has a new Kim Kardashian Gift Set available at Sephora. For a limited time, you can get all you need to create her "signature look" for only $55.

Wear luscious nude lips, sultry smoky eyes, flushed cheeks, and a voluptuous scent to channel Kim Kardashian's coveted sexiness. A chic, mirrored compact holds your must-have eye, lip, and cheek colors, plus applicators for on-the-go glamour. A set of simple instructions walk you through Kim's tips: "How I create my signature look!" Add a touch of fragrance and get ready to be downright irresistible.

The kit includes a 1 oz Eau de Parfum, 2 shades of lip gloss, 1 cheek color, and 3 shades of eyeshadow.



Kim Kardashian fragrance notes: Mandarin, Honey Suckle, Orange Blossom, Pink Jasmine, Tuberose, Sensual Spice, Lush Gardenia, Jacaranda Wood, Tonka Bean, Vanilla Orchid, Sexy Musk, Creamy Sandalwood



Image credits: Sephora and Picapp.com