Remembrance of Smells Past

Every December I am given a new perfume, and this usually lasts me for the whole year. I love not having to go out and choose a scent for myself as I get a bit overwhelmed in fragrance halls and my nose seems to go on strike after about 3 samples.

Fragile is very dark because it's 11 years old. Also all the glitter has gone, which I find very confusing. Did they dissolve?

I was going to do a review on this year's gift, but I think I need to use it for a bit longer to make it fair. So I thought I'd go over my previous gifts (yes I do keep all the empty bottles). Now I quickly have to say perfume preference is just a matter of taste & what I may love others may hate and vice versa. This is just meant to be a quick review/recap of my perfume history.

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER - Fragile

This was the first perfume I ever owned, so I do view it through rose-tinted specs. When I was twelve I was given the bottle shaped like a snow globe with actual bits of glitter in the liquid. I was in love with it. I felt so sophisticated and I loved the scent (very warm & glamorous, with the main scent being tuberose). However after a very short amount of time the liquid went down below the figurines head (can still be seen) & I freaked out and refused to use anymore. I have had a few more bottles of it since, each time in the long bottle so I won't have to relive the same childhood trauma! Whilst not being my absolute favourite scent, I do like it, and will reach for it before a cocktail party when I fell I need some old school glamour.

ANNA SUI - Dolly Girl Bonjour L'Amour (Limited Edition)

This was my first perfume ever gifted by my boyfriend, and once again I'm pretty sure we both only loved it because of the bottle. Its scent is much lighter and youthful, and I was very comfortable wearing this in the day. It's very sweet & fruit, and the most stand out scent for me was peachy melon. I think I would be a bit too old to wear this now, but it's a lovely fragrance for your teen years.

GHOST - Sweetheart

This was my first perfume of my 20s. I was growing up so obviously I got my first perfume without an interesting bottle. This has a very feminine vanilla-y smell and was very practical for wearing to work. However it did not have much staying power, and would basically vanish by the end of the day. I did like it, but I didn't love it so would not repurchase it.

GUERLAIN - Insolence

If you look at my photo it's pretty obvious what my views were on this perfume. Now I'm not a wasteful person, I did think of giving it away but the boyfriend made it quite clear this would not be well tolerated. I even lent it to my house mate for 6 months to decant as I just wanted the bottle back for my collection. But she never got round to it. So in conclusion: don't judge me, judge her! The bottle is pleasant enough, but nothing exciting. The scent isn't too bad, but a bit heavy, powdery and slight "essence of old lady" for my taste. But my main problem was that it stayed around for far too long, and after wearing it for a couple of hours I would have the worst headache. I just sniffed it again now, and I swear I can taste the perfume at the back of my throat. Yuk. But, all my friends like it so it just be one of those smells I can't stand, like peanuts and rice pudding.

JUICY COUTURE - Juicy Couture

Spoiler Alert, this review is probably going to be quite gushing. I adore this perfume. This is (almost) the first perfume I specifically asked for. I subtly dragged my boyfriend over to the Juicy Couture section of the perfume hall & shoved Peace, Love & Juicy under his nose & gushed about how much I loved it. However, come present giving time I got this. Yes I was disappointed & wanted to return it but he didn't have the receipt, so I stuck with it. And I'm so glad I did. It's floral without being too sweet & girly, long-lasting without being over-powering & the bottle is pretty without being garish. I think it's perfectly suited to being both a day & night scent. This perfume has gotten me compliments on almost a weekly basis, even from complete strangers. I love it so much I didn't even want a new perfume this year, but I am a traditionalist (read OCD), and I like sticking to a schedule. So to conclude: Favourite. Perfume. Ever.

LANCOME - Tresor

This is my most recent perfume, given to me by my mother who didn't want to stray from he signature Chanel. I'm not a fan of the bottle, I think it's neither an exciting design, or a simple classic one. It is just dull, and I think the black circle around the neck makes it quite ugly. The scent itself is quite a heavy, yet still floral. It is is quite a mature smell, and makes me think of what perfume would have smelled like back in the day. It also has incredibly staying power so definitely don't go overboard when applying. I would not wear this in the day as it is far too heavy, but this is definitely suitable for a more sophisticated night out. So really I think this is the better (or the more my-nose-friendly version of Insolence). I would recommend it for a more grown up perfume.

I Heart Juicy!

So in order of preference my perfumes go:

Juicy Couture > Fragile > Tresor > Sweetheart > Dolly Girl > Insolence


So what perfumes have you gone through in the past few years, and what were you favourites?


Kat x