My Scent // Narciso Rodriguez

This is my most favorite scent, well, specifically the middle dark bottle.  Narciso Rodriguez for Her has been my favorite scent since college.  It is so delicious.  It's notes are, "A blend of floral, amber and woody pulsations. The essence of modern sophistication and femininity. A subtle, delicate and luminous fragrance," and, "Pink Pepper, Lavender, Patchouli, Violet, Amber, Woody Accord," and lastly, "At the source of for her is the essence of Egyptian Musk—a warm, silky oil, blended with top notes revealing a solar musk refreshed by orange blossoms and osmanthus. In the middle note, the musk moves into a more abstract mood of enveloping, impalpable softness. Here, the musk is luminous but retains its creamy richness in the presence of amberlyn and vanilla. The bottom note unveils the sensorial, voluptuous dimension of musk with vetiver, taking on feminine accents while the sensuality of the wooden notes are magnified."
I love it because it feels feminine and sexy, not too sweet, not too floral, deep, a little bit dark, if it were a color in my mind, it would be a deep purple/red.  I don't like most perfumes because many just smell too overpowering.  I don't like tangy, citrus, sweet, or crisp scents when it comes to perfumes.  I usually don't dig perfumes that come in bottles that are brightly colored or are bottled in cutesy adorable girly girl bottles like a bottle shaped like an apple or a bottle with a big bow on it.  I like something with a bit of sophistication and subtle sexiness.   I usually like perfumes that come in dark color bottles.  Narciso Rodriguez reminds me of a magical scent you would find hidden somewhere in the woods in a treasure chest glowing in dark purple light, or maybe found in a silver vile in an Egyptian pyramid, or in an antique perfume bottle in Morocco.

I haven't bought any perfume in about 3 years just because, once my college loan payments kicked in after college, I just couldn't justify buying a fancy bottle of perfume once or twice a year.  But after a successful holiday sales season this year, I just had to indulge myself and I bought the smallest sized bottle I could find online... with coupon codes.  :)  I like nice things but I'm thrifty!  When my perfume arrived, I realized I must has bought the set of Eau de Toilette, Body Mist, and Iridescent Fragrance as a set.  I just wanted the Eau de Toilette, but the 2 other bottles are interesting and actually are perfect for wearing the scent at different times of the day and to different occasions.  The body mist (the pale pink creamy colored bottle) is more of a creamy spray with more amber notes.  And the iridescent fragrance (the brighter peach colored bottle) is slightly stronger smelling than the body mist, and a little more flowery scented.  The Eau de Toilette is the strongest of the three and has the most complex notes.  Yum yum yum.

WHAT ARE NOTES:
Fragrances are comprised of many different scents, these scents are called "notes."
Top notes are very light and last just a few minutes (5-10 minutes). Middle notes become apparent in about 15 minutes after application. These can last up to an hour or more. Bottom notes are the heavier ingredients. These last the longest, usually for several hours.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PERFUME, EAU DE TOILETTE, EAU DE PARFUM AND AU DE COLOGNE:
The differences are simply a matter of the amount or concentration of oils in the fragrance. These oils are called "juice." The highest concentration of "juice" is in perfume (or parfum). Next would be Eau de Parfum, then Eau de Toilette, and finally Eau de Cologne.
Actually, Eau de Toilette and Eau de Cologne are generally interchangeable, particularly in Men's fragrances. After Shave has the least amount of oils. The higher the concentration of "juice" the longer your fragrance will last, and the less you need to apply.
WHY DO SOME FRAGRANCES LAST LONGER THAN OTHERS:
People with dry skin usually find their fragrance holding time shorter than those with oily skin because oily skin has more natural moisture to hold in the fragrance.
PH levels (amount of acidity in our skin) also varies slightly from person to person. Our individual levels of PH will determine how each ingredient in a fragrance will react.

HOW TO STORE YOUR FRAGRANCE:

Keep all fragrance in a cool, dry area, and away from windows as sunlight can unbalance the various ingredients. An opened bottle should be kept in its box to insure a longer shelf life.

HOW TO MAKE THE SCENT LAST LONGER:

Fragrance lasts longer on some people than on others because of differences in our skin (oily or dry) and in our PH levels. To achieve a longer effect, try layering your fragrance. Using the fragrance bath gel, (if the company offers one), then the moisturizer or powder, and then the Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum or Eau de Cologne, will usually have a longer lasting effect.
Also, apply your fragrance low on the body, as well as behind your ears and on your neck, so that the scent rises and you won't lose it as quickly. A light spray on the hair can last all day.

FUN FACT:

A fragrance may smell slightly different on different people due to the natural oils in your skin, your body's PH balance, and the natural scent your body gives off combined with the fragrance.  Every scent becomes unique to you with how it reacts with your body!
(info from fragrance.net)

I highly recommend going to the perfume counters at Nordstrom to have a consultation with one of the scent experts there to find your perfect scent.  No joke, the perfume ladies there can just talk to you for a minute and almost immediately know the perfect scent to match your personality.  Plus, it is just fun to smell lots of different kinds of scents.  I am really sensitive to smells so when I find a beautiful scent, it seriously morphs my mood!

*This post was not sponsored by any fragrance companies, I just really love scents :)  What's your fragrance?