The scent of a woman…is important!

Shopping for makeup is easy! 

Shopping for fragrance is yet another kind of shopping altogether. I recently went shopping for Christmas gifts for my brother- in- law and lured by a fragrance counter. The lights,the bottles and scents! The sales associate greeted me quickly and wondered who I was buying for. I said no one. I  told her I thought I would touch, spray and see what calls out to me!

She started to assist and I did not mind as I used to work in Bloomingdales 59th St. and Macys 34th Street in NYC  and I know all about the job. They stand all day and work hard! 

She tired her best to introduce me to some scents. After she was about to show and spritz the fifth one. I had to say “Bye” at least for now. I was getting fragrance overload. She was disapoointed to see me leave and offered me the infamous coffee bean bowl. If you haven’t been to a fine fragrance counter this is a PROfessional fragrance and perfumer’s tip …You sniff the coffee beans to clear your nose of all the scents and start sniffing scents again. Sort of like the sherbet or sorbet that they serve you between dishes at a fine restaurant! That is why I chose to do this blog post today to let you know the process.

Back to the fragrances and the sales associate…I was confused and wasn’t feeling it. I needed to shop for holiday gifts. So, I left that store. Every time I placed my wrists or hands toward my face to move my hair, or sling my tote over my shouder I suddenly fell in love with the top of my hand where one of the fragances I tested was. I couldn’t stop sniffing and smelling my hand. I smelled so sexy and the scent made me feel so happy. I drove back to that store that night and had to buy a bottle and a body cream to go with it.

So, the next time you are in the mood or just happen to feel like you want to test drive something new. Don’t try more than 3 or 4 fragrances at a time tops! Don’t be in a hurry. Wait a while to see how the fragrance traslates and smells on you. Smelling coffee beans is great but most times you simply have to wait.

I smelled so …Delish!

What scent are you wearing today? Talk to me.

Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels.com

Scent-sational…

On my recent trip to New Orleans I rediscovered a place I had shopped for fragrant soaps and more! It is a  perfumery called Bourbon French Parfums.They have been creating elegant,sensual fragrances for almost 175 years. Began by August Doussan now housed in a quaint Creole cottage on Royal Street (my fav’ street in New Orleans).Mary Behlar,owner and the house perfumer,has continued the tradition of personal care for her clients in the French Quarter.

My latest obsession is in the photograph above. This fragrant roll on and creamy moisturizing soap is on of their secret formula fragrances. Seductive yet shy,pretty yet gave me a sensual sexy high. As I travel for work and play in beauty I am asked what is that scent I am wearing? A little drop is all it takes.

The old world charm and the vials and pretty little bottles of perfume will call your name. They also make a signature custom blend for YOU and your sweetie too! Your custom blend specialist will do a complete assessment of your body chemistry as well as your personality,your likes and dislikes and more. I hope you’ll explore.

Visit and shop: http://www.neworleansperfume.com 

 

Tips for Buying Scents for Spring

 LOVE wearing fragrance? Me too! So here are some tips on picking it,wearing it and how long it should last for you. When shopping for a fragrance bring a notepad to write down the brand names and what they smell like to you. Examples:floral,woodsy,musk,jasmine

Then start applying…on your wrists is best.You can’t sniff your neck if you apply it there.

DON’T rub your wrists together after you apply the fragrance to your body. I worked with Designer Diane Von Furstenberg and that was a no no she taught me. It ruins the fragrant essentials oils and essence of the perfume or cologne.

Don’t try more than 3 different fragrances at a time. Your sense of smell will be overwhelmed.

Those paper blotters strips or cards at the fragrance counter are meant to let you spray the fragrance on them instead of on you and sniff away. But they do not let you know how a fragrance will smell on your body.

Ask the sales associate if they have a shaker bottle of fresh coffee beans to smell between trying another fragrance. This does what cool sherbet does when you are fine dining to clear the taste on your tongue between meal courses.

You DON’T have to buy fragrance that day. You can wait and decide another day.

IF the sales associate offers you free samples…take them.Play with them at home.

You never know what you will discover!

Fragrance words of wisdom:

Fashion designer scents,Celebrity scents, top model scents and reality TV stars scents don’t make it better. Personally I have found some amazing fragrances through the years that were not on that list. And expensive does not make it any better. I was given a gift of Kim Kardashian perfume. It smelled awful but had a pretty bottle. You cannot wear the bottle.

My husband ended up using it as room deodorizer in his bathroom!!!

Give Him or HER a customized elixir for V-DAY!

http://www.blendcustomparfum.com

A truly unique luxurious experience I did over the phone and in an email.

Or you can visit HOT-lanta as they affectionately call Atlanta Georgia in the South and order it at their studio too.

Create a customized, personal perfume,cologne or signature line of delicious scented products. Order it for him,her or yourself too. It was interactive fun and so spot on. The fragrance I created was just what I love in a scent!  Sexy, floral and oh so me.

The skies the limit when you create yours too.You can even name it too!

Again it is something I simply had to share with you.

If you are looking for a cool,one of a kind fabulous gift…ring them and get started.

info@blendcustomparfum.com

404-202-5503

Let me know if you have a Valentine’s day gift idea you’d like to share with me too. I’d love to hear from you.

Eventually you gotta say goodybe to your beauty booty!

Now’s the time to take better care of you and your health too.The start of spring or a new year does not mean thinking about losing weight and eating right. Yes, they count however it is also a time to start fresh with your beauty products, makeup brushes and manscaping supplies. Like milk, fruits and other foods your beauty has a shelf life. Once opened, kept too long or stored in a steamy bathroom or car they need to be replaced.

Give yourself a few hours in the morning when you are fresh or a few in the afternoon. Spread out your things on a portable table and evaluate. How long ago did I buy this? When was the last time I used it? Did I ever use it? Does it smell funky or has it gone bad. Did you know once opened even if you have not used it much the air and sunlight affects your product and can change its effectiveness.
Once skin care products hit the light, they lose their super powers. That is why you see so many brands use amber, dark blue or opaque packaging.

Once you have got the old or used products lined up that you do not use anymore…I like to play a game called let’s throw it out. Have a garbage can ready.

Here is my professional guide on how long you should keep your products:
Skin care: A year or more.
Tooth Brush: Throw out every three months at least.
Hair Brush: Once a year.
Sonic Face Cleansing Brush or Toothbrush head: Throw out every three to six months.
Eye cream: A year or more.
Retin-A: Less than a year.
Foundation: Liquid lasts a year or more. Cream a year or two. Powder base lasts the longest.
Lipstick: Two years or more
Lip-gloss or lip balm: lasts approximately a year or two.
Blush: Powder blush lasts approximately 2 years or more & cream blush lasts a year or less.
Lip and eyeliners, brow liners: I find good quality pencils last longer than you think. They can last years.
Liquid or gel eyeliners: Liquid lasts years and gel will only last a year. Less IF you do not close the lid properly. Gel liners dry out fast!
Eye shadow: Powder lasts years unlike crams which last a year or less.
Mascara: A healthy rule is 3 months or more.
Loose powder: Can last years.
Shampoo: A couple of years.
Conditioner: A couple of years.
Nail Polish: A year or more if it does not come out right on the nail when you use it will need to be thrown out.
Perfume OR After-shave: Once opened or closed it does expire. A year or a bit more.
Makeup Brushes or makeup sponges; need your attention too. Replace your sponges often so germs do not build up. A sign they are getting old is when they fray and start to fall apart. If your makeup brushes start fall apart and hairs start to fall out in small or large clumps it is definitely time to think about replacing them. If the hairs separate from the silver ferrule this part and cut your face. throw it out.Not all your makeup brushes just the ones that are not working well when you apply and blend your makeup or falling apart.

When in doubt…if it smells strange, gets rancid or changes color and or doesn’t move and apply like it used to…throw it out.

Once Opened Beauty Expiration Kit is a cool kit that you can mark your products purchase date with a water-resistant label and pen. It comes in a cute kit that lets you know how long you had that product.

Use up what you have and LOVE, throw out what you are NOT using. Do not pass USED makeup on to your daughter, friends’ mom or family. You will spread bacteria and they may even give them a skin or eye infection. While I love saving money it is not worth handing down…just throw the products out.

Do not allow your products to clutter your bathroom or house and get in your way.Deleting and updating these will keep your skin, eyes, face, lips and body healthy.
Guys too this includes you too!

Start spring right and with fresh beauty and a good and healthy habit. It will make a world of difference!