A naughty AND nice vanilla? [reviewing Vanilla Royale Sugared Patchouli | 64 edp, by Kayali]

 “Calling all vanilla lovers!! Get ready for Vanilla | 28’s boujee big sister, something deeper, more intense, sexy, and RICH AF --- Vanilla Royale!"

 

 "It’s no secret that I am a vanilla lover and OBSESSED with gourmand fragrances. I am addicted to the sweet and captivating qualities this note brings to a juice, and I’ve always wanted to create a more decadent and intense version.” – Mona Kattan

With an enhanced blend of exotic florals, rch spices, and dark, decadent notes, the eleventh fragrance in the Kayali collection, Vanilla Royale Sugared Patchouli | 64 unites contrasting textures: gourmand indulgence with rich sensuality for an intense new level of sophistication. As a new member of the Kayali vanilla family, this complex explosion of sweet vanilla mixed with sugared patchouli will be the crown jewel in every vanilla lovers collection.

Collaborating once again with senior perfumer Gabriela Chelariu from famed perfume house Firmenich and the nose behind Vanilla | 28, Mona Kattan has taken her love for gourmands one step further; “the vanilla note is always a part of our Kayali DNA, but for this scent, I really wanted to show another side to this delicious ingredient, make it something incredibly over-the-top, and to make everyone feel like the royal version of themselves!”

"For the opening of Vanilla Royale Sugared Patchouli | 64, the elegant and warm vanilla orchid and creamy jasmine unite with golden rum for an intoxicating intensity. In the heart of the fragrance, vanilla infusion, vanilla surabsolute, and crème brulée create an overload of sweet, gourmand sensations while nuances of almond, tobacco, and caramel from the tonka bean bring an intense level of irresistibility. Powerful yet delicate, the spicy rose bouquet, along with smoky leather, creates an intriguing signature that is raw and velvety yet distinctively refined. Earthy with woody and camphorous facets, sugared patchouli glistens with sparkling sweetness while toasted tones of brown sugar further enhance the dark, decadent richness. The amber brings glowing intrigue to the exotic royal oud woven throughout the fragrance to enhance the dry down further. Finally, a tender trace of creamy musk creates a scent uniquely contrasted by soft sensuality and deep, luxurious richness."

🚨 New Kayali release 🚨

I still haven't gotten around to buying a full-sized version of their original Vanilla edp yet [loved my couple of 10ml bottles, but own too many vanilla fragrances to justify getting another until I've used a few up], however as this edition is being referred to as being limited edition, I jumped on it immediately online, without going to a Selfridges store to test it beforehand.

Is it I-must-have-it, lovely, nice, or meh? 

Love me, or love me not? [reviewing LOVEFEST Burning Cherry | 48 edp, by Kayali]

Luscious, Woody & Mesmerizing.  

 Celebrate your love for life with this luscious, woody gourmand fragrance and awaken the free spirit within you!

The enticing contrast of succulent burning cherries and raspberries accompanied with sweet caramelized praline against the smoky, earthy notes of palo santo, guaiac wood, and patchouli makes this a truly mesmerizing and euphoric fragrance - harmoniously balancing this captivating scent for undeniable seduction...

Kayali has quickly become one of my favourite fragrance brands, with three of their releases being "I must keep on buying this, because I can't be without it" must-haves, and only one of their other releases being something that I consider "meh", rather than "lovely".

Shortly after getting Eden, I was thinking "this is lovely, but a fragrance built around cherries would be fantastic". Then about a week later, LOVEFEST was announced...

Has LOVEFEST been the winner that I'd been expecting?

Oh, cheeky!! [reviewing Naked Fantasy edt, by Britney Spears]

Fantasy is freedom – real & unfiltered

Discover the sensation of baring it all with this enveloping scent, inspired by Britney’s empowering confidence, open heart & cheeky humor. 

Unveil your inner sparkle, feel comfortable in your skin & let your true beauty shine from the inside out. Designed for the free-spirited woman, like Britney, who is not afraid to be a little naughty. It’s time to own your sensuality, you’ve got nothing to hide – after all, the naked truth can be just peachy!

Honestly; after testing & owning Blissful Fantasy, I was left feeling as there was a slight slump in the quality levels of the Fantasy line oncoming. I was even hesitant to try this new edition, in case it does indeed confirm that the slump has arrived...

So I've been taking extra time in the testing & taking notes period, for this new edition; Naked Fantasy. Was Blissful Fantasy a one-off meh release, or is it time t o leave the Fantasy line alone for a while?

Re-do the Review: Killer Queen edp, by Katy Perry...

Coty released Killer Queen in 2013 and described it as being a playful, sophisticated, powerful, edgy and delicious fragrance, that reflects the rebellious spirit of Katy...

"Killer Queen has been in my vocabulary since I was 15, because of the song ‘Killer Queen’ by Queen. Freddie Mercury painted the lyrics of this woman who I wanted to be. She seemed very powerful, and she captivated a room when she walked in. I feel like, after all this time, it was appropriate to use that name in association with something I did. I feel like I’m falling, finally, into that woman Freddie painted" - Katy perry

I recently rewrote & re-uploaded my review for the Royal Revolution edp, after receiving a bottle earlier this year and finding that my past feelings on it have changed quite a bit. Afterwards I became curious to find out if my feelings towards Killer Queen have also changed over the years, so bought a cheap bottle on eBay to find out.

100ml bottles of Killer Queen are widely available under the £20 mark online and in outlet stores, and 50ml bottles & gift sets show up regularly too. Therefore I thought I'd do what I did with Royal Revolution and replace my old review with this one, to share my updated thoughts on it...

Take it to the clouds above... [reviewing Cloud 2.0 INTENSE edp, by Ariana Grande]

Enhanced. Addictive. Dreamy. 

Cloud 2.0 INTENSE fragrance will leave you in awe and dreaming of what is yet to come...

"Ariana Grande CLOUD 2.0 is an amplified mix of lavender, juicy pear, and mouthwatering bergamot. Creamy musk and blonde woods evoke a cashmere-like skin sensual allure making this fragrance undeniably irresistible."

I really enjoy Cloud edp and think that it is undoubtedly the best fragrance release under Ariana Grande’s name, but the longevity and aura for it are still disappointing, if I'm honest. So when I saw that she had released a intense edition of Cloud in America last year, I was really excited and waited in anticipation...

And waited and waited. The delays between when God Is A Woman and Thank U Next 2.0 where released there and here where so long, that I had begun to think that Cloud 2.0 INTENSE wasn't going to receive a UK release at all.

Then I was cutting through Boots last week and... Bingo. Needless to say,  but I immediately bought a bottle and shoved the other two reviews I'm writing aside, to get this review out ASAP. 

Let's get to the good stuff...

A new Far Away perfume? Splendid news [reviewing Far Away Splendoria edp, by Avon]...

 Journey to the unforgettable and experience a modern, brighter twist on Oud, the liquid gold of Middle Eastern perfumery, with our new fragrance Far Away Splendoria. You won't be able to resist!  

Our new Far Away Splendoria is a one-of-a-kind scent. While traditional Oud is considered dark and masculine, we’ve created an exclusive White Oud accord for Far Away Splendoria, giving this rare Middle Eastern ingredient a fresh twist. Just as captivating as traditional Oud, but with a more feminine and sensual edge.

Inspired by the golden lands and hypnotic decadence of Arabian flowers, this fragrance was crafted by a talented trio of perfumers renowned for their Middle East expertise: Nelly Hachem-Ruiz, Nicolas Beaulieu and Julien Rasquinet.

Describing the scent, the perfumers said: “Far Away Splendoria is a perfume of pure luxury and mystery. It’s a mesmerising escape into the splendour of the Middle East landscapes. It is intriguing, sophisticated, and luxurious.”

This edition of Far Away is a gamble for me; I find oud in most perfumes very intense and it can be a migraine trigger, plus gardenia is hit or miss for me too. However the first time that Splendoria appeared in a brochure, it was hailed as   being "the world's first perfume" to use this new 'white oud' accord.

World's first something in beauty, available at a very affordable price = sold...

Double bubble trouble... [reviewing Toy 2 Bubble Gum edt, by Moschino]

 Fun, outgoing and playful notes explore the nuances of her majesty the rose, creating a delicate scent of bubble gum, from which the fragrance takes its name, and relieves the spirit of negative thoughts whilst enveloping the body and stimulating the mind...

I received my bottle of Toy 2 Bubble Gum for Christmas last year, so I've gotten plenty of wear-time in different weather conditions and seasons.

I adore both Toy & Toy 2, so I'd been looking forward to getting to try this edition. Was the wait worth it?

Take a bite... [reviewing Eden Juicy Apple | 01 EDP, by Kayali]

 "Playful and vibrant, this succulent scent is a tempting, mouth-watering fusion of crisp and juicy red apples, sweet berries, and fresh floral notes that will keep you wanting more and more. Bursting with attitude, discover the power of this modern, fruity-floral fragrance that will have you addicted at first spritz!"    

 

Friendly warning; I watched Mona Kattan talk about Eden on YouTube, where I learnt that she wanted a fresh & fruity fragrance that is reminiscent of the fun & carefree fragrances that takes her back to her teenage years at a American high school in the 90s - so I think that you should know to go in expecting something that's pretty simple and light & fruity, In line with the body splashes and perfume oils that were extremely popular with teenagers at the time.

I'm saying this at the start because loads of people who have reviewed this fragrance seemed to have missed the inspiration & development story, and expected something else.

Re-do the Review: Royal Revolution edp, by Katy Perry...

Royal Revolution was released in 2014 and developer Coty describes it as "an irresistible floral fragrance inspired by the beauty of blue diamond."

Royal Revolution was a fragrance that I reviewed when it was released back in 2014, after spending several weeks testing it in stores and obtaining those little tester vials to test it further at home. 

Fast forward to 2022 when I was gifted a bottle for Easter and have consequently decided that my older review doesn't really align with my present-day feelings on the fragrance & I'm not thrilled with my older review-writing skills.

Anyway; I've decided to delete the old review and rewrite it, seeing that you can still buy Royal Revolution today online & in various outlet stores at low prices...

Is this THE perfect blend of vanilla & coconut??? [reviewing Utopia Vanilla Coco | 21 edp, by Kayali]

"A warm, luxurious, sensual, and truly irresistible fragrance"

Perfume house Kayali, founded by Huda Beauty launched Utopia Vanilla Coco| 21 during the covid lockdown. Mona Kattan (Huda's sister) wanted to make a sun-drenched, solar perfume that would transport you to your dream destination and "fill you with a euphoric sense of vacation", after the global lockdown prevented travel and everyone felt trapped.

That description instantly sold me on Utopia, when I read it when scrolling though Instagram during the covid lockdown, so I instantly ordered a bottle, without waiting until I could try it.

Did it transport me away to a magical land?

Spinning around [reviewing Darling 2021 edp, by Kylie Mnogue]...

“Darling holds a special place in my heart. I’m so happy to be able to share this beautiful scent with my fans once more.” - Kylie Minogue 

The original Darling was launched to great success in 2006 and with Kylie’s continued success, it is no surprise that Darling is making a comeback.

The bottle and pack design reimagine the original through a modern lens, a shimmery pink, sleek shape with a lace-textured cap and all the glamour of the original. Perfumer Ilias Eremendis captured the beauty of the original scent architecture but in a modern, vegan formula.

Darling is a floral fragrance as thrilling as the pop darling who inspired it...

I was a huge Kylie fan through her Parlophone era, and I remember Darling really well; it was an edt and a had really poor aura  & very weak longevity, but I convinced myself that it was great and went through several bottles really quickly, as you practically had to bathe in the stuff and reapply it every couple of hours. As a result of the poor longevity & weak aura, I wouldn't detect much, other than passion fruit, vanilla and sandalwood.

Fast forward to 2022, when I discovered that Darling had been re-released last year, in a new edp formula; I was actually really excited to receive my online order, and started the testing & note-taking period immediately upon receiving it.

I'm expecting to discover a whole new fragrance, as a more intense formulation & improved longevity should help me to separate more individual notes. Ready to find out how it went?

Speedy Review: Fleur Fatale edp, by Kim Kardashian...

 Fleur Fatale edp by Kim Kardashian, was released in September 2014 [her original line of fragrances has nothing to do with her KKW fragrance company]. Fleur Fatale was announced as being a "captivating, feminine and sensual composition of floral, woody and musk notes."

I've always been aware of Fleur Fatele and the notes sounded really agreeable to me, however none of her earlier perfumes rocked my boat so I wasn't in a rush to try it & then this perfume didn't sick around long in stores, so I took it as a sign and didn't bother tracking it down.

However I recently saw a eBay auction for a 30ml bottle & fragranced body lotion combo that had nearly ended, so I decided to try my luck as it was only a few pounds - if I enjoy it I can then pick up a 100ml bottle for under £20. As you can easily find Fleur Fatale on eBay stores, Amazon and perfume outlet sites, I wanted to share my thoughts on here...

Speedy review; RiRi edp, by Rihanna..

 Rihanna launched her feminine fragrance RiRi back in the late summer of 2015...

I bought my bottle of RiRi a while ago and sort of forgot about it, but then a few weeks ago I noticed that the pink juice had faded, so have been wearing it again to see if the scent had changed too (it hasn't 😊).

As RiRi is still easy for people to find online today, I thought I'd share a few of my thoughts about it, so people who are looking for a affordable fragrance can decide if it sounds like something that they'd enjoy...

It's a private show... [reviewing Eve Privé edp, by Avon]

 
Embrace your individuality and let it shine 
 

You’re one-of-a-kind, so why shouldn’t your fragrance be unique too?

We’ve been doing beauty differently for 135 years, and are now excited to announce our first ever bespoke fragrance: NEW Avon Eve Privé.

You may have noticed a slight difference in how fragrances smell on your skin. Eve Privé takes the effects of the chemistry of your skin one step further, creating a completely unique scent – just for you.

As part of the customisable musk technology in Eve Privé, a delicate white musky molecule is used to support the ‘skin-feel’ accord that was exclusively designed to mix with the chemistry of your skin to enhance your natural scent and make you smell like you, only better.

Moreover, due to this molecular technology, your personal fragrance lingers for hours on end to create the feeling of a second skin.

Ohh; another new Eve Discovery perfume to learn about - just in time for the warmer weather (if we'll actually get any here). I think that the other Eve Discovery perfumes are pleasant and easy to wear over spring and summer, but I wouldn't call them top-tier quality.

Lets see how Avon does with their latest offering...

A new aura with Aurora? [reviewing Far Away Aurora edp, by Avon]

Discover a land that’s undeniably beautiful by spritzing the oriental and gourmand perfume onto your pulse points.

Escape to somewhere awe-inspiring with the beauty of the oriental and gourmand fragrance of Far Away Aurora Eau de Parfum, from your No.1 fragrace brand. A stunning beauty inspired by the natural wonder of the Northern Lights with radiant pink peppercorn, breathtaking water lily and dreamy vanilla bourbon.

It's here!!

I've been looking forward to getting to check out the latest Far Away release ever since I heard that it was in the works (somewhere around the new year). Avon are known for cheap & cheerful fragrances, but I've come to have pretty high expectations when it comes to their Far Away line. I've taken a little while to really get to know Aurora before reviewing it, to make sure I'm giving it the same chance to shine, that the other flankers I've had.

The verdict is in...

The next Thank U Next... [reviewing Thank U Next 2.0 edp, by Ariana Grande]

 Unapologetic. Playful. Optimistic.  
Introducing Thank U, Next 2.0 by Ariana Grande

"A juicy new fragrance for the NEXT chapter in your life. 

Ariana Grande’s addicting new  fragrance, Thank U, Next 2.0, opens with mouth-watering fruit, which lures you in for a playful delight. The creamy floral in the heart introduces a flirty yet elevated touch, while the dry down leaves an unforgettable impression."

A little while ago, I had a Superdrug gift card and when I couldn't find anything else that I wanted/needed, I decided to give the latest Ariana Grande fragrance release a shot. I know, I know. Most of the releases under her name have underwhelmed me, but one never knows when another gem like Cloud or R E.M. will pop up.

Let's get ready to explore the layers of Thank U Next 2.0...

An escape into bliss? [reviewing Blissful Fantasy edt, by Britney Spears]

Inspired by Britney's eternally sunny mood. Paradise is not a singular place. It is a state of mind. Escape into your own bliss.

The Fantasy line from Britney Spears fragrances hit a bump for a while and produced a string of 'meh' releases, but after changing hands from Elizabeth Arden to Revlon several years ago the brand has been revived and they have been producing hit after hit into the Fantasy family over the past few years.

Therefore it's no surprise that as soon as Blissful Fantasy appeared on the Superdrug site at the end of February, I was all over it...

Does it shine like a diamond? [reviewing Sweet Diamond Pink Pepper | 25 edp, by Kayali]

"This scent is perfect for those who expect a little more from the unexpected"

I've honestly liked every Kayali fragrance so far, so this is an obvious brand for me to follow. Sweet Diamond uses rose, magnolia,  sandalwood, and vanilla, so I went in to this one with high expectations...

From Beyond to Infinity?! [reviewing Far Away Infinity edp, by Avon]...

Discover a cocktail of scents from across the world...

As we wait for the next new release in the Far Away line, let's go back in time and take a release from 5 years ago. Far Away Infinity debuted in 2016 and is still sold today, so it must be hitting the right spot with loads of people.

So let's jump straight in and see where this lands on my enjoyment scale...

Fit for a queen? [reviewing Far Away Royale edp, by Avon]

 Embrace your beauty in all its magnificence with the floral, oriental and woody perfume of Far Away Royale Eau de Parfum

A spritz of the floral, oriental and woody fragrance will make you feel royal, majestic and beautiful all day and night...

I'm ready to visit the land of Far Away again, after spending a while getting familiar with the most recent release - Far Away Royale.

I was looking forward to the release of this edp, as the flankers of Far Away that have been released over the last few years have been great - even though one wasn't great, I still like it enough to feel comfortable to continue wearing it until the bottle is used up.

So let's find out where Far Away Royale falls on the scale...

In a land, far away... [reviewing Far Away Glamour edp, by Avon]

 Take a walk on the glam side with a perfume to make you feel fabulous

Draw attention with every glamourous journey with a spritz of the magnetic perfume on your pulse points...

Far Away is one of those well-known fragrances that sounds great on paper,  but my body chemistry doesn't play well with. I've always wanted to like it - the mum of my childhood BBF sold Avon & gave her a bottle and I wanted to be a perfume wearing grown-up too. However it has always been too strong of a fragrance for migraine-prone me.

However I do enjoy the Far Away flankers,  and they don't seem to be migraine triggers for me. After picking up some more of the currently available flankers during some offers a little while ago, I'm ready to dive back into the magic of the Far Away line...

A Godly perfume?!... [Reviewing God is a Woman edp, by Ariana Grande].

 

"Empowered. Breathtaking. Natural. A breath of fresh air for the senses." 

 "Ariana Grande’s striking new fragrance, God is a Woman, is inspired by the grand power of nature. A breath of fresh air for the senses and composed of 91% naturally derived ingredients, the fragrance is vegan, clean, and cruelty-free. This addicting, new scent will envelop you from head to toe"

I have a love/hate thing with the Ariana Grande line of perfumes going on, as whilst her actual fragrances can be nice, the longevity & Aura haven't tended been anything to particularly praise.

I didn't even bother to try GIAW as the unappealing name and ugly presentation are very off-putting for me, however I happened to recieve a bottle as a pre- Christmas gift, so here we are with another review for her brand...