Music review - THIS IS IT: The Very Best of Dannii Minogue [CD and Itunes download]...

The Australian arm of Warner Music released THIS IS IT, a collection of singles spanning the past 23 years from Dannii's five studio albums on Friday 23rd August 2013.

☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆☆

They've arranged this release to cash in on her new, high profile job "to celebrate her Australian debut on The X Factor", and the CD edition contains a 24 page booklet, containing a ton of photos of Dannii over a twenty three year period, which the THIS IS IT producers tell us are previously unseen - although most of them are in the booklets for the deluxe editions of her albums...

So lets not hang around, and get stuck into Dannii's five eras, on offer here...

Review: My Style by Dannii Minogue

"I'm not perfect when it comes to fashion and I never have been, but I feel I am starting to hit my stride" - Dannii Minogue

Dannii has been working longer than I've been alive, so I've grown up with her on the radio, seeing her face on TV & in magazines. I've always been fascinated by her style - all the way from her experimental early pop days, her goth 'bad girl' Home & Away look, her sex kitten disco girl era, to today's pretty and polished glam.

Therefore getting the chance to learn about where it all started and how she achieves it was something I couldn't resist, even though I would never class myself as trendy or as someone who is otherwise really into fashion - I'm mainly just nosey and wanted to see the contents of her wardrobe... 

Review: Project D EDP by Project D

✯✯✯✯✯/✯✯✯✯✯

I love the neroli-lead opening to PROJECT D; It's very spicy, yet a bit bitter and vaguely cold. The bergamot is also citrussy so blends in nicely and within ten minutes the warmth and spice vanishes and the fragrance becomes fresh and green. The ylang ylang isn't sweet here, instead it's quite musky/mossy and is very long lasting.

As the ylang ylang dies down the mimosa quickly develops and adds a vaguely fruity sweetness, as does the osmanthus. The combination reminds me a bit of tangerines - sweet, vaguely citrussy, but with zest.
I don't usually like tuberose, but as it's not artificial I really surprised myself by liking it here as it isn't as strong as I was expecting, though it does add more sweetness. It outlasts the other scent notes in the perfume and becomes almost creamy as it slowly burns down and mingles with the developing base notes.

The musk [whilst always present] becomes fully developed as the florals die down; It is strong masculine and slightly salty. Like with the tuberose I normally don't like musky perfumes, but it doesn't artificial or plastic here and as the rest of this perfume is soft and feminine I love the contrast with the masculine musk.
The sandelwood develops almost as quickly as the musk and has a noticeable woodsy scent to it, which seems somewhat spicy.I'm not used to sandalwood actually smelling like a wood so this is a pleasant surprise. It's sort of familiar to cederwood and adds to the short-lived masculine opening. The saffron gives the perfume one final spicey kick and whilst I'm not sure what amber oil is, maybe it's a fancy term for vegetal amber (resin from tree sap), it is more or less the same as artificial amber - a soft and creamy vanilla based scent.

Scent notes
Neroli, bergamot and ylang ylang, tuberose, Japanese osmanthus, mimosa, purple orchid, sandalwood, exotic saffron, musk and hot amber oils.


I really love the pretty bottle too: It is soft pink and teardrop shaped, with the name and a silhouette of a woman printed on it in black.

Review: Purse Spray set by Project D

✯✯✯✯✯/✯✯✯✯✯

Advantages: Reasonable price, good packaging, good size, good lasting power, Gorgeous bottle, very versatile

Disadvantages: None for me

Spotlight: Project D EDP by Dannii and Tabitha

Project D EDP received an early launch and went on sale exclusively in Harvey Nichols yesterday.

EDP [50ml]
£34

This enchanting scent has been inspired by the marriage of two very distinct styles - glamour and rock 'n' roll. It is a timeless and stylish addition to the fashion line and each note of the fragrance has been carefully selected to ensure each woman feels utterly glamorous, wherever she may be. The natural top accord incorporates inspiration from neroli, bergamot and ylang ylang gliding through a sense of intrigue and mystery into the whirl wind heart accord of tuberose, Japanese osmanthus, mimosa and purple orchid; whilst the dry down of creamy sandalwood, saffron, skin musks and hot amber oils ignites the senses.



Purse sprays [set of three: 10ml each]
Can be worn individually or layered together.
£25

Dawn
Bergamot, geranium, neroli and ylang ylang.
Day
Tuberose, daisy, Japanese osmanthus and mimosa.
Dusk
Sandalwood, skin musks and hot amber oils.

The closest branch of Harvey Nichols to me is in Manchester and I don't plan on travelling into Manchester in the immediate future, so haven't had the change to test it yet.

I have been looking forward to it's release and the Harvey Nichols website stocks the EDP edition, so I am very tempted to buy it blind, so to speak because I'm very confident that I'll like it based on the listed scent notes. Then again, if I wait to visit the Manchester branch I'll hopefully be able to pick up the purse spray set too - layering them with the EDP to create my own unique signature fragrance is very appealing to me.

                                          [Dannii Minogue and Tabitha Somerset-Webb]

New fragrance: Project D EDP by Project D

Recently launched fashion label Project D, the brainchild of Dannii Minogue and designer Tabitha Somerset Webb, is setting its sights on the fragrance world with the introduction of a signature scent this September. Project D by Dannii and Tabitha has top accords of neroli, bergamot and ylang ylang; a heart comprising notes of tuberose, Japanese osmanthus, mimosa and purple orchid; and a dry down of creamy sandalwood, saffron, skin musks and hot amber oils.

Project D will simultaneously launch three purse sprays, each capturing a note from the signature fragrance, which can be worn individually or layered together. Dawn, which carries the tagline ‘Ready to Inspire’, contains notes of bergamot, geranium, neroli and ylang ylang, while Day – ‘Ready to Intrigue’ – is inspired by tuberose, daisy, Japanese osmanthus and mimosa. Finally, Dusk features notes of sandalwood, skin musks and hot amber oils, and boasts the tagline ‘Ready to Ignite’.


According to Somerset Webb, the intention is to allow women to make the transition from day to night. “While our signature scent captures the spirit and essence of the Project D woman, our purse sprays reflect our vision for fashion and style that takes you from day to night, from revitalising, energising scents of the dawn, right through to the rich and sultry notes of dusk,” she says.




I'm a perfume whore so I'm beyond excited about this release. And simultaneously releasing three smaller vials to mix and match to find your own signature fragrance? How ingenious is that?
 
I've not found a promotional shot of the bottles, but here is a screen grab from the recent ITV2 show 'Dannii Minogue: Style Queen' to tide us over.
 

 
 
I'm lea to believe that the fragrance is exclusive to branches of Harvey Nichols upon it's 25th September launch date, but I've seen the Project D clothing range in Selfridges, so I'll see if it's stocked there too.
 
Either way; I'm confident it'll receive a wider release in time for Christmas.

Rumour mill: Is there a Project D cosmetics line in the works?

Australian singer/actress/designer/X Factor judge Dannii Minogue has become a popular style icon over the past year or so and you may have seen the recent ITV2 three part reality show - Dannii Minogue: Style Queen - that filmed the final six month run-up to the launch of her latest fashion label Project D.
(The label's co founder/designer is handbag designer Tabitha Webb).

Dannii's twitter follower @xxGemz_Danniixx was watching and noticed something interesting; During a scene in the label's head office, there was a file in shot labeled 'Project D Cosmetics'. Dannii herself has confirmed that the brand will launch a fragrance later this year, so will a new make-up range be following in it's footsteps?


I've been a fan of Dannii's for over 15 years and can recall many interviews in which she's clarified her love of fashion, beauty and designing, so can't wait to see what her [genuine] lifelong passions will create.