Shoppers Beauty+ Event - New Beauty, New Obsessions & A Whole Lotta Optimum Points!

Some people consider Christmas or sending their kids back to school the happiest time of the year. Me? The Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty+ Event - from September 12th to October 9th. New brands! New products! Samples! And, most importantly, sooooo many bonus Optimum Points! Honestly, this is my Olympics!

 

I wait for this event every year to stock up on the things I’m actually out of - like my beloved Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum - and to grab the things I absolutely do not need but suddenly become convinced I cannot live without, like the Too Faced Peach Mist Setting Spray. Priorities, people. 

 

Here are the products I’ll be haunting my local Shoppers for. While I normally do like the online ordering option, the foundation and fragrance require an actual in-person field trip because I need to match the colour and, obviously, smell the fragrance. Buying either of those blind would be beauty roulette, and I’m not here to gamble with my face or my perfume wardrobe! 

 

Clarins Double Serum Foundation - 30ml - $74 - this next-generation hybrid serum foundation is basically what happens when your makeup decides it wants a skincare career too. It combines makeup and skincare to deliver customizable medium-to-full coverage with a luminous, satin, non-oily finish and comes in 30 shades for all skin types and tones. 

 

The adjustable dial lets you customize the coverage, while its [COLOUR + HYDRIC] system is inspired by Clarins’ Double Serum technology. The [COLOUR] phase uses A.U.R.A. (Advanced Ultra Radiance Amplifier) technology with light-boosting ingredients and illuminating microcrystals to give skin an immediate glow, while the [HYDRIC] phase uses stabilized papain to help renew radiance and create a smoother, skin-like-new effect. 

 

And because apparently it wasn’t already doing enough, it contains 14 active ingredients, including five pairings of pure active molecules and plant extracts designed to help revive the skin’s five vital functions.

 

To top it off it comes with 10,000 bonus Optimum Points which makes it sound even better! 

Quo Beauty Bouncy Cloud For Lips and Cheek in Just Blushing - $14 - I have a weakness for things that are pink and for a beauty product that can multitask so this one has everything I love in one little pot!

 

The feather-light, bouncy mousse formula melts onto skin for a smooth, cloud-soft finish and can be dabbed onto cheeks or blended onto lips for a delicate, buildable flush of colour with a natural satin-matte finish. The finger-friendly formula makes application ridiculously easy, and you can layer it from a soft tint to a more dramatic pop of colour. 

 

It has a cushiony mousse-cloud texture, works on both lips and cheeks and gives you that airy, effortless flush without requiring a degree in makeup application. 

 

And since there are 5,000 bonus Optimum Points in it for you when you spend $25 on participating products which gives me the perfect excuse to also pick one up in Sun Set - a pretty coral/pink shade that I am positive is also calling my name! 

Klorane Quinine Length Thickening and Strengthening Serum - 100ml - $49.99 - longer, stronger hair? Yes please. Especially if it can happen without making my fine hair look like I’ve dunked my head in a vat of cooking oil. 

 

Formulated with medicinal Quinine and Adenosine to help promote hair length, strengthen hair and improve density. It also contains a naturally derived keratin-like ingredient designed to repair and strengthen hair, while the non-sticky, non-greasy formula absorbs quickly without weighing hair down.  

 

I am hoping that unlike some intensive hair products, this one won’t leave fine hair looking limp, greasy or like it needs its own intervention! 

 

As an added bonus it comes with 5,000 bonus Optimum Points! 

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Pink Glaze - 50ml EDP - $135, 90ml - $190 - brings some serious main-character energy to the iconic Black Opium family, with a floral gourmand scent that puts a vibey twist on the signature black coffee and sensual jasmine notes with a sultry strawberry accord. 

 

And then there’s the bottle: a bold, dark pink lacquered beauty that looks like it belongs in the hands of someone who has their life completely together - even if they’re actually just wandering around Shoppers looking for bonus points. 

 

It’s described as the ultimate confidence-boosting accessory, and honestly, if strawberry is involved, I’m already emotionally invested.

 

Best of all it comes with 20,000 bonus Optimum Points!

 

So there you have it—my Beauty+ wish list, otherwise known as the reason my Shoppers cart is about to need its own postal code. I’ve got skincare to replenish, makeup to play with, hair products to test and a strawberry-scented fragrance that has already managed to bypass my usual “Do I really need this?” filter. 

 

And really, the beauty haul is only half the fun. The other half is watching those bonus Optimum Points pile up, because nothing makes me feel better about buying beauty products quite like being rewarded with points that will inevitably be used to buy… more beauty products. It’s called a system, people!

 

See you at Shoppers before October 9th. I’ll be the one happily scanning my Optimum card and pretending this was all very carefully planned.

 

- Lisamarie - 

Summer May Be Leaving, But I'm Not Ready to Smell Like a Pumpkin - and don't have to thanks to Fenty Skin Allover Body Mist!

Summer may be on its way out, but that doesn't mean your body mist has to pack its little suitcase and disappear until next June. 

 

While I do tend to swap my EDPs and EDTs for something lighter and mistier during hot weather, these are not a seasonal fling. Oh no. These are something I'll happily be reaching for all year round...

 

Fenty Skin Body Allover Body Mist - 175ml - $53 - these light, sheer body mists come in irresistible scents designed to linger and match whatever mood you're in - or whatever vibe you're desperately trying to create that day. 

 

Available in four deliciously tempting scents:  

 

Vanilla Flowers - warm, sultry and rich, with notes of bergamot from Italy and apple blossom, vanilla orchid, pink freesia and lily of the valley, all wrapped up in Tahitian vanilla, sugared woods and fluffy musk. Basically, if you enjoy smelling like a fancy dessert who has her life together, this one is calling your name!

 

Hey, Bouquet - a bold fruity floral with orange zest, strawberry and pink peppercorn, followed by rose, jasmine and orris butter, with sandalwood, vanilla, cashmere and patchouli hanging around at the end. Floral? Yes. Fruity? Also yes. And somehow it manages to do both without smelling like your grandmother's powder room. A miracle, really! 

 

Tropic Trip - tropical fruity floral goodness with blood orange, pineapple and leafy greens, orange blossom, tuberose and peach, finishing with coconut, sandalwood and amber. This one is basically a tropical vacation in a bottle - and frankly, considering summer seems determined to leave us eventually, I'm keeping the vacation going! 

 

And my particular fave:

 

Green Raspberry - bright, ripe and reckless, with raspberry nectar, blackberry delight and crème de cassis, white tea and sugared rose, and a base of peach wood. As someone who is obsessed with beauty products that smell like food - preferably fruit - it's not hard to understand why it's my go-to. Raspberry, blackberry and peach? Say less. I'm already there!

 

And because apparently Fenty Skin understands the joy of smelling like the same delicious thing from head to toe, there is also a body wash and bubble bath available in Vanilla Flowers and Hey, Bouquet. Perfect if you're into getting all matchy-matchy with your body products and want to commit fully to your chosen scent situation. 

 

Of course, you can also layer these mists with whatever fragrance you like. They're light and sheer enough that they make excellent layering partners, which means you can get a little experimental and play fragrance scientist without accidentally creating a scent catastrophe that follows you around for eight hours. 

 

Available online at fentybeauty.com. You can also find the Vanilla Flowers Body Wash and Starter Set at sephora.ca, although they don't appear to carry the full-size body mists - because apparently making things easy for us would be too much to ask. You can get a small body mist in the Starter Set, though. Either way, they're worth ordering, and Fenty Beauty does ship to Canada! 

 

Just because summer is ending doesn't mean we have to start smelling like a pumpkin immediately (or ever). Let's not get carried away!

 

- Lisamarie - 

Fragrant Friday - Guerlain’s Florabloom: The Floral I Didn’t See Coming!

Guerlain is at it again, serving up another stunner in their Aqua Allegoria line - this time inspired by the rare natural wonder known as a superbloom. Imagine it: vast desert plains suddenly bursting into carpets of colour after a rainfall, every bloom vying for attention. That’s the magic bottled in: 

 

Aqua Allegoria Forte Florabloom - 75ml EDP - $165  - this fragrance is a lush, full-bodied bouquet that practically hums with life. It opens with the intoxicating warmth of tuberose at sunset, dances through a sensual swirl of Grasse Centifolia rose and settles into powdery whispers of violet and iris. Beneath it all, sandalwood and velvety moss lend depth and a touch of mystery - because what’s beauty without a little intrigue? 

 

Now, you’ve heard me say it a hundred times: florals aren’t usually my thing. I’m a sweet-and-fruity kind of girl through and through. But this one? Total exception. The moment I smelled it, I was transported straight back to my childhood - to a scratch-and-sniff book I adored, with a page that smelled like a flower market in France. One whiff of Florabloom and suddenly I’m transported there again, standing in front of the box overflowing with blooms, grinning like a kid. Isn’t it wild how scent can do that!? 

 

You can find Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Forte Florabloom now at Shoppers Drug Mart stores and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca. 

Bonus: the holiday sets are in and they’re offering a gorgeous gift set featuring the fragrance, a 7.5ml mini and a 75ml body lotion - the perfect excuse (as if you needed one) to treat yourself or I guess as a gift...

 

- Lisamarie - 

Beauty Emergency: You Have 48 Hours to snag a beautiful deal (Sept 8–9 Online Only!) - and three products worth the rush from Watier, St. Tropez and Juicy Couture!

Stop everything: Shoppers Drug Mart’s online beauty sale is here September 8–9, and yes, it’s time to treat yourself!

 

For just 2 days - you could get $15 off any beauty purchase when you spend $60 or more - from skincare to makeup to fragrance, the choice is yours. 

 

Need some inspo? Here are just a few of the standout products worth snapping up before the clock runs out...

 

Watier Perfection Glow-Boosting Tinted Serum - 30ml - $62 - in a range of 14 glorious shades - this isn’t just makeup, it’s magic in a bottle - this skin-loving serum-foundation hybrid is here to turn “meh” mornings into “did you get a facial?” moments. 

It's science-y but sexy: It’s made with 98% naturally derived ingredients and fancy patented microdroplet technology (translation: your skin’s about to look filtered IRL). With a silky, lightweight formula that glides on giving you buildable light coverage that looks dewy, fresh and so smooth you'll look like a baby seal (minus the blubber) Powered by Canadian ginseng: like a double-shot latte for your skin - this natural-origin antioxidant boosts glow, energizes, and makes you look like you actually slept; along with vitis flower: a hydrating, soothing, “nothing’s-going-to-harsh-my-mellow” ingredient that protects you from the evil outside world. 

 

Why I'm obsessed: it blurs my imperfections like a soft-focus filter; it feels like I'm wearing nothing (but better); stays put all day; and leaves me with that “I drink enough water” glow (I totally don’t)!

St. Tropez Sunlit Skin Bronzing Tint + Tan - 30ml - $49 -  forget “just got back from vacation” - this is “just got back from the Amalfi Coast and my ex saw me looking radiant” energy. This genius two-in-one bronzing tint is your shortcut to instant golden-hour skin with a medium, natural-looking tan that develops fully in just 3 hours. Offers instant bronze now as well as a tan that lasts: It’s the beauty equivalent of having your cake and eating it too (which has always struck me as a stupid expression - if I have cake of course I'm going to eat it!)

 

Why I'm obsessed: it offers quick-dry, no-rinse magic (aka: no bed sheet drama); I can wear it solo for that fresh “no-makeup” glow or layer it under foundation (it looks great paired with the Watier Perfection!); and it works on every skin tone (yes, even my sickly pale face)!

Juicy Couture Just Moi Eau de Parfum - 10ml - $43, 50ml - $143, 100ml - $177 -  basically your permission slip to be that girl - the one who walks in, smells incredible, and suddenly everyone else is rethinking their life choices. It opens with lush magnolia, delicate cacao blossom and a sweet little kiss of plum nectar; the heart is crème de cacao and jasmine sambac; and it dries down into rich cacao bean, vanilla-ambrox, creamy sandalwood and warm musk - combined it will leave them thinking about you for days! 

Why I'm obsessed: it smells like confidence, with just a hint of mischief; works for day and night and the bottle is chic enough to live rent-free on my vanity!

 

Tick-Tock - don't wait on this deal - not only is it time limited there are limited quantities of the offer available so don't miss out! 

 

Use the code: ONLINEBEAUTY15 - and you can get $15 off when you spend $60 or more on select beauty online or the Shoppers Drug Mart App. Offer details at shoppersdrugmart.ca/onlinebeautyoffer

 

- Lisamarie - 

Fragrant Friday - KORRES Philosia and more!

A Korres wardrobe of fragrances are yours for the smelling... the first is my fave but there are lots to choose from!

 

Philosia - 50ml EDT - $70 - Evoking the aroma of golden sun rays seeping through the trees with citrus top notes of bergamot, orange and mandarin; heart notes of pine, eucalyptus, balsam fir and star anise; and base notes of  musk, cedar, guaiac wood and patchouli. 

 

Citrus is my thing so I was pretty sure I would like this one and it didn't disappoint - it smells fresh and warm in a very natural kind of way. Helped I'm sure by the fact that all the Korres fragrances have a high natural origin content. I am also a fan of the minimalist bottles which look really cool lined up across a dressing table if you have a few of them!

 

Doesn't sound like quite your thing? There are lots of other choices that smell just as amazing...

 

Kyma - 50ml EDT - The fresh scent of the salty wind on the boat, the splashes on your face, escaping the city with top notes of lime, mandarin and orange; heart notes of marine, watery and pepper; and base notes of cedar, vetiver and nutmeg.

 

Lefko - 50ml EDT - An idyllic day spent lazing in a sun-soaked paradise with a top note of lily of the valley; heart notes of rose and peony; and base notes of musk, powder and white sandalwood.

 

Avgoustos - 50ml EDT - The raw scent of the first figs we cut in August with top notes of mandarin, lavander and bergamot; heart notes of fig, lemon tree leaves and orange blossom; and base notes of ambergris, musky and cedarwood.

Sikinos - 50ml EDT - The fresh scent of summer softness upon waking with top notes of watermelon, freesia and bamboo; heart notes of mimosa, lotus flower and salty notes; and base notes of cedarwood, sandalwood and musk.

These are easier to find if you are in the US - just go to korres.com - in Canada they don't seem to be on the korres.ca website but they are on various fragrance websites so not hard for us to get and worth the search!

- Lisamarie -

Show your PRIDE with help from Shoppers Beauty, Quo Beauty and Jean Paul Gaultier!

You know I loves me a sample set so I was all over this special edition Pride one: Shoppers Beauty All You Need is Love Beauty Bundle - a carefully curated set, containing 6 minis and 2 full-size products valued at over $140. 

This gift set includes deluxe sample sizes of: Urban Decay Vice Lipstick, Too Faced Shadow Insurance Revamp Beautiseal Blue Light, Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Intense BlackL, It Cosmetics Superhero Voluminizing Mascara, Clarins Lash & Brow Double Fix' Mascara and Lancôme Blush Subtil in Rose Fresque - along with a full sized R.E.M. Beauty Midnight Shadows Lustrous Liquid Eye Shadow in Fembot and Vasanti Astro Highlighter in North Star. And comes in the most adorable heart-shaped, rainbow, paper pinata type box - too cute!

Quo Beauty is helping celebrate Pride with another cool limited-edition Pride Collection with bold and playful beauty products and accessories that inspire vibrant looks and celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and you can feel good with your purchase knowing that Shoppers Drug Mart will contribute 10% of sales of the Quo Beauty Pride Collection up to a maximum $30,000 to Pflag Canada, which helps provide peer support, education and advocacy of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community

 

There is lots to love in the collection but a few of my faves include: Love Is Love Eyeshadow Palette - $25 - featuring 9 high impact shades to create bold looks that show your Pride. Along with a cream base to intensify the colour and lock in your look.

Water-Activated Eyeliner - $16 - in Electric Sunset and Twilight Haze - with super high-pigment and vibrant colours to add a really fun look to your liner! 

Rainbow Maker - $10 - makes it super easy to draw a rainbow anyplace on your face or body!

Brow Stickers - $6 - peel and press gems that make it easy to add bling to your eye look!

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique & Le Male Pride Edition - 100ml EDP - $172/ 125ml EDT - $146 - Be free to be your true self! With these new PRIDE editions, Jean Paul Gaultier is campaigning for freedoms alongside The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in New York, a fervent defender of the right of every individual to assert their identity and be accepted as they are. This shared commitment honours the activist artist Keith Haring and his famous manifesto mural "Once Upon a Time," painted in 1989 on the walls of the Center. A powerful symbol of the liberation movement that began twenty years earlier with the Stonewall riots. Inspired by its black-and-white depictions of passionate scenes, PRIDE bottles reclaim the liberated beauty of our bodies and resolutely spread the same message of diversity and tolerance for all. 

 

Everything here available while they last at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca.

 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Palm Royale inspired Scentbird Collection!

In celebration of Apple TV’s original series, Palm Royale and Scentbird are taking you to the heart of fragrances inspired by the 1969 Palm Beach High Society. Discover the Palm Royale collection that represents scents that will transport you directly into each scene.

 

There are 6 fragrance collection themes including: 

CRÈME DE LA CRÈME - sweet, minty, and exclusively top-shelf.

DIVINE DEVIANCE - vibrant and rebellious, these scents don't play by the rules.

SUNKISSED - fresh, airy, and perfect for the outdoors.

SOPHISTICATED - classic, beautiful blends fit for the queen of the season.

LEGACY - bold, ambitious scents that scream old money.

OPULENCE - live in abundance with luxurious blends fit for high society.

 

With each theme offering several fragrance choices - with a few of them also being offered in a full size bottle (if you need a refresher in how the Scentbird subscription service works you can find it here)

With so many choices it's hard to narrow down which one I loved best but decided the Sunkissed collection seemed the most like me and from that what scent that was totally me was: Goodhabit Ignite - 50ml EDP - $90 - bold, energizing, and citrus-forward, the scent opens with a splash of clementine, complemented by fresh-squeezed grapefruit and a twist of blood orange. Hints of skin musk and creamy peach rise to the surface as the scent warms, grounding the vibrant elements. It smells like sunshine on my skin! This is a new-to-me brand but I will be trying more of it to be sure - I love how Scentbird makes it so easy to try brands that you just don't see in the stores here!

Enjoy some high society yourself (without the annoying people) now at scentbird.com.

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Marc Jacobs Daisy Wild

Melting snow, crocuses and longer days are all signs that spring is on it's way but the real harbinger of spring for me is the arrival of the new Daisy fragrance from Marc Jacobs that appears in stores every year around this time....

Marc Jacobs Daisy Wild - 30ml EDP - $120, 50ml EDP - $151, 100ml - $194 - a floral scent

reminiscent of a bouquet of wildflowers with a top of banana blossom accord; heart notes of  jasmine and macadamia accord; and base notes of sandalwood and vetiver des sables. 

 

If a floral fragrance is your springtime bliss then this one is going to be your jam. I was hoping the macadamia and sandalwood were going to make it a warmer fragrance but it smells totally fresh and floral-like on me - with the jasmine being the most prevalent note.

 

What I really adore though is the bottle, a wild daisy has been added to the bouquet on the cap and there are flower stems peeping through the light green juice in the bottle making it beautifully decorative on your dressing table.

 

Also, for the first time ever, this Daisy fragrance is fully refillable - with a 150ml refill format for $215  that you can use to top up any of the bottles.

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca and sephora.ca. 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Gucci Flora Gorgeous Magnolia

Floral fanatics rejoice,  there is another addition to the Gucci Flora lineup:

 

Gucci Flora Gorgeous Magnolia - 10ml EDP Mini - $45, 30ml EDP - $120, 50ml EDP - $153, 100ml EDP - $206 - a chypre floral fragrance with top notes of dewberry and coconut; heart notes of magnolia, jasmine sambac and clary sage; and base notes of musk, patchouli and blonde woods.

 

Floral scents really aren't my thing - I can say it's not a cloying or overpowering floral but what I can comment on is the bottle - love it! It is so pretty and the purple really makes it stand out - am I one of those people who will buy a fragrance just for the bottle? I admit to nothing!

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora and Holt Renfrew stores across Canada.

 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Carolina Herrera Good Girl Dazzling Garden Holiday Collector

Carolina Herrera introduces the Holiday collector's edition bottle that is sure to be on every fragrance lover's wish list...

 

Good Girl Dazzling Garden - 80ml EDT - $178 - the stiletto shaped bottle is shimmering in metallic deep purple and accessorized with a festive glistening gold flower. With the same sweet but sensual scent that blends the aromas of jasmine, cocoa, tonka bean, almond and coffee to create a feminine yet mysterious bouquet. It's what holiday dreams are made of!

Available while they last at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart and Jean Coutu stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Nina Ricci Nina Le Parfum

There is a new intensity of Nina in the Nina Ricci range:

 

Nina Le Parfum - 50ml EDP - $112, 80ml EDP - $132 - a fruity woody floral fragrance with crisp top notes of red apple, apple, green Apple and Italian lemon; white flower heart notes of orange blossom, tuberose and gardenia; and warm base notes of vanilla and amber wood.

 

The first time I ever smelled the original Nina was years ago in the duty free at the airport - we were going on a cruise and I realized that I had forgotten to bring any perfume with me which of course would not do - it was love at first sniff for me and Nina! What I didn't know was that the signature component of the original Nina fragrance is recycled Italian lemon. The fruits discarded from the food industry due to their size or appearance are repurposed instead of being destroyed, serving as raw fragrance materials. Every part of the lemon, from the flesh to the peel, is utilized, achieving an extra tangy, citrus scent - no wonder I like it so much!

 

Nina Le Parfum still has the original lemon but the addition of apples gives it some tanginess, while the vanilla and amber wood give it some sweetness and warmth - all of which I like! Crafted of 91% naturally derived, vegan ingredients and in the classic apple shaped bottle which is 20% recycled glass - there is lots to feel good about with this fragrance!

 

Available now at Shoppers Drug Mart, Hudson's Fay, Jean Coutu, Familiprix, Uniprix and Brunet stores across Canada.

 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne Fame Parfum & Phantom Parfum

Paco Rabanne Fame and Phantom up their fragrance game with female sensuality and sultry masculinity:

 

Fame Parfum Natural Spray - 50ml - $146, 80ml - $188, 200ml Refill - $256 -  an intense woody chypre blend with top notes of mango, pink pepper and bergamot; heart notes of sensual jasmine, patchouli and frankincense; and base notes of sandalwood, benzoin and addictive musk. The scent has a definite gourmand leaning on me - I smell more musk and sandalwood then I do jasmine - which suits me fine! The glossy black dress on the shiny gold bottle amplifies the sense of seduction and will keep you from getting this one mixed up with the original!

 

Phantom Parfum Natural Spray - 50ml - $122, 100ml - $158, 150ml - $188, 200ml Refill - $202 - an intense blend with top notes of cardamom, bergamot, lemon and rhubarb; heart notes of electrifying lavender, patchouli, geranium and cedarwood; and base notes of addictive vanilla, tolu balsam and enticing Haitian vetiver. I wasn't sure how I would feel about so much floral in a men's fragrance since I don't like it in a women's one - but these particular notes combined with everything else is actually really intriguing - I would even wear this myself! The iconic chest piece of the original bottle evolves from chromatic silver to matte black as a signifier of the danger within and reflects the assertive facets of masculinity.

 

Not only will you smell good, but can feel good about the sustainable ingredients - with 90% being of natural origin, not to mention they are refillable!

Available now at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora and Jean Coutu stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

 

 

Fragrant Friday Jean Paul Gaultier "Le Male" Elixir

There is a new addition to the Le Male line that you are going to want to get on board with...

 

Jean Paul Gautier "Le Male" Elixir - 125ml - $168 - a woody aromatic amber fragrance with top notes of sensual lavender and fresh mint; heart notes of sweet vanilla and benzoin; and base notes of honey, subtle tonka bean and tobacco.

 

I found it quite sweet at first but it dries down to something lovely that I could just not stop smelling! My husband didn't care for it at all but certainly appreciated how it kept me close to him sniffing at his neck so that's a good lesson that scent does not have to be to your taste as long as it is to the person smelling you!

 

And of course the bottle... the gold, very fit torso bottle sports an amber-coloured sailor's blouse that will have you saying Hello Sailor!

 

Available at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Jean Coutu and London Drugs stores across Canada.

 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Jean Paul Gaultier - Gaultier Divine

Jean Paul Gaultier introduces a new fragrance that celebrates a new version of femininity that is everything unique and  divine...

 

Gaultier Divine - 100ml EDP - $192, 50ml EDP - $154, 200ml EDP Refill - $226, 200ml Body Lotion - $78, 200ml Shower Gel - $72 - an amber floral fragrance with top notes of calypsone, red berries and bergamot; heart notes of lily, jasmine and ylang-ylang; and base notes of meringue, musk and patchouli. 

 

The bottle reminds me of Madonna's cone bras from the 90s - for good reason of course as they were made by Jean Paul Gaultier - the scent isn't the least bit 90s though - a little sweet, a little musky and a little salty - I wouldn't wear the bra but I will wear this fragrance! I also like that it contains 90% natural origin ingredients that were responsibly sourced and is refillable!

 

Available now at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Jean Coutu and London Drugs stores across Canada.

 

- Lisamarie -

 

Fragrant Friday - Korres Oceanic Amber

If you are looking to spice up your fall fragrance wardrobe:

 

Korres Oceanic Amber - 50ml EDT - $54 - an fougere Oriental fragrance for men with top notes of cedar and amber; heart notes of peppermint and apple; and base notes of cardamom and black pepper.

I'm a fan of Korres fragrances - I like the very sleek and simple bottles, high content of natural origin formulas (this one is 88% natural origin content) and usually the name tells you exactly what you are getting. I have to disagree with this name a bit though - Oceanic Amber - so I was expecting a fresh amber or even a briny amber but this was a spicy or even slightly sweet amber - don't get me wrong I like it - on my husband and even on myself but I didn't pick up anything ocean-y about it - I think a name change is in order Korres!

Available online at korres.com.

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Cobalt

There's a new bad boy in town proving it's good to be bad:

 

Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Cobalt - 50ml EDP - $124, 100ml EDP - $158, 150ml EDP - $195 - an energizing fragrance of contrasts with pink pepper top notes that offer a fresh and aromatic opening, enhanced by a floral-yet-masculine geranium heart. The mineral accents of the truffle accord base are invigorated with smoky oakwood and infused with ethically sourced vetiver and sexy cedarwood. It's meant to smell a little mineraly and earthy - something like what the atmosphere smells like after a strong storm.

 

This is not your father's fragrance and it's quite a bit different from the original Bad Boy - the pepper is what does it for me - I love the spiciness it brings and it really does give me the air after a storm feel that is just a little bit electric and refreshing.

 

The lightning bolt bottle has gone bright blue and still amazingly, doesn't fall over! A great option for a fall scent or if you are starting your holiday shopping early.

 

 

Available now at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora and Jean Coutu stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Burberry Goddess

Burberry introduces their first-ever refillable fragrance:

 

Burberry Goddess - 10 ml EDP - $45, 30ml EDP - $120, 50ml EDP - $153, 100ml EDP - $206, 150ml EDP Refill - $206 

 

A lot of work went into creating this gourmand fragrance - during the process to create the perfect vanilla accord, the precious vanilla was wrapped with notes of bright lavender diva essence from Provence and earthy notes of cocoa and ginger roots, creating an aromatic balance to each vanilla. The Olfactive Pyramid Top: Vanilla Infusion and Lavender; Heart: Vanilla Caviar; Base: Vanilla Absolute. 

It is in one word: yummy! I loves me a vanilla scent and this one is chock-full of vanilla-wonderfulness, obviously sweet but not cheap sweet, elevated sweet like a sultry tropical evening - this is my new fall fragrance for sure!

 

I actually wasn't expecting a sweet fragrance because the bottle is so elegant - with an archive-inspired shape modernised with a gold medallion.

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppers.ca and sephora.ca.

 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - DS & DURGA I Don't Know What

DS & DURGA I Don’t Know What - 100ml - $300, 50ml - $210, pocket - $75 - a fragrance enhancer with transparent radiance that gives any perfume a certain, as the French say - je ne sais quoi which translates to: I don’t know what - a wonderful tool for anyone who wants to play around with perfume. 

 

It's like a magic wand for fragrances - sure it can be worn as a modern wonderfully transparent aroma on its own, but it can also be layered over anything. If you like to wear fragrant oils like sandalwood, rose, jasmine, patchouli, oud, etc. - just spray this over them and it turns the oil into a perfume - extending the longevity and enhancing the scent. Or say you have a scent that you don't necessarily care for or has lost some of its power with age - just layer it on top and prepare to be amazed...

 

It does this because it is made with no notes but instead a secret combination of materials that perfumers use to highlight and enhance notes in a perfume. A Bergamot accord announces freshness, Vetiver Acetate a thin amber, Firsantol a lingering sandalwood, Iso E and Ambrox Super a radiance - together meant to layer and enhance everything else it touches.

 

I like it a lot on its own but decided to try it out on my nemesis fragrance - Chanel No. 5 - I know it's a classic and there are millions of people out there that love it, I'm just not one of them. It has an old lady smell to me that I just don't love. Somebody gifted me this bottle and I know it was expensive so I just don't have the heart to throw it out so I decided I would try to I Don't Know What it and see if it improved the scent for me. And actually it does - I would be willing to call it classic now instead of old lady - it still has too much floral to it to make it something I would want to wear on a regular basis but it does make it bearable and that is a high compliment for sure!

Available online at dsanddurga.com - but unless you are sure you want to spring for a full-sized bottle you should check it out on Scentbird - you can get a 30 day supply (0.27 oz vial) as part of your monthly subscription (which is $16.95/month) or as a one time purchase for $31.95 (all prices are in US$). 

 

And while you are at it check out the other DS & DURGA fragrance which is my current love - Pistachio - a sweet and creamy scent that just makes me happy!

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne Lady Million Royal & 1 Million Royal

Feeling regal? Then does Paco Rabanne ever have a new fragrance for you...

Paco Rabanne Lady Million Royal - 50ml EDP - $112, 80ml EDP - $138 - a fruity floral fragrance with a top note of pomegranate; a white flowers heart of jasmine, sambac, tuberose and orange blossom; and a woody, ambery and musky base of cashmeran.

I personally smell more of the fruitiness of the pomegranate in this and get less of a floral vibe, which is good for me as I'm all about the fruit - it dries down very warm on me with a hint of sweet so I'm a fan.

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Royal - 50ml - $112, 100ml - $142 - an amber woody fragrance for men with top notes of cardamom, tangerine and bergamot; heart notes of lavender, sage and violet leaf; and base notes of benzoin, cedar and patchouli. 

 

I tested this out on someone who is a fan of the original 1 Million but hasn't cared much for any of the follow up fragrances and he describes it as a more mature version of the original as well as having really impressive longevity!

Accents of regal red have been added to the iconic bottles which are bling-y enough for King Henry the Eighth himself but still sustainable enough for Alicia Silverstone - both formulas are totally vegan and comprised of 79% of ingredients of vegetal origin - cows happy, carrots sad!

Available at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora, Jean Coutu and London Drugs stores across Canada.

There isn't really a new commercial for them - just a tacked on blurb at the end of the original 1 Million/Lady Million one - and honestly the whole time I have been doing this, I've had Lorde's Royals song running through my head so here you go, it can live in your head too!

 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Scentbird - the best in fragrance subscription boxes!

Remember a few years back when subscription boxes were all the rage? I loved them - it was a great way to try new products that I might never have gotten around to because who wants to go all the expense of buying something full sized and hating it?! Sadly, ever increasing Canada Post rates drove most of the subscription services out of business here so I was thrilled to discover a wonderful fragrance service...

 

Scentbird - offering the perfect way to discover new fragrances without buying a full-sized bottle - and they deliver to Canada! Every month, they deliver a generous sized sample (each bottle is 8ml or about 120+ sprays - enough to apply 4 sprays daily for 30 days) of an authentic designer or niche fragrance of your choice straight to your mailbox! Once you start a subscription, you can browse all of the perfumes on Scentbird’s site and add different fragrances to your queue for future shipments. Each month a fragrance from your queue will be sent to you and if you leave your queue empty, Scentbird will just send you its Fragrance of the Month.

All you have to do now is pick some scents - having this much choice though can be hard! To help with this you can take the Scent Profile quiz which will then recommend a bunch of scents they think you will like. 

 

Or if you are like me and still find the choice overwhelming there are other fun ways to find fragrances you might like - I went with the Horoscope option which gave me 12 choices for Taurus in 2023 - several of which contained notes that I love - and as it turns out they were excellent choices for me once I smelled them - discover new fragrances is my favourite part - I am especially thrilled receiving English Laundry Oxford Bleu - a brand/fragrance I was not at all familiar with before and now don't want to live without!

No more spending $80+ on a bottle of fragrance that you might not like after the first few uses - the subscription cost is very reasonable: 1 item per month: $16.95 USD, 2 items per month: $27 USD ($13.50 USD per item) 3 items per month: $37 USD ($12.33 USD per item) And you’re not limited to just fragrances - there are also full-size makeup and skincare products for you to choose from as your monthly product selection. There are no hidden fees or shipping costs for subscribers in the USA and its territories. Subscribers in Canada will pay $4.99 USD for shipping.

 

They also have a great Instagram page - if you are around Monday (August 1st) be sure to tune into DS & Durga x Scentbird Instagram live takeover at 11:45 am EST (8:45 am PST). Come listen to the founders of DS & Durga David Seth Moltz and Kavi Ahuja Moltz talk about their collection, partnership with Scentbird, new product launches, and more.

 

Your fragrance adventure starts at scentbird.com - enjoy!

 

- Lisamarie-