.:: CybeleSays ::.

The holidays are a great time for getting beauty bargains in the form of gift sets and I’m a firm believer in a fragrance as a gift. Yes, scent is always such a personal choice but why you show your bestie how much you do really know her with a latest one from a hip brand? PRADA’s latest Candy Eau de Parfum scent is one that seems to getting mixed reviews with some people absolutely loving it and others a 180. While I was expecting a concoction of totally sweeter than sweet ingredients, I find the mix of musk on top (musk is usually a base note), Benzoin (vanilla, sweet and powdery) and caramel an interesting mix and it seems to work for me. This one supposedly came about when Miuccia Prada requested a scent with a caramel note inside and it’s for sure not an ingredient I’ve seen much and I like that.

And know that this one is totally wearable for day or eve, which I love!
Hey Prada, how about a roller ball version of this I can tuck into my purse? 

Prada Candy Gift Set $108 @ neimanmarcus.com.

At the opposite side of this scent spectrum is this new one from PRADA. Infusion de Rose Eau de Parfum ($105/3.4oz @ neimanmarcus.com) is the fourth release from the brand’s infusion collection and a really nice addition that balances them all out. Who doesn’t think of roses when they think of Spring or Summer? This scent is described as “fresh rose petals mingle with tea, roses and honey, crushed in the hand with mint leaves” – so gorgeous rose with a twist but I can tell you that the mint they refer to is really slight, at least by my nose. Otherwise, that statement is pretty accurate. It opens strongly with a strong tea and rose and the dry down to a classic lush rose scent.

If you love your florals, this may be one for you to try out.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

I’m readjusting my nose right now to fall and the coming season and here are a few that are working great for the transition. They still have summery flowery notes but also have something a little different to makes each appealing for fall.

From L to R clockwise:

VICTORIA’S SECRET Sexy Little Things Noir Tease Eau de Parfum ($45/1.7oz @ victoriassecret.com) – I wasn’t too thrilled with this one upon first, second or third whiff. I was almost ready to write it off as ehh and it just didn’t do as much for me like its sister, when, for some reason, I am suddenly liking it! Classified as an oriental vanilla, I can’t tell if it’s the black vanilla, frozen pear or blooming gardenia that is turning me on, but it’s a go.

ROGER & GALLET Green Tea Fresh Fragrant Water Spray ($21.60/1oz and other sizes @ pcfallon.com) – who doesn’t like the green tea scent? It works for any season and it’s pretty unisex. It contains top notes of yuzu, mandarin orange and grapefruit, middle notes of green tea, white freesia, jasmine and lily of the valley and base notes of cedar wood, gualac wood and amber. This one seems to linger on the skin for quite a while.

EMILIO PUCCI Miss Pucci Eau de Parfum ($53/1oz and other sizes @ sephora.com) – they call this a soft floral that surprisingly works for right now; not quite still-summer but not quite full-on-fall. The notes include that of Sicilian Lemon, Turkish Rose, Comoros Ylang-Ylang, Arabian Jasmine, Tunisian Orange Blossom, Texas Cedar, Florentine Iris and Musk. If you’re looking to make a statement when you walk in a room, this could be one for you.

PRADA Infusion D’Iris Eau de Toilette ($65/6.75oz and other sizes @ nordstrom.com) – from what I understand the brand already has this perfume in a Eau de Parfum version and it has totally different notes and is the next chapter in the sensory history of iris. This one is composed of iris, neroli, lily of the valey, powder violet, heliotrope, cedar and galbanum. And this one comes in a sophisticated frosty glass. Nice touch, P.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

I try not to just like something because of the name and sometimes wish I could speed up time to open a fragrance, spray it on, and then repackage it up again so I didn’t know what it was and can give my honest opinion of it. I have to say though that the new PRADA Infusion de Tubéreuse Eau de Parfum Spray ($74/1.75oz, $100/3.4oz, $135/6.7oz @ neimanmarcus.com) from their Ephemeral Infusions line is really taking front and center right now. And I’m pretty sure it’s not because of the name! I mean Spring is here and the season just goes hand-in-hand with rose, but this one has an unexpected twist to it – Petitgrain Bigarade (an essential oil in the citrus family), Blood Orange from Italy, and Dynamone (a woody note that they say helps brings the sensuality to the scent).

Now I know I don’t talk much about the noses behind some of the fragrances I write about but they too gain a sort of fame in the fragrance world. Like this one was created by Daniela Andrier, who is has been behind a lot of the Prada frags and some for Gucci, YSL and even one for lingerie brand La Perla. So how does one become a famed nose in the fragrance world? I mean, have you ever met one? I know like every other profession, you attend a formal school and I read the Ms. Andrier attended perfume in Roure, France, so I guess this will go on my bucket list, to meet and have a conversation with a famous nose.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

KENZO’s L’Eauparkenzo Eau de Toilette ($29/.7oz @ kenzousa.com) – aquatic floral.

CLINIQUE Happy-To-Go ($30/4.8g @ clinique.com) – 3 Solid Perfume Pencils – Happy, Wealth of Flowers and Hint of Citrus.

ELIZABETH ARDEN Pretty Eau de Parfum Spray ($39/1oz @ elizabetharden.com) – fruity floral.

MAISON FRANCIS KURKDIJAN Lumiere Noire Pour Femme ($145/2.5oz @ neimanmarcus.com) – spiced rose.

PRADA L’eau Ambree Eau de Parfum refill ($78/2.7oz @ bergdorfgoodman.com) – woody amber.

These thumb-sized balms may not look like much but I’m a convert. These PRADA Shielding Balms SPF 15 Lip/Tint ($38/10 size .05 tubes @ neimanmarcus.com) are smoothest lippies I have ever tried and they really stay put! I should have known that if a big fashion house was going to get into this category, they would only do it if they could do it right. No wonder all the mags have raved about these. Big recommendation.