IndieAna- In Search of the HolyGrail

On beauty website Beauty Heaven, there's opportunity to accrue points by doing various interactive activities, like reviewing listed products for example.  I had collected enough points to "buy" the DKNY "My NY" perfume during the event that is Beautorium, where it is possible to spend your points. I had never tried this perfume, but figured that at the cost of $5 for postage, it was worth taking the risk of a blind buy. Description- " Top notes of the composition provide a blend of raspberry, pink pepper and galbanum, followed by Egyptian jasmine, freesia and orris in the heart. The base encompasses patchouli, vanilla absolute, musk and ambergris." At first spray I get the raspberry and pink pepper. Sweet and slightly spicy, giving the perfume a zesty quality. During wear, the floral element became more noticeable. Quite tart, but still with that zesty spice. The musk and patchouli base notes do their part in giving depth and ...

I've never taken a sniff of any Kylie Minogue perfumes in the past, but when the lovely Kat from Kats Colourings raved about this version of Darling, I had to have her. There was no tester of this perfume, but I bought it anyway. Not something I recommend, but I needed that pretty bottle of perfume. Description- " Dazzling Darling opens with fresh and spicy notes of red pepper, acai berry and violet. Rose, passion flower and orris root compose the elegant core of the composition, while the base of sandalwood, cashmere and delicate musk provide a gentle finish." From first spritz, this perfume is alive with fresh, tart florals. The pepper is detectable, but blends so beautifully and grounds the heady notes. I'm not great at detecting particular floral notes, but I believe that this fragrance is very violet heavy. Apparently I am a fan. This perfume is so pretty and feminine. It just screams Springtime bouquet. Bright, sparkling and fun.  During w...

 Marc Jacobs releases such lovely perfume bottles. "Dot" is no exception. I was lucky enough to win her, and was thrilled to have her on display amongst my perfume collection. Description- " Top notes incorporate red berries combined with pitaya fruit, known also as dragon fruit. The juicy and exciting opening is followed by floral trio composed of honeysuckle, jasmine and orange blossom, while a base closes with a trail of coconut water, vanilla, driftwood and sensual musk." This begins with juicy, tart fruits. They are warm and inviting. The florals really compliment the fruity nature of this perfume, giving it a Spring time vibe that can be easily taken into Summer. Even with the fruity floral blend, the fragrance is quite rich and deep, which I love.  After wear it takes on a musky, woodsy feel that becomes almost aquatic. At this stage it becomes closer to the skin, but still noticeable by the wearer. This Marc Jacobs perfume is so different...

Description- " The composition starts fresh mouthwatering notes of Italian bergamot, luscious plum and peach. The heart is composed of floral notes: night blooming gardenia, chocolate orchid and lotus flower. Textured woods, patchouli and skin musk are included in the base notes." As much as I like the angular sheer black bottle, for some reason the black tint has been flaking off. Messy and not a good look up close. That aside, this perfume is quite gourmand in nature. Very sweet and chocolate-y with rich, creamy florals that compliment beautifully.  It is not quite to the point of being too cloyingly sweet, but for me it is edging very close. "True Reflection" is not unique, but for a celebrity perfume it's quite nice. I find it to be a versatile fragrance that is suitable for any time of the year. It makes for a good, no fuss, casual perfume that's not over powering. For me, it doesn't last long, but I find that spraying on my...

Being a fan of Thierry Mugler's well known perfume "Angel" I wanted to try "Angel Innocent" to see how it compared. Description- " Oriental vanilla fragrance for women. Top notes are mandarin, orange and bergamot, middle notes are black currant, almond and red berries. Base notes are amber, white musk and praline. " When I first applied this perfume, it reminded me of men's aftershave, the kinds that are pine fresh in nature. I can't say that I am a fan of this stage, but it did evolve. It became sweeter with fruits, I get mostly black currant, with some citrus. The mix of creamy almond, amber and musk grounds the fragrance, becoming powdery, with a subtle oriental spice. I really like this stage, although it is very close to the skin.  I get pretty good wear out of this perfume. The fragrance is a softer "Angel", she's her little sister. I think that this perfume is different enough to justify a purchase if...

Description- " Top notes are amalfi lemon, papaya and cactus, middle notes are star anise, orchid and blackberry, base notes are patchouli, tonka bean and sequoia." This perfume is sweet, tangy fruit. I detect the berries, but can only slightly detect the floral component. Upon drydown, it develops a creamy, earthiness that is rich, yet still sweet and fruity.The patchouli gives this fragrance more of an exotic feel .  Oh boy, I adore this stage, but it becomes very close to the skin. If it provided more sillage, I would definitely add a full size to my perfume collection. I'll try pouring the rest of the sample into an atomizer and have my fingers crossed that I'll get more longevity when sprayed on my clothes, because "Pure Orchid" is so me! I hope you are having a fab Sunday! :)

Description- " ...natural aromas of fig for sweet accords. Savory notes originate from caviar and the structure is ensured by fig wood aromas." "Womanity" begins spicy and aquatic. Shortly after application, the spiciness disappears on me. Leaving in its wake the salty aquatic note mixed with the slight sweet fruitiness of fig, yet keeping a more savoury side. This perfume is independence and strength. I don't find it offensive, but it is does not evoke femininity.  Fans of aquatic perfumes should definitely try this one. Me, I don't really like them. I appreciate the complexity that Thierry Mugler delivers, but I'm not sure I can even finish this sample sadly.

KK has put her name to some lovely perfumes, I have to admit. I can't say that I enjoy adding to her fortune, but I can't help what my nose loves. After a quick sniff in store, I knew I had to buy "Pure Honey". Description- " ...composition of notes of roses and wild honeycomb" At first spray I get rich, golden honey that is slightly boozy. Don't think your typical sickly sweet honey note, this is more like warm, flowing honey that you just want to dip your finger in. Upon drydown, the white floral emerges working to compliment the honey, and giving a Summery feel. There's that slightly spicy note of rose, but it doesn't smell strongly of heady florals, it's creamier. I don't find this fragrance to be heavy at all. It lingers, but only in wafts, like a warm Summer breeze. Although there is that gourmand element, I find the perfume to be feminine and grown-up. I really love the angular shape of this bottle. And th...

I was lucky enough to win "Viva La Juicy" as part of a huge prize pack from beauty website Beauty Heaven. Description- " The perfume "Viva La Juicy" was presented as a gourmet floral fragrance, which opens with notes of wild berries and juicy mandarine. The heart encompasses a floral blend of honeysuckle, gardenia and jasmine, while the base notes await us with a gourmet rhapsody of amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood and pralines." If you know this lovely bottle well, you'll notice the cute pink bow and ornament is missing. I'd taken it off the bottle, and of course lost it. Onto the fragrance. This perfume is like a guilty pleasure when I wear it. With all that rich, sweet goodness of vanilla, caramel and fruits, paired with pretty floral notes.  I love the slightly booziness that this gourmand fragrance has. Girly, fun and utterly delicious. Although my taste of perfumes has changed from the gourmand loving wearer I once...

Description- " ...fruity strawberry notes, intensive green aroma of violet leaf and spicy sparkling pink grapefruit. Its heart beats in floral rhythm, composed of silky and intoxicating gardenia, delicate violet, and jasmine petals. The powdery soft dry down is composed of white woods, vanilla and musk." "Daisy" is such a popular perfume. I just had to sample it to see what all the fuss was about.  On me, the perfume begins as a green scent. Not bitter, but fresh and sweet. There is a slight fruity element, but it's mostly floral. During wear, the fragrance blooms into more of a yellow, just like a daisy. It becomes softer and creamy, yet still fresh. It makes me long for warm Spring weather. I can see the appeal of this pretty perfume. I like more depth in my fragrances, however, I am more than happy to continue using this sample.

Description- " Top notes bring a breeze of bergamot, mandarin, black currant, magnolia, lily of the valley, orange, tarragon and citruses. Settled at the heart of the perfume are jasmine, rosemary, wooden accords, rose and violet, while the base brings dark and milky caress of sandalwood and velvety vanilla, musk and amber." Very Valentino greets the wearer with light florals and a hint of fruit. I also get the herbal notes, but they are subtle, not too green. The deep notes emerge, not to overpower the initial notes, but gives the fragrance a powdery musk quality. This perfume is soft and pretty. She is mature, yet so soft-spoken that this would make for a great work perfume, or for perfume wearers who prefer a fragrance for only them to enjoy. This one doesn't seem to last long on me. I will try transferring the sample vial of perfume into an atomizer to see if spraying on my clothes makes a difference in longevity.

The JLo perfume bottle caught my attention. Sleek and stylish...and difficult to take a photo of, lol. Description- " The scent opens with vibrant fruity notes and ozone, lychee, melon, passionfruit, mandarine and white cherry. At its heart, seductive florals, including, creamy jasmine, rose, pink peony and orange flower. The fragrance ends with patchouli, musk and moss." This perfume is so sweet and juicy with tropical goodness. However, the perfume doesn't stop there. It has heady florals that are intoxicating and slightly spicy. I haven't tried the original glow, but I assume that this is a darker version. It is rich, and throughout wear develops a creamy quality. I find Glow After Dark to be sensual and sexy. Perfect for a Summer's night out. But, I'm happy to wear it anytime, anywhere!

Description- " The One Desire reveals in the top notes a citrusy blend of bergamot, mandarin, lychee and lily of the valley, emphasizing the glamour and glory of a woman. The heart blooms with seductive tuberose which is cleverly laid out on the base which is made of caramel, vanilla, sandalwood and musk." Upon first spray, I get a lovely tart burst of citrus mixed with creamy florals. It is sweet, but not too cloying or heady. During wear, the perfume dries down to reveal the richer caramel, sandalwood and musk notes. It retains the fruity sweetness, but it becomes richer and slightly boozy. Although there is a creamy syrup quality, I wouldn't class this perfume as gourmand, it is too grown up. This perfume is nothing new, but I find it so appealing in its very feminine and elegant feel. "The One Desire" is a fragrance I could see becoming a new addition to my perfume collection.

I was given "Purr" because it was a perfume my daughter loved the bottle of, but not the actual fragrance. She was on a quest for vanilla based perfumes and this one didn't deliver what she was searching for. I'm always happy to try new perfumes. And if something doesn't take my fancy, I then pass it on to my mother. For me the deep purple of the bottle is the only redeeming feature of this cat from space, lol. Description- " ...top notes of peach, forbidden apple, gardenia and green bamboo with the heart of jasmine, pink freesia and Bulgarian rose and the base of vanilla orchid, creamy sandalwood, white amber, coconut and musk." Upon first spray of this perfume I get sweet peach entwined in creamy florals, not too heady, but definitely strong. During wear the dark sandalwood and musk appear, grounding the fragrance, but not totally taking over the very spring feel of fruity floral notes. It's a fairly simple, girly perfume, yet pleas...

Description- " Perfume composed of apple note surrounded with violet leaves becomes sweeter with a glittering start thanks to a splendid bouquet beautifully harmonizing leaving us under the impression of having a real, juicy, ripe apple in front of us. Red Delicious mixes the notes of champagne, lychee, raspberry, apple, rose, amber, musk and vanilla." Upon application, "Red Delicious" bursts with sweet, juicy apples and berries, yet has the perfect floral balance that compliments the fresh fruit notes. The musk and amber emerge during wear, grounding the perfume and giving a more sophisticated touch. I find that there is an aquatic sea salt element that can be detected, but only enhances the summery feel of this perfume. It is a fun, flirty fragrance, yet can easily take you from a casual occasion to a special one.

Out of the Rihanna perfume trio, "Rebelle", Reb'l Fleur and "Nude", I like "Rebelle" best. Description- " ...a fruity floral with strong gourmand chords. Top notes encompass plum, strawberry and ginger, a heart offers heliotrope, vanilla orchid and cocoa absolute, while a base features a trail of musk, coffee, patchouli and amber." This perfume makes for a great Autumn/Winter fragrance. The fruits are more of the heavier kind, with plum being a forerunner. It does have a rich mocha gourmand side, but I find it works to compliment the dark notes of patchouli, amber and musk, sweet, but not at all cloying. The base notes combined with the spice of ginger gives an oriental feel to this perfume. The drydown is my favourite stage. The perfume at this point is sensual with the musk, and remains so rich throughout.

I have, and really like Beyonce "Heat", so it was only natural that I would want to give "Midnight Heat" a try. Plus the purple bottle is so pretty, so if I needed  a full size, I'd love the flacon, too ;) Description- " It opens with rich fruity flavours of plum from Armenia and star fruit. Orchid, black tulips and purple peony form the heart that gradually turns into the oriental base of warm amber, sandalwood and patchouli." I find that upon application, the florals in this perfume were a little green and almost herbal. Not a fan of this stage, however, the fruitiness and more sweeter floral emerges. This exotic transformation I do like.  Unfortunately by this stage, the silage is quite disappointing for me. I find that I have to sniff my wrists to actually smell the perfume, which is strange because the original version seems to last much longer. Oh well, it seems that I won't be adding the pretty purple bottle to my perfume collect...

Yes, yet another celebrity perfume to review. What can I say? I love my celebrity perfumes, I can't say why, but I do. It's not even that I am necessary a fan of the said celeb. I even like some of KK's perfumes! Description- " The fragrance opens with top notes of pear blossom, frozen bergamot and accord of Blue Curacao liqueur. The heart features Bluebird orchid, for the first time used in a fragrance. There are also notes of delicate peony and intensive midnight blooming jasmine. The base is warm, sensual and irresistible, made with Madagascar vanilla, musk and precious woods. "  Let me start off by saying that I am not a fan of the bottle. Yeah, it's different and very recognizable, but it is so impractical. It's rather top heavy, with a small base, so I am forever knocking it over. Annoying! Now, with that rant over I will get back to the perfume. At first spray, I get bombarded with a sweet citrus scent. Not a bad thing for me because I...

The Tom Ford label is known for a range of products. One of these being perfumes. Quite expensive, but just as high in quality. I was lucky enough to win a travel sized perfume spray from My Perfume Samples. The perfume being "Velvet Orchid". Description- " The fragrance opens itself with bergamot, mandarin, Succan absolute (purified rum extract) and honey. At the core of this creation (made of corporeal floral notes) is Tom Ford's distinctive, "timeless" signature- and imaginary accord of black orchid blended with notes of velvet orchid, which gives the perfume its name, with intense Turkish rose oil and jasmine and a new accord of purple orchid that grows in the wilds of southern Brazilian coast. There are also additions of floral notes of orange blossom, rose absolute, narcissus, hyacinth and heliotrope. The base is warm due to the rich flavours of Peru balsam, myrrh, labdanum, sandalwood, suede and vanilla." I find that at first spray ...

I love a tuberose perfume, but sometimes they can be headache inducing for me. So I was definitely open to trying "Tuberose Indiana", but beginning with a sample was a must. Description- "...bergamot, Indian tuberose, vanilla and ambergris infusion." When I first applied this perfume, I was greeted with a pungent, sour smell that I did not like at all. Before I had a chance to scrub the fragrance off, it began to morph into something more wearable. Sweet, creamy florals with a zesty quality. "Tuberose Indiana" is a full bloom of white flowers in a bottle. It is such a classically pretty and feminine blend.  I just wish this perfume lasted longer on my skin.