REVIEW: Elizabeth Taylor Passion EDT...

One of my perfume passions is Elizabeth Taylor's Violet Eyes - I've adored it for years but it's a challenge to find it anywhere in stock. So I decided to revisit some others from her collection that I'd dismissed many years ago, and I was both pleasantly surprised & delighted to find that my tastes have changed. And while nothing can replace the one I absolutely adore, her Passion EDT has scored a place up near the top of my list ♥...

I admit than when I first sampled it (probably 20 years ago) my first reaction was "old lady perfume", which is why I've avoided it till now. But senses change over time, as do chemical reactions on the skin, and having scored a miniature in a boxed set, I sprayed a teeny bit on my wrist and was like, wow! It really is SO beautiful - woody and powdery with Liz's trademark gardenia content, and more than a dash of spice and incense. Rich and sensual, it's amazingly potent for an EDT - actually has more lasting power than some of my far more expensive EDP's! ♥...

Not a fragrance if you prefer to blend in, this is a powerhouse oriental for the woman that has no fear of being noticed. There are more than 20 different notes in this elixir - the main ones I can detect are gardenia, bergamot, sandalwood, patchouli, jasmine, cedar, rose, leather, musk, vanilla, incense and sandalwood, and they all blend magically into an elegant and alluring fragrance that is as unforgettable as Elizabeth herself. It's the first one she created and was released in 1988 - now that's what I call staying power ♥...

I'm in two minds about the packaging though - on the one hand, the bottle is a gorgeous deep purple art-deco style with a diamond shape embossed in the middle (no surprises there) however the cap is cheap and tacky looking and doesn't do justice to the rest of the presentation. But, given the beauty of what's inside, all is forgiven ♥...

Being an EDT, I expected it to be relatively weak but the initial spritz is quite strong - while the dry down is far softer, I still recommend caution with the application. I pretty much doused myself in it on the first day and regretted it later as too much of anything (even fabulous fragrance) is just plain waste, and I never want to run out of this stunner ♥...

Passion is a warm and embracing floral oriental EDT that encapsulates all the fire and softness that is womanhood, and I'm staggered that it lasts all day - no kidding lovelies, this puts many other fragrances to shame, it's as enduring as the legend herself. And the price is crazy - at the moment the 74ml bottle is on special at Chemist Warehouse for $30! There's no doubt about it - I'm passionate about Passion ♥♥♥...

Are you a fan of any of Elizabeth Taylor's perfumes? Do you enjoy oriental fragrances?

Take care of you, and keep safe,

kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: May Empties!...

May was an exciting month for me - not for the volume of stuff I went through (very little sob), but the fact that I finished THREE bottles of fragrance. Whoopdeedoo! Getting to the bottom of a perfume bottle is a rare thing for me - I tend to rotate them to make them last, and of course I do a seasonal swap at this time of year, and put my warmer weather delights into a dark cavity until the first sign of a blossom. I was initially a wee bit sad though as two of them are no longer readily available, but my good friend Google managed to source some online stockists, so I can relax ♥ Not that I'm short of perfumes, but as every gal knows, they are like lipsticks - all totally unique, and therefore all totally justified lol...

Skin Therapy Dragon's Blood Sculpting Serum (30ml RRP $30)

My current serum of choice - prefer it over the L'Oreal one I said I'd stick with last month (typical me ha ha!). Apart from soothing my skin and firming my jawline a tad, I'm feeling a whole lot more comfortable as it has far less chemicals in it, more naturally occurring ingredients, and they're against animal testing. I seem to be heading down the path of natural skincare - I have to admit it hasn't been a conscious decision, I'm just finding that I prefer the texture or the smell or the performance of the ones that have been coming my way, so I guess you could say my shift is somewhat "organic", and I like that. All for the better I reckon, plus this one is available at the Coles ♥...

Repurchase?

On my second bottle, which interestingly came to me in the Marie Claire Ageless parcel (mini review HERE). I think the Universe is trying to tell me something! I'll definitely be buying it again ♥...

Elizabeth Taylor Violet Eyes EDP (50ml RRP $72)

This is my second bottle of Violet Eyes, the only ET fragrance that I like - discovered it in Chemist Warehouse about 3 years ago. A beautiful, feminine and romantic concoction that always elicits comments from fellas (they want to know what it is). A potent and long lasting oriental floral, I lovingly reviewed it briefly HERE...

Repurchase?

Most definitely - can't find it anywhere in-store, but there are some online stockists, and the price is roughly the same as what I paid (<$30) although I'll have to fork out for shipping. It's worth it ♥

Imperial Leather Anti-bacterial Cleansing Hand Wash - #42 Rockpool Indian Lotus & Waterlily (250ml RRP $3.99)

For me this is the most interesting variety of the Imperial Leather hand washes - comes in a body wash too, gorgeous deep tealy blue, and smells amazingly exotic, the body wash review is HERE ♥...

Repurchase?

Can't find it anywhere (sob!), only the body wash, but hey, it'll work for hands too, just not anti-bacterial...

Nude by Nature Daily Cleanser (125ml RRP $17.95)
My top of the pops cleanser - has not one flaw, already posted a rave rant HERE ♥...
Repurchase?
No prize for guessing the answer, it's a given ♥...

Kylie Minogue Dazzling Darling EDT (50ml RRP $59)

Kylie my dear - why on earth did you discontinue this gem? Sorry - I don't like Darling at all, but Dazzling Darling is a treasure. Bought several bottles of this at Christmas 2012 when it was $20 a pop at Priceline - actually five to be exact, gave away three as pressies and kept two for myself. Now it's only available at perfume clearance houses - boo! Review HERE ♥...

Repurchase?
Yes, very soon - found an online store that has it in stock so I better get cracking ♥

Urban Rituelle Fragrance Diffuser Set - Romance (Amber & Musk) (190ml RRP $39.95)

My all time favourite reed diffusers are from Urban Rituelle - not only are the fragrances made in heaven, the presentation is exquisite and they last for around 6 months! There are two I absolutely adore - this is one of them (reviewed HERE), the other is Comfort (Sandalwood & Tangerine) reviewed HERE which I have in my office, and will star in my June Empties post because it's almost depleted, but hey, I opened it in October last year, so that's 7 months - well worth the price tag ♥...

Repurchase?
Clever clogs Kats - I already had a spare in the cupboard ♥

Yves Saint Laurent Opium EDT (30ml RRP $80)

Rediscovered this fragrant delight just on 12 months ago, and considering I only wear it in Winter, I powered through the cute little bottle in record time. Fortunately Chemist Warehouse recently had the 90ml bottle on sale for $90, so I indulged, and am hoping this bigger size will see me through a couple of rotations. It's only an EDT but it sure packs a punch. Absolutely adore it - call me old fashioned but I don't like the Black variety at all, can't fathom what all the fuss is about. We're all different hey. Dedicated an entire post to this oriental beauty HERE ♥...

Repurchase?
Affirmative ♥...

Maybelline The Falsies Waterproof Mascara (RRP $19.95)

My number one mascara, and high on my list of can't-live-withouts. Although my lashes have quadrupled in volume (from nothing) thanks to RapidLash, I still need a mascara that has fibres in it, and this is the best I've tried. Others irritate my eyes (especially the ones where you apply a base coat and then all the fluffy bits), but not one speck of discomfort from this, and my lashes show up in my EOTD pics. Doesn't budge, flake or smudge either ♥...

Repurchase?

Absolutely - I always buy one when they're on special, and my most recent stocktake revealed four spares ♥...

Have you tried any of these goodies?

Take care of you,
kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Summer Scents Part 1...

Time to blog about another huge passion in my life - fragrance! I'm one of those gals who doesn't feel completely dressed unless I spritz myself with a delicious perfume, even when I'm not going anywhere special, or just doing some boring household chores. Simply put, perfume and I have a ♥ love-love ♥ relationship, and while it can take many many months of searching and sampling to find one that makes my spirits soar, I don't spend more than three seconds choosing what to wear each morning from the ones I have - I just know :-)

My preferences change with the seasons, and my collection is roughly divided into warm & cool weather scents. Pictured above are my Spring/Summer faves - interestingly it was only when I grouped all these bottles together for the photo shoot that I noticed that both product and packaging are either lavender, pink or colourless, whatever that means lol (?)...

Eclat d’Arpège by Lanvin, eau de parfum

My favourite perfume of all time, and without a doubt my signature scent. I adore everything about it, including the bottle - simple and elegant, with a glittering amethyst crystal embedded in the cap. The fragrance is classified as a fruity floral, and the only one I've ever worn that instantly makes me feel like I've just stepped out of the shower, even at the end of a long hot and humid day. Unlike the original musty Arpège that my grandmother wore, this version is light, subtle and delicate, with a zesty tang that is both refreshing and youthful. To me it smells like lilacs and lemons, and I rarely have to reapply after my early morning spray as it endures magnificently on my skin. I've had so many fellas ask me what I'm wearing, and in the 10 years since I discovered it, I've never EVER smelt it on anyone else - c'est moi!

Dazzling Darling by Kylie Minogue, eau de toilette

This was last summer's fabulous find - it was on special at Priceline (less than half price) so I bought up big, gave away a few bottles at Christmas to some very appreciative rellies (including my Mum), and horded the rest. Encased in an exquisitely shaped flacon, this is predominately violet, rose and musk, and what I'd call girly, flirty and fun. It doesn't last more than a few hours, but then it is a toilette - how I wish it came in a parfum! This is far more serious and musky than Kylie's other "Darlings", and the only one I like because the sweetness is tempered with a wee bit of spice. My beautyheaven review of it is here.

Violet Eyes by Elizabeth Taylor, eau de parfum

This was such a delightful surprise. Having sampled all the other fragrances by Elizabeth Taylor, and not even remotely liking any of them (way WAY to heady and sweet), this one is oh so special. Interestingly there are no violets in the formula (although my nose begs to differ) - instead there is a magical blend of white peach, jasmine & purple rose, but I reckon it's the amber & cedar base that ultimately grabs me. A perfect partnering of floral and oriental, I find this perfume cooling, calming and comforting, and perfect for day-time wear. In my mind it conjures up femininity and romance - it's a fragrance for a woman, not a girl :-)

Part 2 to follow...

Have you tried any of these perfumes? What's your favourite summer fragrance?

Take care of you,

kats xxx