Scentbird Perfume Subscription Review

I love a good monthly subscription box…and I’ve tried a lot! Birchbox, Ipsy and Glossy Box for beauty, Citrus Lane for babies and kids…all so much fun to get in the mail each month. It’s a great way to discover new brands you wouldn’t normally seek out.

I recently checked out Scentbird, who has taken a unique twist on the monthly subscription business model. With Scentbird, you get a 30 day sample of perfume each month. You get to choose which perfume (over 350 to choose from!) or you can take a survey to see if there is a new scent that you should try, based on your preferences.

Not only is each month’s sample a generous size, but it comes in a fun, travel friendly holder you can use each month for your new scent. I'm the type of person who gets tired of the same scent over and over, so this service is nice to keep my perfumes up to date. After taking my first quiz, it was suggested that I try out Hanae Mori, which is a scent I have never heard of! I thought, what the heck, and selected it as my scent for the month - and I'm so happy I did! I love the scent. It's something I never would have tried if I just smelled at the perfume counter, but once it's on me, I'm love it. 

Interested? Sign up! It’s $44 for a 3 month package, $84 for a 6 month plan, and $164 for a year. Sign up today and receive 15% off your first your first month! 

*This post contains affiliate links 

Giveaway Break - L'Occitane Verbena Eau De Toilette

I've been doing a lot of reviews of L'Occitane lately. I've really been impressed with all of their new products I've been trying, including their hair mask and colognes. They have definitely done a great job at going beyond their lotions and creams they are known for. Their website has even received a fresh new design. 

LOccitane.com now has a responsive design, which means it seamlessly adapts to all screen sizes, including tablet and mobile. Some of their other updates include:
 - Skincare Diagnosis and fragrance finder
 - Rich video content
 - Simplified checkout process
 - Glossary featuring over 200 Mediterranean ingredients
 - VIP sign-up to receive special offers and invitations from L'Occitane

L'Occitane is way ahead in this space, and I give them props  for adapting their web experience to help us consumers have a great expeirence! To help celebrate the launch of their new site, L'Occitane is sponsoring a giveaway on Lipgloss Break!

***Giveaway***

Enter to win a L'Occitane Verbena EDT! 

Fill out the form below to win! There are also several different ways you can get extra entries: sign up for my mailing list, post a link to this giveaway on your blog, follow my blog, follow me & retweet on Twitter , follow me on Pinterest, follow me on Instagram or become a fan on Facebook; just make sure to list the number of extra entries in the form below. Enter up to once a day!

This giveaway is open to US residents only. The contest will end on Tuesday, September 10th. I will randomly select one winner and announce them on Lipgloss Break, so keep checking to see if you're a winner - Good Luck! 

Friday Favorites

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I’m always on the hunt for travel size beauty products. I rarely check my bag when traveling for work so I have to make sure that everything I bring is under 3.4oz. I recently received a sample from L’Occitane Eaux de Colognes new line and I’m obsessed with the scents. And I’m in luck, they also come in a travel friendly size!

I have Ravissante & Captivante and love them both.  Captivante is a light, fresh every day scent. The bottle is huge, but looks really pretty on my bathroom vanity. Kind of like décor. 

I seriously love my new phone. The Samsung Galaxy 4 has the best camera! It kept my niece and nephew entertained during an hour long car rid. They loved putting 'stickers' on pictures of themselves. 

 Palmer's Cocoa Butter (added bonus, SPF 15)...need I say more?

 

Love me some Nordstrom Rack. The one in Lake Orion, MI was very organized and clean. I scored  these Me Too flashy flats. Can't wait to sport them in the fall! 

Chicago skyline at night. Beautiful! Can you spot the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel? Taken with my new Samsung Galaxy 4. 

Mane Teeze Hair Perfume Review

If you have ever...
skipped a day of washing your hair, or
skipped a hair wash after a workout at the gym, or
dreaded the smell of your hair after attending a hibachi restaurant....this product is for you.

I'm talking about Mane Teeze hair perfume. This is not a regular perfume. Mane Teeze contains higher concentrates than regular perfumes, but is still very gentle for use on your hair. The long lasting scent is noticeable for up to 12 hours. I have witnessed this! I sprayed this in my hair at 7am and my hairstylist said my hair smelled great when she started my highlights 10+ hours later.

Owners of Blow Dry Bar, Melanie Groom and Tara McIntyre, recognized they were missing a piece of the hair styling category. In order to fill this void, they created Mane Teeze by T&M. Check out their site, these two ladies look like so much fun!

I was fortunate to get a sample of Social Butterfly, which is a vanilla and coconut scent. Definitely reminds me of summer scents. Just two sprays lasted the whole day.

There are two other scents, Black Widow & Haut Mess. Black Widow is a dark amber scent, and Haut Mess is a mix of chocolate, caramel and dessert like scents (yum!). Ideally I'd keep one in my gym bag and one at home. I've taken mine on all of my business trips in the last month - it's TSA size approved!

They retail at $34 for 50 ml and can be purchased from ManeTeeze.com. I think a bottle this size will last a long time. I know I'm going to savor every spritz!

Note: This review includes products that I received as samples, provided by the brand company or a PR rep. Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer.

Giveaway Break - Playboy VIP for Him & Her

 

Playboy Fragrances has released a new line, Playboy VIP for Him and Her. I LOVE trying out new his/her fragrances. I like when my hubby and I can wear matching scents (I know, cheesy!).

Playboy VIP for Her is full of floral and sparkling ingredients, with notes of a subtle musk and sandalwood. Something about it makes me think of sparkling champagne, which too me, screams 'VIP!' I normally don't like 'musk' scents but this one has a super fresh smell to it. 
 
Playboy VIP for Him has top notes of bergamot and accents of white chocolate and rich sandalwood. The sandalwood really stands out. This is a very sexy, manly scent.

Playboy VIP for Her retails at $17 and Playboy VIP for Him at $15.67. You can find Playboy VIP at drugstores nationwide. Or...you can try to win a set for you and your man!

***Giveaway***

Enter to Playboy VIP for both Him and Her!

Fill out the form below to win! For extra entries, you can sign up for mymailing list, post a link to this giveaway on your blog, follow my blog, follow me and retweet on Twitter , follow me on Pinterest or become a fan on Facebook; just make sure to list the entries in your comment. Enter up to once a day!

This giveaway is open to US residents only. The contest will end on Sunday, November 4th. I will randomly select one winner and announce them on Lipgloss Break, so keep checking to see if you're a winner - Good Luck!

Madonna is launching a fragrance

Madonna is launching a fragrance with Coty Prestige in April 2012. It's called Truth or Dare by Madonna.

It will be a unique blend of narcotic florals, balanced with addictive woods and vanilla. Can't wait to check it out!

DVF DIANE Fragrance

To help launch the new DVF fragrance, women wearing the classic wrap handed out DIANE scented ribbons in SoHo, Union Square, Times Square and the Meatpacking District. Then, the Wrap Rally participants converged on the flagship Bloomingdale’s location just prior to the event and created a wrap flash mob, which generated excitement about the momentous occasion. As they chanted, “DVF! DVF! Be the woman you want to be!” DVF herself joined in and everyone went wild.

DIANE is now available at Bloomingdales. I haven't tried it out yet...anyone get a sniff yet?

Vera Wang Preppy Princess

What do you think of when you hear the word 'preppy?' Popped collars? Frat boys? Polo shirts? Once you smell Vera Wang Preppy Princess fragrance, you will think of something else - flirty girls who are stylish and like to have fun!

Vera Wang Preppy Princess comes up in a fun pink bottle with a blue and white plaid design. The top has a crown and ring top, similar to Vera Wang Princess. The fragrance features impressions of tangerine, red apple and succulent crushed berries. The eclectic blend of honeysuckle and jasmine matches the scent's classic meets edgy style, while the scent of sensual woods and an unexpected kiss of coconut water make you feel like you are popular, invited to the inner circle.

The dominate smell of berries is why I like it so much. It's not musky at all, and it reminds me of a scent I wore in high school, fruity and light.

Zoe Kravitz holds court in the ad campaign and schools fans on what it truly means when downtown meets uptown and fashion-forward, confidence rules.

Eau de Toilette Spray
3.4 oz / 100 ml $75.00

1.7 oz / 50 ml $60.00

1.0 oz / 30 ml $45.00

Satiny Body Lotion
5.0 oz / 150 ml $35.00

Note: This review includes products that I received as samples, provided by the brand company or a PR rep. Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer.

Sheer Stella by Stella McCartney

Sheer Stella, a limited edition fragrance by Stella McCartney, is an exlusive scent infused with the sheer beauty of organic rose. Each year, Stella McCartney reinvents her namesake fragrance with lush new notes, creating a limited-edition take on her iconic rose scent. In keeping with her tradition, the designer introduces Sheer Stella, an organic rose version of the classic Stella fragrance developed exclusively for 2010.

The fresh fragrance is infused with organic rose grown in the mountains, giving Sheer Stella a light, natural appeal. Exclusive to Stella McCartney, an entire organic rose harvest was purchased to create the one-of-a-kind fragrance. Fresh, natural top notes of Green Apple, Frosted Lemon and Bulgarian Rose open a romantic heart of Celestial Rose, Rose Absolute, and Iranian Organic Rose, grounded by a base of warm, sensual Amber.

The limited-edition Sheer Stella bottle was designed by British artist Phillip Jones, an internationally renowned London-based painter who was most recently exhibited work in Madrid.

Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties

I was in search of a new summer scent and fell in love with Harajuku Lovers Lil' Angel Sunshine Cutie scent. It's described as a citrus vanilla, but the first thing that comes to my mind is a 'sugary sweet.' It's a sweet scent that is really light and a perfect match to a summer sundress. These bottles are so cute...perfect to get you in the mood for summer!


Love: A fruity floral, Love mixes and matches a vintage inspired one piece with modern wrap around removable sunglasses. A red Hibiscus flower is the perfect accessory to keeping her ponytail in place.

Lil' Angel: A citrus vanilla, Lil’ Angel suits up in a teeny weeny navy blue bikini scattered with sweet yellow and white hearts (showing her love for the beach)! Never without her signature headband, she dresses it with a few fragrant Plumeria flowers to channel a tropical vibe.

Music: A sensuous floral, Music keeps it nautical. Her navy and white striped bikini is trimmed in bright cherry red and accented with some sweet and playful bows. A red Hibiscus hair flower makes the perfect topper. Aye Aye, it’s super kawaii!

Baby: A dewy floral, Baby is a quintessential girlie girl in a pink on pink polka dot bikini with ruched top and string bottom. A few Plumeria flowers nestled in her hair add the finishing touch to her super kawaii ensemble.

G: A creamy musky, G wears a tuxedo bandeau bikini top and for a pop of color, turquoise boy short bottoms. Her sweet headband is adorned with a mix of tropical Plumeria flowers.

Giveaway Break - Vera Wang Princess

Rule your scent and channel royalty with the new Vera Wang Princess. Radiant and whimsical, this sheer, fruity floral scent embodies the modern day princess. Vera Wang teamed up with Zoe Kravitz to create this edgy delicate fragrance, which perfectly embodies Zoe's individuality and one of the a kind spirit.

You have to check out the Vera Wang Princess site....it's so fun!

Top Notes: Lady apples, Water Lily, Golden Apricot and Mandarin Meringue
Heart Notes: Pink Guava, Tahitian Tiare Flower, Wild Tuberose and Dark Chocolate
Base Notes: Vanilla and Amber Woods

The feminine scent is housed in a heart-shaped amulet. And because every princess must have her jewels, the bottle is topped with a bejeweled crown, featuring a gold band and sparkling amethyst-hyed crystals.

This is the ultimate girly scent. This is one of the only perfumes that I used the entire bottle up of without getting tired of the scent. The packaging is beautiful, crowned top and all. Let's face it, we're all princesses!

***Giveaway***

Enter to win Vera Wang Princess!

Fill out the form below to win! For extra entries, you can sign up for my mailing list, post a link to this giveaway on your blog, follow my blog, follow me and retweet on Twitter , or become a fan on Facebook; just make sure to list the entries in your comment. Enter up to once a day!

This giveaway is open to US residents only. The contest will end on Sunday, April 25th. I will randomly select the lucky winner and announce them on Lipgloss Break, so keep checking to see if you're a winner - Good Luck!

Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne

"Parisienne is a scent that suits this eternal woman: she has personality, she is paradoxical, and she plays with convention. There is nothing obvious, only hints..."

I was really excited to try this new perfume by YSL. Normally I'm not a fan of 'rose' scented products, but it's a very subtle note in this perfume and it's not over bearing. It's a very girly, classy scent that I can wear to work and out at night.


THE TOP NOTE adds the shine of vinyl, an ultra
modern wink to gloss, varnish or the metal of a spike
heel, before the tartness of cranberry adds a point of
bitter sharpness - the evocation of a certain
impertinence softened by sparkling, succulent, fruity
blackberry, symbol of an epicurean PARISIENNE.

THE FLORAL HEART beats wildly with the absolute
femininity of the Damas rose, which harmonizes
perfectly with the powdery violet, sensual and
carnal like leather worn by Kate Moss. In contrast,
the peony gives a breath of PARISIENNE youth and
a hint of morning freshness.

THE BASE NOTE brings tumult and intensity in
its woody wake. First with patchouli, the ultimate
in mystery. And when the masculinity of vetiver
flirts with the feminine eroticism of musk and
sandalwood, one knows that this PARISIENNE
knew a “night of love”.

Note: This review includes products that I received as samples, provided by the brand company or a PR rep. Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer.

Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies

Have you smelled the new Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies scents? There are 5 scents: Love, G, Baby, Music, and Lil Angel. So far, Love is my favorite. It's amazing. It's sweet and softly scented. It's creamy vanilla orchid base comes through in this scent and totally makes it my favorite.

The packaging for these scents are collection worthy. Little Harajuku dolls top each one. It's almost like decor for your bathroom vanity.

The Snow Bunnies's also recently got a new home. It's a snowy winter wonderland featuring new Uki Games, where you can compete for Kawaii prizes! This site is very well done: interactive and super playful. Follow @HarajukuLover_G for insider tips and prizes.

Giveaway Break - Sunkissed Glow by JLo

Sunkissed Glow by JLo

Enjoy the feeling of warm sand on skin, bask in the glow of the hot summer sun...

The Fragrance - Floral Fruity Sensual

A tropical fusion of ruby red grapefruit, pineapple juice, and cassis sorbet, juicy and sweet. A kiss of beach flowers, orange flower, water lily, and passion flower, lush and sensual. A warm breeze of sheer amber, cashmere wood, and hot sand glides over skin, sexy and sultry.

Notes

Tropical Top: Ruby red grapefruit, pineapple juice, cassis sorbet

Floral Heart: Sultry beach flower, orange flower, water lily, passion flower

Sexy Base: Sheer amber, hot sand, cashmere wood, skin musk

The Bottle

Same sensual curves. Smooth, frosted glass. Splashed with with a soft gradient palette of burnt orange, sandy yellow, and crisp mossy green. Jennifer’s personal touch - a wearable seashell charm bracelet.

***Giveaway***

Enter to win Sunkissed Glow by JLo! A total of FIVE winners will be selected!

Sign up below to win! For extra entries, you can sign up for my mailing list, post a link to this giveaway on your blog, follow my blog, or follow me on Twitter, just make sure to list the entries in your comment. Enter up to once a day!


This giveaway is open to US residents only (no PO Boxes please). The contest will end on Friday, August 21st. I will randomly select 5 lucky winners and announce them on Lipgloss Break, so keep checking to see if you're a winner - Good Luck!

Perfume Break - KENZOAMOURE Eau de Toilette Florale

A Bouquet of White Flowers from New KENZOAMOUR Eau de Toilette florale

In Asia, the poets say that the purest light is written in white flowers. KENZOAMOUR Eau de Toilette florale initiates a new journey of love into the light with a feminine bouquet of delicate white blossoms. Top notes of neroli, grapefruit-black currant and essence of cardamom unfold into a floral heart of frangipani blossom, gardenia and rosebud. White musk and cedar wood complete this fresh, floral fragrance. Lulled by these gentle flowers, this new eau de toilette is inspired by the journey of love.

The star Neroli, is a delicate white flower distinctive for its refreshing floral aroma with a hint of spice. Our Neroli blossoms are harvested by hand and after distillation are combined with a unique blend of white flowers to create an elegant, sophisticated floral bouquet.

KENZOAMOUR Eau de Toilette florale begins a new voyage through Asia, following the ever-shifting sunlight as it changes all that it touches. Ukrainian-born model Olga Kurylenko has been the face of KENZOAMOUR since 2007. She rose to international fame in 2008, co-starring in the 22nd James Bond film, Quantum of Solace as Camille Montes.

Bottle Design

Karim Rashid’s design, inspired by feminine sensuality and flourishing energy, has been bathed in sunlight and lightly brushed by a poetic white mist. On the box, a luminous reinvention of the bird takes to the air.

Retail Information

Available at www.kenzousa.com in July 2009.

40ml (1.4oz) and 85ml (2.9oz).

SRP: $55 USD and $75 USD

Fragrance Break - Kenzo Indian Holi

After spending almost 2 months in India, I was instantly drawn to KenzoAmour EDP Indian Holi fragrance. This scent has been out for awhile, since Spring 2008, but I just had the chance to try it. I'm not sure if it's the actual musky floral scent of this perfume that reminds me of India, or just the fact that it's called Indian Holi and the color and design of the bottle screams 'India.'

A Little Background about Holi

Holi is the festival of colors celebrated all over Northern India heralds the end of the winterand the beginning of the spring,and marks the rekindling of the spirit of life. It is a festival of love and laughter when all is forgiven and it is a time to break free. People of young and old gather before the night of the full moon in the month of March and let loose mists of vibrant colorsas a testament to the joy of Spring. Kenzo traveled through India in March and was inspired by the exuberance of Holi to create its first limited edition of Kenzo Amour.

The Fragrance

A musky floral that evokes celebration Indian Holihas its head in the clouds, with rice steam, frankincenseand whispers of cherry blossom. It breaks into a heart of natural

rose essencebalanced by the freshness of pink pepper, and smoothed by

petals of peonyand frangipani.At the base, it lingers over a musky, sandalwood bed, gently spiced with vanilla.

The Bottle

Designed by KarimRashid, the original “bird in flight” bottle now bears splashes of red and pink celebrating the spirit of Indian Holi. Laced in gold is the heart-felt cry of “it’s Holi.”

Perfume Break - FLOWERBYKENZO Spring Fragrance Limited Edition

Dawn breaks at the end of a long winter; a singular light warms the atmosphere, permeating the landscape little by little. Spring is here. FLOWERBYKENZO Spring Fragrance Limited Edition, a sparkling floral, welcomes the return of life with lively mandarin and ginger notes, brightened by a touch of lychee. At its heart, suave notes of parma violet, freesia and white musk unfold.

An ancient fruit, lychee has been cultivated in southern China for over a millennium. Lychee are often eaten as a healthy snack or used as an ingredient in desserts. They have a sweet, citrusy scent.

Light settles on a poppy encased in frosted glass. On the box, a light-hearted poppy sways freely in the breeze.

FLOWERBYKENZO Spring Fragrance Limited Edition, available at www.kenzousa.com in April 2009. 50ml (1.7oz). SRP: $52.00USD

Perfume Break - Kilian Travel Spray

March 2009 launches KILIAN’s latest temptation: A travel spray for men and women. A magnetic object, literally. A monolith engraved with Achilles’ shield, signature of “L’Oeuvre Noire” collection. As always, the travel spray is refillable and available in all scents to travel with your favorite Kilian fragrance anywhere you choose to go and can meet us in the world.

These scents are refillable at any Kilian Counter. The travel sprays are small and unique, and they make a great travel accessory since they are airline acceptable!

The travel spray comes in the following scents:
Prelude to Love
Love
Beyond Love
A taste of Heaven
Straight to Heaven
Liaisons Dangereuses
Cruel Intentions

The travel spray with 4 refills .25 fl.oz $ 135
The set of 4 refills .25fl.oz $ 70

Perfume Break - KENZO EAUX DE FLEURS Collection

KENZO returns to nature with a new collection of three subtle floral notes, EAUX DE FLEURS, featuring three flowers, picked from Japanese trees to evoke a delicate trail of scent. KENZO asked three perfumers to create a vision for each scent in the trio, resulting in three distinct, whimsical fragrances. With the EAUX DE FLEURS collection KENZO seeks to discover the evanescent quality of blossoming trees, a creative approach blending authenticity with poetry. Every year, KENZO will enrich its collection with a new flower picked from a Japanese tree.

EAU DE FLEUR de soie . silk

Nonchalant and audacious, the silk flower flutters gently in the breeze. Jean Jacques of Takasago has created EAU DE FLEUR de soie, a crimson floral note with a tender, fruity heart. In Japan the silk tree is known as nemunoki, the sleeping tree whose leaves close slowly at night and reopen in the morning, giving the illusion that the tree has slept through the night.

EAU DE FLEUR de magnolia

Perched on their branches, magnolia flowers flaunt their dignified and willowy allure. Francis Kurkdjian of Takasago has created EAU DE FLEUR de magnolia, a radiant floral bouquet, bursting with hesperidian notes to “…capture the fragile crystalline freshness of a magnolia blossom, like a ray of spring sun piercing winter clouds.”


EAU DE FLEUR de thé . tea

Sheltered under its leaves, the soft white petals of the tea flower conceal a heart of gold. Aurélien Guichard of Givaudan has created EAU DE FLEUR de thé, a floral concoction with notes of green tea and a hint of musk, reminiscent of fresh leaves melding with the gentle aroma of the tea flowers.

The Bottle

Tinted in light shades of rose, saffron and chartreuse, the bottles curve as if swaying in a gentle wind. A fragrance faithful to Kenzo’s inspirations, the bottles bear his signature.

The entire collection is currently on sale at KenzoUSA.com.

Shopping Break - Sephora Scent Sampler

Need an idea for his Valentine's Day gift? Better yet, need an idea for your Valentine's Day wish list? Sephora's Scent Sampler is the perfect gift. It contains ten deluxe samples of perfume (or cologne for guys), and a gift certificate to redeem at Sephora, for one full size bottle of your favorate perfume from the sampler. My husband received this from my mom on Christmas and he loved it! He packs the sampler colognes when we travel, and he redeemed his certificate for a full size bottle of YSL L'Homme.