Favorite Floral Fragrances

Recently I’ve been looking at my fragrances and realizing I have a type…florals. I love floral fragrances. I especially like wearing floral scents in the spring (groundbreaking...I know) but I’m still loving them in these warmer months. If you’re in the market for some new floral scents these are my recommendations and my favorites of the moment. From high end to more affordable, I’m confident you’ll be able to find something you’ll enjoy too. J

Tocca Florence

This is such a gorgeous fragrance. It’s sweet and floral and feminine and wonderful. It’s one of my absolute favorites. I find it lasts nearly all day, which is great. It is quite pricey for full size (1.7 oz for $72.00) but Sephora often includes it in fragrance sampler sets (my smaller size has lasted me for a long time, a little goes a long way), Tocca has sampler sets as well. Not to mention it does come in a smaller size and roller ball if you don’t feel like splurging.

If you love the scent Tocca also offers a hair mist, body lotion, body wash, body scrub, and candle.

Also the lids on the bottles are all unique! How cute is that?

According to Tocca’s website:

“Top Notes: Italian Bergamot, Grapefruit Leaves, Green Pear, Apple
Middle Notes: Ivory Gardenia, Crushed Violet Petals, Jasmine, Tuberose, Blue Iris
Bottom Notes: Blonde Wood, White Musk”

I’m definitely interested in trying more from the line, Stella is great too.

https://www.tocca.com/collections/beauty-fine-fragrances-classic-50ml/products/eau-de-parfum-florence

DKNY Drop of Rose

If you love rose, this is the one for you. Again, a little goes a long way on this and it is long lasting.

A bit harder to find, I found mine at Marshall's but I have linked an online shop too.

“Fragrance Notes: turkish rose, black currant, magnolia, verbena, and vanilla”

https://jet.com/product/detail/4c1cfe911db84b09baba69821b6cff9b?jcmp=pla:ggl:NJ_dur_Cwin_Health_Beauty_a3:Health_Beauty_Fragrance_Womens_Fragrance_a3:na:PLA_786357117_41412359672_pla-301766765710:na:na:na:2&code=PLA15&pid=kenshoo_int&c=786357117&is_retargeting=true&clickid=e3643877-ee88-4957-8f00-759d59a656eb&gclid=CPeG5PHn49QCFUhgfgod9kwJnw

Bath and Body Works: Butterfly Flower

Have you ever wanted to smell like you walked straight into The Secret Garden? I know you have.

This is so affordable and one of my favorite scents ever. I always get compliments when I wear this.

Bath and Body Works describes it as “A vibrant fragrance inspired by the natural elegance & playful femininity of a butterfly garden in full bloom.”

“Key notes: Mouthwatering Tangerine, White Orchid, Spring Lilacs, Mimosa Petals, Creamy Coconut Milk”

This scent is retired and only available online, I can’t seem to find the fragrance mist online so I would check out the store for the Semi Annual Sale (going on now) and buy 8 bottles, because you’ll love it. Well…. maybe not eight, but at least one! (Also they need to bring back the perfume, ASAP)

Bath and Body Works: Wild Honeysuckle

I’d describe this scent as fresh and floral.

Bath and Body Works describes this scent as “An alluring blend of bright flowers dancing in spring rain.”

“Key notes: Watery Honeydew, Wild Honeysuckle, Rain-kissed Jasmine, Orange Flower, White Woods”

This scent is also retired and only available online.

http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/p/wild-honeysuckle-fine-fragrance-mist-022684860.html#q=wild%2Bhoneysuckle&lang=en_US&start=3

These are a few of my favorite floral fragrances. Let me know if you’ve tried them and what your favorites are! 

Review: 29 by Lydia Mondavi Wine Blot Lip Balm

I came across this lip balm at Target and I thought it would be an affordable dupe of the Sugar by Fresh lip balm (which is AMAZING), but sadly that wasn’t the case. 

Positives: 

Packaging: First of all, the box is adorable. I know that is totally pointless in regards to the actual product, but the silver grapes and leaves on the side of the box are very pretty and the grape on the top is a nice touch. What can I say, I appreciate good packaging. The metal tube has a nice weight to it and the lid clicks on securely, definitely not going to come off in your purse which is always a bonus! 

Scent: Light pleasant Vanilla scent

Taste: Little to none

Color: Clear 

Doesn’t test on animals. YAY.

Claims to be paraben free and SLS Free.

Now on to the negatives….

Negatives:

Texture: Very slick and thin, slightly oily. I was expecting it to be a much thicker and hydrating formula, especially for the price. The product formula feels kind of cheap. 

Appearance: The product itself is clear with a brown/taupe core (this is the grape seed extract, I presume). Honestly the color in the core is a bit unappealing; I was pretty surprised when I first opened it because I wasn’t expecting it. It doesn’t offer any tint to the lips. This isn’t a HUGE drawback, but just personal preference.

Wear time: very short, half an hour at the most. And when it wears away my lips don’t feel particularly moisturized. I definitely wouldn’t say this is intensely moisturizing or to use as a treatment before bed.

Price: $10. I was expecting so much more from this lip balm and it really just didn’t live up to the price tag, in my opinion. I think you can find much cheaper and more hydrating versions of balms. 

Ingredients: The product description on the packaging prides itself on being “restorative and rejuvenating”. Also that the grape seed protects from aging. I find that strange because one of the ingredients is mineral oil. As you may know mineral oil is a touchy ingredient in the beauty world. It is often used in many beauty products as a filler ingredient and IS NOT NATURAL, unlike the name suggests.  According to Naturally Organic Skincare “Mineral oil may make dry skin look better temporarily, but it doesn’t treat anything. As soon as you stop using it, the skin will go back to the way it looked before. Even worse, since mineral oil increases aging, sun damage and dehydration”. IT INCREASES AGING. While I can’t say my lips look particularly older, this is a bit of a turnoff. Also the use of trigger words like mineral and organic makes me question if the product really is, if they are going to put mineral oil in it instead of a natural oil. 

All in all I was very disappointed in this product. It’s OK. I feel like it’s being marketed as something that it really isn’t, and that doesn’t sit well with me. I wouldn’t recommend this product on those grounds and that I think you can find something better and cheaper or something that is of better quality and worth the splurge.

Recommendations:

• Fresh http://www.fresh.com/US/lip-treatment/sugar-lip-treatment-sunscreen-spf-15
•  Yu-Be http://www.sephora.com/moisturizing-skin-cream
• Smith's Rosebud Salve http://www.sephora.com/rosebud-salve-in-a-tube

More information on Mineral Oil:

http://www.naturallyorganicskincare.com/mineral-oil-side-effects/