Beginning Dec. 1, bloggers will be required to disclose any "material connections" (i.e. payments or freebies) they receive from companies whose products they review. I want to state right now that I have never received payment or gifts in exchange for my reviews. I have, however, occasionally received free samples (which may have been full-sized products) - can't do a review without the actual product in hand! For the most part, I have paid for or obtained my own samples, and have undertaken product reviews of my own accord.

Additionally, if I say I like a product, it's because I honestly do, not because anyone asked me to make that claim.

Starting now, I will tag any future product reviews with an indicator that the sample was given to me by the manufacturer, or if I obtained it myself. And I promise never to take money or in-kind payment in exchange for a positive review. The purpose of this blog is not to mislead readers, but to encourage them to try the products with which I have had a positive experience. It's all about integrity, and apparently the FTC doesn't think bloggers have much of that.

Hi All :)

It has been difficult for me to maintain this blog while continuing to update my four others (fashion blog, food blog, Top Chef blog, Bravo blog). I rarely get a comment on this blog, so it's hard for me to tell if anyone reads or appreciates my fragrance reviews. For that reason, I am discontinuing this blog. That is not to say that I will stop doing fragrance reviews - I will continue, but they will be found on my fashion blog, which will morph to include beauty. So for those of you who are interested, please change your bookmarks to http://minxbeads.blogspot.com.

This blog will remain up, at least for the time being. (I'm also kinda not fond of having to pay for the site, whereas Blogger, for now, is free.)

Makeup artist Juliet Stewart's motto is "Be Unforgettable...Own Your Beauty." With her first fragrance, Juliet, she "seeks to express, in the creative form of a new fragrance, the essence and personal importance of my motto."

The perfume “Juliet” captures the subtle but real enthusiasm that every woman can feel when she is confident that she is unique and noticed. This fragrance is an original one from me, but it is not limited by me. It is not limited at all; it is open, friendly and filled with warmth. This perfume has a magical edge that captures the attention of others.

I have a purpose in producing this perfume: to demonstrate that my name stands for meaningful beauty that all of us need so much in our lives. It is the first product I have created but it is only the start of my brand. I give you the opportunity to share this fragrance with me, and I want you to expect more things from me that are of equal quality for use by all of us.

There is this most clean and pleasurable surprise when you first nuzzle up to its opening accord of the finest, most classic Italian notes of Lemons from Amalfi, Basil, Bergamot and Sicilian Orange coupled with nuances of fresh Mediterranean Herbs that are rendered ultra-feminine with Italian Jasmine and Vanilla from Madagascar on a warm background of Amber and Precious Woods from the Orient that make you feel truly beautiful.

Juliet, the fragrance, is indeed a pleasurable surprise. Opening notes of citrus, predominately lemon and bergamot, coupled with herbal tones, make this a refreshing, almost bracing eau-de-cologne-ish scent. I say almost, because there is, even at the opening, an undertone of warmth. The woods are lightly noticeable, and there’s a touch of vanillaic sweetness. It’s not until the drydown, however, and several hours in, that the bright notes fade sufficiently for one to notice the beautiful soft amber.

Juliet is right up my alley. I like fragrances that have a combination of citrus and herbs, particularly basil, and I am particularly drawn to woody vanilla and amber scents. Juliet is all of the above. It starts out bright and sunny, then ends up cozy. And it’s a fragrance that both men and women can wear equally well – it smells yummy on my husband too.

Juliet is available at http://www.julietperfume.com/, $125 for 50ml.

...back in a couple of weeks!

...to start thinking about Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We should always be aware.


A SWEET Way To Celebrate Pink
LaLicious Supports National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with their Sugar Kiss Scent

During the month of October, LaLicious will be donating 15% of every Sugar Kiss purchase online at www.lalicious.com to the Breast Cancer Research Fund. Sugar Kiss is a blissful combination of citrus, rose, and vanilla aromas. The Sugar Kiss Sugar Soufflé Scrub and Body Butter are the perfect warm and sugary scents to satisfy body cravings without the calories and help women everywhere fight breast cancer.

- Sugar Kiss Sugar Soufflé Scrub: $34.00 (8oz)
- Sugar Kiss Body Butter: $24.00 (7.3oz)

LaLicious maintains its form from creation to application using natural ingredients. The complete line of body products are paraben and sulfate free. LaLicious helps exfoliate condition, moisturize, and smooth your skin to perfection!

LaLicious products and treatments are available at www.LaLicious.com and at select retailers and spas across the country.

Pamper yourself with ME! Bath Ice Cream®, a flavorful and moisturizing scoop of luxury for your bathtub. Each piece is comprised of a unique six oil blend, purifying minerals, indulgent fragrances and Epsom Salt, and is one hundred percent artisan crafted, taking three days to custom make.

ME! Bath Ice Cream® fizzes and melts immediately when submerged in water, releasing nourishing minerals and fragrant aromatic oils that will hydrate, moisturize and enrich your skin. Simply fill your tub normally and drop in a Bath Ice Cream®, soak and relax while your skin enjoys this decadent treat!

I had the "Cleopatra" scent which was almondy and quite pleasant. My skin felt smooth and silky after a bath. The tub also felt a bit smooth - too smooth. Make sure to rinse it thoroughly after using products containing oils so the next person to take a shower doesn't break anything!

Available in the latest BeautyFix mailing.

Notes: hawthorne, freesia, frangipani, lily, heliotrope, ylang ylang, honey

Beige is the latest in the Les Exclusifs line of Chanel fragrance. I heard lots of good things about this scent, even if nobody was particularly impressed by the name. "Beige" sounds sorta dull, and while the scent isn't dull, it's not breaking any ground.

Beige is a rich white floral fragrance warmed and mellowed with a honey accord. I don't normally care for the scent of honey, but I don't read it as such in this fragrance. It's more like white flowers and tons of white musk, somewhat overpowering if one spritzes more than a bit. It's a scent that, although very floral, is also "clean" and babyish (reminding me a lot of Johnson's Baby Lotion on first application).

I will admit that I like Beige, but don't find it particularly full-bottle-worthy, particularly the enormous bottle that is standard packaging for the Les Exclusifs line. But a decant is just fine.

Notes: bergamot, pink pepper, iris, galbanum, violet, tonka bean, papyrus

I don't know what it is about L'Occitane fragrances, but they all smell the same to me. Well, not identical, but extremely similar. That's not to say I don't like them - I really like Rose 4 Reines (despite it's initial acetone topnote). L'Occitane's Iris is similar, light and bright, but with iris replacing the rose. While the iris note is a bit rooty, the scent isn't because of the light bergamot in the top and the powdery violet that comes in a bit later with a tiny bit of spice from pink peppercorn.

Iris is a pretty summery scent that's not too sweet and not too dry and something I'd recommend as a good "starter" iris fragrance.

Summer's BeautyFix kit contains a sample of the new Degree Women "Fine Fragrance" Collection (quotes mine). While I will admit having smelled many recent fragrance releases that are similar, I am loath to call any of them "fine." Think Bath and Body Works and you'll be close, although the Degree scent I tested, "Classic Romance" (an inoffensive rose-ish fragrance) doesn't have as much longevity as the BBW body sprays I've bought over the years. (I sprayed some on before breakfast, poured myself a bowl of cereal, ate, had a 15-minute conversation with my husband, and poof, it was gone.) Here's the official word on the product. (I'm thinking the underarm deodorant is the one with the long-lasting smell.)

The new Degree Women Fine Fragrance Collection combines long-lasting, sophisticated scents with Degree Women's 24-hour wetness and odor protection for everyday luxury. Each deodorant is paired with a matching body mist for the ultimate fine fragrance experience for women on the move. With three distinct scents, Delicious Bliss, Sexy Intrigue and Classic Romance, women can choose the fine fragrance that suits them best. Find both in the deodorant aisle!

World-renowned fragrance expert Ann Gottlieb – "the nose" behind many of the most successful and prestigious fragrances – inspired each scent as a perfume with top notes, middle notes and base notes. In fragrance sniff tests, more women preferred Degree Women Fine Fragrance Collection over a top-selling fine fragrance, based on a sample of 100 participants. Fragrance ingredients of the highest quality and Degree's top-class protection allow women to have the best of both worlds – all-day protection with the deodorant along with a luxurious body mist that they can take on the go anytime, anywhere.

Application: To further enhance the effects of fragrance layering, apply the scent to your pulse points - wrists, the sides of the neck, elbow creases, behind the knees, around the ankles and between the breasts. Reapply the long-lasting body mist anytime, anywhere to freshen up and stimulate your senses....

Anyway, the product exists.

"Pur~Lip Comfort Daily Lip Nourisher from Pur~lisse blends centuries-old Chinese beauty secrets with modern day science to protect and preserve your lips. Pur~Lip comfort utilizes naturally effective ingredients to relieve dry, chapped, and cracked lips. The highly emollient formula combines Mango Butter, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, and Rice Bran Oil to leave lips soft, moist, supple and youthful-looking. As with all Pur~lisse products, Pur~Lip comfort is completely free of petrochemicals, parabens, dyes, fragrances, and other harsh ingredients."

I like moist lips, so I am constantly applying some sort of gloss or other product. Pur~Lip comes in a generously sized 0.5 oz tube, great for heavy users like moi. It glides on smoothly and doesn't feel too greasy. Unfortunately, I don't find that it lasts very long so I have to reapply. But YMMV, so it's worth a try. After using it for a week, I did find my lips to be nice and moist and supple. Kissable, I suppose, but you'd have to ask Mr Minx about that. ;)