Rouge Bunny Rouge Allegria Eau de Parfum Review: A Joyous Escape to Summer

Allegria EDP happens to be one of my new favorite floral perfumes!

What is it about Allegria Eau de Parfum from luxury beauty brand, Rouge Bunny Rouge, that is so joyful in how effortlessly this woody-floral captures the feeling but essence of spring evolving into summer?  Yet, the perfumer, Sonia Constant, mastered exactly the right notes for this green aromatic floral that can brighten your mood and make you forget cold, dreary weather. 

The fragrance opens with a sparkling energy from notes of bergamot, sour orange, grapefruit, and passion fruit.  The initial juicy freshness grabs your attention, being so luminous.

As it soon warms in the heart, this fragrance evolves from the marriage of its herbs notes of mint nanah, basil, buchu, eucalyptus to the floral mimosa absolute.  The former freshness undergoes a transformation and becomes cleaner and aromatic from the influence of green, which matures it with a sensual, but earthy feeling.  You feel a part of nature, but beyond somewhere indoors where elegance is the norm.

By the time Allegria dries in the base, it heats up from woody notes of cedarwood, hawthorn along with dry amber, enveloping it with a rich spicy sweetness that  takes on a fuzzy sort of coziness from the musk, moss and tonka bean that is very inviting as well as seductive.

If you are searching for a memorable aromatic floral that is not in the least shy to help you make a great impression for you or someone on your holiday gift list, Allegria fits the bill.  It has such feminine beauty supplemented by a confident inner strength that makes it demand attention.  

Allegria Eau de Parfum is ($129.00) at Rouge Bunny Rouge.  Use #coupon code RBR-NUTS4STUFF20 and save 20% off in their Web Boutique.  Check it out!  Trust me, but you will love it.

Molton Brown Blossoming Honeysuckle & White Tea Eau de Toilette Review -- Soft-Spoken Floral Beauty to Love

This is a fragrance that pulls you in with its happiness.

Have you ever noticed how certain fragrances make you feel?  Some have the power to make you feel more confident, playful, adventurous, beautiful, romantic, sexy, glamorous, sophisticated to bringing out your wild streak or a mix of those things. Molton Brown’s Blossoming Honeysuckle & White Tea Eau de Toilette is a fruity-floral that has a graceful elegance that can shower you in its comforting warmth and romantic beauty.  If you’re searching for a wonderful fragrance for holiday gift buying, this floral can definitely brighten the spirit, even on the coldest day.

This fragrance opens briefly with a bubbly and fresh radiance from its citrus notes of bergamot and mandarin.  You can’t help but take notice of its bright spirit.

As this fragrance soon warms, the initial brightness sheers  when it comes in contact with the floral notes of honeysuckle, white tea and jasmine in the heart.  It is a delicate feeling of romantic bliss that surfaces like you’re privileged to share.

By the time this scent dries down, the base notes of sandalwood, heliotrope and vanilla temper it for a sensual, inviting warmth that lingers.

Anyone on your gift list that loves soft-spoken floral fragrances would adore Molton Brown’s Blossoming Honeysuckle & White Tea Eau de Toilette ($65.00).  I know that I do.  Find this fragrance and other great holiday gift options at the company’s website.

Beyonce Heat Kissed Eau de Parfum Review + Giveaway!–Ends February 26, 2016

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Beyonce Heat Kissed Eau de Parfum 

If you want to entice or warm up the heart of that special woman this Valentine’s Day, you
might want to think about giving her something sweet and luscious like the new perfume that arrived for this review and giveaway.  I just sampled Beyonce’s Heat Kissed Eau de Parfum that was released and done in conjunction with Coty Beauty in July 2015. This latest addition to the Heat fragrance family is an exotic fruity-floral infused with vanilla and haunting wood notes that you may want to take a close look at.

This fragrance opens dripping with the sweet nectar of ripe mango, lycee, and dragon fruit.  However, it quickly warms and brings out its beautiful floral heart with blazing red fury orchid, jasmine sambac and Moroccan rose oil, which give its smoldering sweet heat that lurks beneath the surface of this fragrance. Once it dries even further in the base, this scent has an undeniable seductive magnetism with notes of African sandalwood, vanilla, and patchouli without coming on too strong.

What I find so appealing about Heat Kissed is how the vanilla works against the notes, touching each ever so gently, almost like a kiss against that sensual sweetness of woods and floral, mainly its patchouli. 

Beyonce Heat Kissed is a soft, sexy fragrance that has a sophisticated twist to its composition that would make a perfect scent to wear or gift her with this Valentine’s Day.  Do check it out!

Thanks to Coty Beauty and Beyonce Parfums, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States will win a 0.5 oz. bottle of Beyonce Heat Kissed Eau de Parfum Spray ($20 value)!



Giveaway details and how to enter–


Prize: One (1) winner from the USA will win a 0.5 oz. bottle of Beyonce Heat Kissed Eau de Parfum Spray ($20 value)!

Dates of entry: 02/10/16–02/25/16 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

Eligibility: Open to USA residents only.  No PO Boxes. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

How to Enter:  Please use the Rafflecopter widget if it works.  You can also enter by clicking this link or try to enter using another browser. You can return daily and log in again with your email to tweet or to vote daily for Nuts 4 Stuff on Picket Fence Blogs.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: L’Occitane en Provence’s Pamplemousse Rhubarbe and Jasmin Immortelle Neroli Eau de Toilettes

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.** 

Pamplemousse Rhubarbe Eau de Toilette

What a refreshing way to treat yourself or those on your holiday gift list than indulging in something sinfully delicious like  L’Occitane’s two newly launched limited edition fragrance and body care collections inspired by pastry chef, Pierre Herme and his recollections of summers in Corsica.

Pamplemousse Rhubarbe Eau de Toilette ($62) is not your typical fruity-citrus, but a heavenly aromatic fragrance with a crisp, yet sparkling citrus and herbal zing to it with top notes of grapefruit, rhubarb, lemon, and cypress.  As it warms in the heart, this light blast of freshness is curbed by notes of spicy clove, nutmeg and lavender, which beautifully gives the blend its intriguing sensual appeal.  The fragrance deliberately taunts, flaunting its confidence in its daring invitation until it dries down in the base with heated promises of what is yet to come with its notes of cedar and vetiver.

Jasmin Immortelle Neroli Eau de Toilette

The Jasmin Immortelle Neroli Eau de Toilette ($62) is  luminous floral with baked in lemony sweetness that smells so delectable and yet elegant.  It opens with bright top notes of lemon, pink pepper and petit grain before it warms in the heart with jasmine, immortelle and neroli to sprinkle the floral with more juicy freshness.  As it dries down in the base with notes of amber, white woods and musk, it becomes softly seductive.   

If you love sweets and don’t want to worry about calories, you should try these two new L’Occitane fragrances of Pamplemousse Rhubarbe and Jasmin Immortelle Neroli because they would make a wonderful gift for yourself or those on your holiday gift list!  

Review: Korres Best of Body Butter Collection Gift Set!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.** 

Korres Best of Body Butter Collection Gift Set

Sometimes, the stress of holidays with all the shopping and preparation seems overwhelming.  Instead of neglecting yourself because of all that you have to do, the Korres products that I have just sampled in their Best of Body Butter Collection ($42) can be exactly what you need to feel like your beautiful self again.  

The Korres body butters in this set can be a quick fix to restore your sense of well-being through the use of natural fragrance in each of the three 7.95 oz. tubes of Jasmine, Basil Lemon and Guava. At the same time, they also soften and moisturize your body with sunflower, almond, shea butter, and avocado oils to treat your skin right.  

Jasmine is romantic, feminine and quite lovely of a floral fragrance that blooms against the skin.   Basil Lemon is a fresh breath of summer on this herb and lemon mix.  Guava is sweet and full of the warmth of tropical paradise.

Your skin will appreciate how nourishing these body butters are.  They don’t just sit on the skin and leave you feeling slick, but hydrate very well while leaving smoothness and a pleasing scent behind.  

This Korres Best of Body Butter Collection would make an awesome holiday gift as well so do visit their website and check it out!  

Review: Demeter Fragrance’s Limited Edition 2015 Foolproof Blending Library Sampler Set Debuts Black Friday for $20!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Demeter Fragrance’s Limited Edition 2015 Foolproof Blending Library Sampler Set

Fragrance is one beauty essential that I never skip wearing.  Finding the right one to suit your body chemistry can be the perfect finishing touch to help set you apart from the crowd.  If you are tired of blindly following the pack with the same scents that all your friends are wearing, then listen up because I have a suggestion that will solve that problem with what PR sent along with Demeter Fragrance’s Foolproof Blending Library.

Being a perfumista, I had a blast testing, blending with the strips provided in this set and layering the 10 different fragrances that are included in this first set of 3-ml spray vials that come in this Catalogue 1. Think of the beautiful combinations that will be at your fingertips with these 10 fragrances that include:
1. --  Baby Powder
2. --  Pure Soap
3. -- Sunshine 
4. -- Gin & Tonic
5. --  Laundromat
6. --  Clean Skin
7. --   Wet Garden
8. --  Salt Air
9. --  Lavender
10.-- Jasmine

Lavender, Sunshine and Baby Powder is a delightful blend.  Then again, Jasmine and Salt Air is a haunting combination, but introduce some Gin & Tonic gives it a sexy twist. I could go on and on with exciting new custom fragrances as I continue mixing and experimenting with this set.  

What I really liked was this set gives you the opportunity to sample 10 Demeter Fragrances to see what works the best with your body’s unique chemistry.

This Limited Edition Black Friday Foolproof Blending Library Sampler Set will be specially priced at $20 on November 27.  You can find all the fragrances in this set also at ww.demeterfragrance.com, Walgreen’s and the Look Boutique inside Duane Reade.

Also when you’re shopping for fragrance, you may want to take a look at Demeter’s Foolproof Blending Duos and Trios when making out your gift list.   With the Duos ($35), you get two colognes and an empty bottle to transfer your special blend or to just enjoy separately.  

This is the funnel and tools that came inside the Foolproof Blending Duo for transferring your fragrance creation.

You might want to check out the limited edition selection of Christmas Tree and Sweet Orange available from November-January 2016 or the Clean Skin/Sunshine or Jasmine/Lavender Sets. 

Demeter Fragrance’s Foolproof Blending Duos

The Foolproof Blending Trios ($45) is another great suggestion for any fragrance fanatic.  Each set has three separate one-oz. bottles of spray cologne like this delicious Vanilla assortment that has Hawaiian Vanilla, Angel Food and Gingerbread.

Demeter Fragrance’s Foolproof Blending Trio

Yet, there are so many tempting sets to choose from in either the Duos or Trios that you may find it hard to decide.  Regardless, I say variety makes life fun so do pick some Demeter Fragrances or sets up because who wouldn't love crafting their own original fragrances? 

Review: Korres Vanilla Freesia Eau de Parfum

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.** 

Korres Vanilla Freesia Eau de Parfum

I have sampled some wonderful skin care and scented body care products from Greek brand, Korres, but wasn’t aware they had perfumes until PR kindly sent one along with their Vanilla Freesia Eau de Parfum Spray.  Let me tell you that if you gravitate toward oriental vanilla fragrances, then you would love the captivating sweet flower power in this one.

The scent opens with bergamot and tea for an exotic start that soon gives way to heavier, sweeter notes of fruits and floral in the heart.  

As lychee, peach, freesia, jasmine and sandalwood heat and blend, the fragrance has a thick gourmand like sweetness against an explosion of floral, which adds mystery as well as velvety allure to this romantic scent.  
Spiked with notes of vanilla, patchouli and creamy musk in the base, it warms deliciously into a light seductive vanilla that is sultry as well as surprisingly soft in its beautiful embrace.

Those that are drawn to vanilla or oriental fragrances would especially be attracted to Korres Vanilla Freesia and its undeniable magnetism.  If this sounds like you or anyone on your holiday gift list, then I highly recommend getting a bottle ($38.50) at Sephora.

Adidas Born Original for Her Eau de Parfum Review + ($30) Giveaway!–Ends October 13, 2015

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Adidas Born Original for Her Eau de Parfum can help you get a fresh start for Fall!

Though we may just have started Fall, I know how you can easily make that Summer feeling last.  All it takes is a fragrance that helps you relive the season every time you wear it like Coty Beauty’s recently released fruity-floral, Adidas Born Original for Her that came out this Summer 2015.

This fragrance has notes of bergamot, apricot and orange zest to give it that fresh, happy burst of bright energy as it opens.  The blend is like experiencing that ideal Summer morning that is warm and breezy, and yet still clinging to its morning dew as it awakens for a new day.

As the fragrance warms further in the heart with notes of exotic coconut, candied apple and jasmine, the scent begins to beautifully soften as it steals some of that fresh citrus thunder.  In its place, those sweet fruits and floral notes give it a luscious, romantic element that captivates.  

The further the fragrance continues to dry down in the base, its notes of tonka bean, cedar and olive wood add that warmth and a certain appealing charm that make Adidas Born Original for Her delightfully intriguing as well as easy to wear.  

If this sounds like your type of fragrance, do check out Adidas Born Original for Her Eau de Parfum ($30) and get a whiff.  I know that you will love the scent once that you sample it in person.

Thanks to Coty Beauty and Adidas Originals, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States will win a one-oz. bottle of Adidas Born Original for Her Eau de Parfum Spray ($30 value)!


Giveaway details and how to enter–


Prize: One (1) winner from the USA will win a one-oz. bottle of Adidas Born Original for Her Eau de Parfum Spray ($30 value)!

Dates of entry: 09/25/15–10/12/15 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

Eligibility: Open to USA residents only.  No PO Boxes. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

How to Enter:  Please use the Rafflecopter widget if it works.  You can also enter by clicking this link or try to enter using another browser. You can return daily and log in again with your email to tweet or to vote daily for Nuts 4 Stuff on Picket Fence Blogs.

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Katy Perry Royal Revolution Eau de Parfum Review + ($30) Giveaway!–Ends September 11, 2015

Disclaimer:  This post is based on a free product provided by a company as a press sample so that I may offer my own  opinion, which may be the same or differ from yours.

Royal Revolution Eau de Parfum

Superstar singer, Katy Perry, knows how to make a fun, but dramatic impression whether on stage or with her fragrance line done in conjunction with Coty Beauty.  For her third perfume’s release in 2014, she made sure to take no prisoners with this unique, creamy fruity-floral perfume created by perfumer, Pierre Negrin, with her Royal Revolution Eau de Parfum.

With top notes of pink freesia and red pomegranates, the opening is sweet and juicy.  This combo seems to sugarcoat the floral note with its red fruity essence instead of contributing an element of freshness as you might expect.

By the time this fragrance warms in the heart, the notes of sandalwood, orange flower and jasmine petals take ranking precedence for an alluring hold on the senses that is unexplainable in how it effortlessly captivates.  

However, the real magic to this fragrance happens in the base.  The note of blackthorn in particular seems to cast a spell of crushing resistance like an initial weapon to break hearts before the rest of the notes of vanilla orchid, leather, and skin musk emerge,  arriving to finish what it has won with its dominating power. Making sure to take no prisoners, Royal Revolution is creamy, sweet seduction that you wish would never stop with an unexpected powdery twist within its depths.

I enjoyed this fragrance very much.  My only wish is to make its lovely blue diamond bottle to stand instead of needing to lie flat so it could take less space on my crowded vanity.

Have you tried Katy Perry’s Royal Revolution perfume yet?  If not, you owe it to yourself to check this fragrance out.

Thanks to Coty Beauty and Katy Perry Fragrances , one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the United States wins a one-oz. bottle of Royal Revolution Eau de Parfum ($30 value)!

Giveaway details and how to enter–

Prize: One (1) winner will a one-oz. bottle of Katy Perry’s Eau de Parfum ($30 value)!

Dates of entry: 08/24/15–09/11/2015 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

Eligibility: Open to USA.  The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

How to Enter:  Please use the Rafflecopter widget if it works.  You can also enter by clicking this link or try to enter using another browser. You can return daily and log in again with your email to tweet or to vote daily for Nuts 4 Stuff on Picket Fence Blogs.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mother’s Day Gift Idea–Pamper Mom With L’Occitane en Provence’s Almond Smooth Collection! (Review)

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

L'Occitane's Almond Smooth Collection

If you’re still debating on what you should gift your mother with for Mother’s Day, then let me make a suggestion.  One of my all-time favorite body care lines is L’Occitane en Provence’s Almond Collection. These plant-based products lovingly nourish the skin with a lasting silky veil of fragrant moisture that has a powdery sweetness that is intensely beautiful in how it clings and tends to the skin.    

The award-winning Almond Shower Oil is a delightful way to cleanse and hydrate with its almond and grape seed oils for benefits to the skin.  Use it in place of your shower gel for a luxurious bathing experience.  I love how this stuff doesn’t leave any greasy film behind only an intoxicating scented foam.  It is wonderful to use for shaving your legs with.

Their Almond Milk Concentrate is another award-winning product–-and rightly so for how this luscious scented cream melts into the skin and provides such a smooth and silky texture to your body.  With its powerful almond derivatives and walnut seed, this rich product seems to amplify that moisturizing I received from the Almond Shower Oil. 

The Almond Smooth Collection from L'Occitane is valued at $104.50 but can now be had for $72!

The Almond Delicious Hands is one that any pair of hands would appreciate.  This awesome smelling cream is non-greasy and effective for improving the condition of hands.  You can even type without worrying that you will dirty the keys.   

The Almond Delicious Paste is another gentle product that any woman would love to exfoliate her body with. This is the perfect compliment for spending time in the bath with the Almond Shower Gel.  

Each Almond product that I’ve tried has been exceptional in its mix of almond oil and/or milk and almond extracts among its ingredients for what it did for superbly smoothing and softening the body while scenting the skin. 

If you haven’t tried any Almond products, now is the perfect time for you and your mother to experience its wonders since the company has a great deal right now.  L’Occitane is offering a gift set of four of the products–-Almond Shower Gel (16.9 oz.), Almond Cream Concentrate (3.5 oz.), Almond Delicious Hands (1 oz.), and the Almond Delicious Paste (1.7 oz.) valued at $104.50 for just $72 in this Almond Smooth Collection!  

Review: L’Occitane en Provence’s Second L’OcciBox for Spring, 2015 Is Here!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

This is L'Occitane's Second L'OcciBox.  It does makes a beautiful gift.  

L’Occitane en Provence got into the beauty sampling program back in December with a seasonal box. This Spring I received the second L’OcciBox, full of their best-selling products and one from a special partner.

Besides an excellent way to test out some great beauty before you buy full-size products is the fact that you can buy by the box instead of being tied to an annual subscription.  The cost is $20, but the box has a $50 value. 

Just look at the contents of this second L’OcciBox for Spring, 2015.

L'Occitane's Second L'OcciBox for Spring 2015

1.  Shea Whipped Hand Cream (30ml) – Another favorite hand cream of mine with 25% shea butter with a lighter texture.  

2.  Shea Butter Hand Cream (10ml) – This is an amazing, hardworking formula with 20% shea butter that I use all the time.  It doesn’t leave hands greasy, but soothes irritation quickly to leave softness behind.

3.  Jasmin & Bergamote Eau de Toilette (1.2ml) – This is a lovely fruity-floral where jasmine is the star set off with freshness from bergamot.  

4.  Immortelle Brightening Essence Sample (1ml) – This immortelle flower formula is for evening out complexion tone and brightening.

5.  Immortelle Precious Serum (7ml) – This anti-aging serum has the immortelle flower for its restorative powers in help with lines and wrinkles. 

6.  Bone Mere Rose Soap (3.5oz.) – This gentle formula with palm oil cleans without stripping skin’s natural oils as it scents with romantic rose.  

7.  1 cube of Sugarfina Champagne Bears (3.3oz.) – This luxury candy is inflused with classic Brut and Rose champagne! 
You can buy these limited boxes online or at L’Occitane’s boutiques, but you need to hurry if you want to take advantage of this deal.  Enter coupon code, SUGAR, at checkout to get that $20 price.

Review: NEW Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc Eau de Toilette, Body Milk, and Perfumed Soap From L’Occitane en Provence–Fresh Floral Extraordinaire!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc Body Milk, Eau de Toilette, and Perfumed Soap from L'Occitane en Provence.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, I am happy to tell you that L’Occitane en Provence added another fragrance for women to their La Collection de Grasse.  Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc Eau de Toilette is their new fresh fruity-floral offering that is a sensory experience of feminine beauty.

This fragrance opens with a sparkling spirit from juicy top notes of invigorating citruses and black currant. Though pronounced, this composition is carefully orchestrated because once those notes further warm in the floral heart with iris and ylang-ylang along with peach and fig milk, it loses that stronger crispness and mellows. The result is an intriguing mix of fresh verus powdery notes that embody its radiant personality. As it dries down, the base notes of cedar and white musk softly entice and seduce.

Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc from L'Occitane en Provence, unboxed

The Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc Perfumed Body Milk ($27) is a pampering way to compliment the Eau de Toilette ($78) with that lovely scent.  This pink lotion is just what you need to richly moisturize the skin and keep that fragrance going even longer. 

The Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc Perfumed Soap ($7) is a joyous luxury as well.  The fragrance seems to linger after washing with this gentle soap.

You may want to look into L’Occitane en Provence’s Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc products this year for gift giving for both your mother and yourself because you both deserve this sweet combo of fruits and flowers!

Lady Gaga's Eau de Gaga 001 Perfume Review

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Lady Gaga's Eau de Gaga 001 Perfume

With a celebrity like pop singer-songwriter, Lady Gaga, you never know what to expect when she comes on stage.  The same is true with the release of her second unisex woody-floral fragrance, Eau de Gaga 001, that was done in collaboration with Coty Beauty and her Haus Laboratories with perfumer, Ursula Wandel.

Trying to find the right words to describe this scent is difficult because of the way this one develops.  This scent has an explosive citrus start from opening notes of lime and bergamot that come off strong and forceful with a masculine edge.  You don’t know exactly where this fragrance is taking you until it warms further.  

It is in the heart with notes of white violet that there is a subtle blending of floral sweetness that gives wonderful contrast to that harsh electrifying lime.  At this point, the combination of notes becomes more feminine with a fresher sweet vibe to it.

As it dries down in the base, this fragrance changes yet again as the leather notes kick, making it more unisex with a raw sexy appeal that might pleasantly surprise your senses.

I don’t think this fragrance will be for everyone, but I did like Eau de Gaga 001 for how different it was. Do give this fragrance a chance to see how it develops with your body’s own chemistry before you rule it out. Otherwise, you just might miss something that could help single you out from the crowd.

*Disclaimer:  This is my own honest opinion.  A free product was provided solely to facilitate this review.*

What Could Be More Romantic than L’Occitane en Provence’s Pivoine Flora Collection This Valentine’s Day! (Review)

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

L'Occitane en Provence's Pivoine Flora Beauty Cream 

Though an inanimate object, a fragrance can say so much.  Just like people, there are bold scents that can be daring, perhaps, a bit loud while others are strong enough to shout.  Others can be joyous and so full of bright energy that you can almost feel that burst of happiness. Still, others are so beautiful in the aura of glamour or confidence they radiate that you can’t help but admire them.  If any can initiate romance and set a mood, it is through L’Occitane en Provence’s captivating Pivoine Flora Collection for some Valentine’s Day magic.

The ideal way to begin is by lavishing all over first with some luxurious, but light Pivoine Flora Beauty Cream ($38) before you dress for that perfect evening. The alluring scent of peonies on your silky smooth skin entices enough to set the stage to bewitch your Valentine, who will have a hard time from wanting to caress your perfumed skin.

Since I think you would want to guarantee you’re the only one Valentine would see, I think the Pivoine Shimmering Oil ($36) is well called for.  This fragrant floral oil with a bit of shimmer is just what you need in a few appropriate spots like bare shoulders or cleavage to keep your love’s eyes riveted.  Do I need to say more?

L'Occitane en Provence's Pivoine Flora Shimmering Oil

Next, I would reach for my Pivoine Flora Eau de Parfum ($62) because this heady floral is the elixir of the initial products that will reel that Valentine in, but good.  With top notes of grapefruit, bergamot against green notes, the fragrance is fresh and yet bright like excited anticipation. The heart unfolds with an avalanche of peonies not to be undone by the sheer beauty of magnolia and violet.  Yet the base notes of luscious vanilla, earthy musk and haunting cedar are what ignites the mix into the perfect blend of femininity and seductress that will work for you every time.  

L'Occitane en Provence's Pivoine Flora Eau de Parfum

In keeping that romantic mood going, I recommend lighting a Pivoine Flora Romantic Candle ($35) to set the tone of the evening.  The sweet aroma of the peony blossoms in the air is so beautifully intoxicating that it will drive your Valentine crazy with the need to pull you closer just to get more of that captivating scent for one promising night.

L'Occitane en Provence's Pivoine Flora Romantic Candle

With L'Occitane en Provence's Pivoine Flora products mentioned here, take my word that your Valentine's Day promises to be unforgettable!   These are definite winners!

Have You Ever Wondered How to Clean Scented Candles?

Pretty Woman Scented Candle

Though as beautiful as they are, fragrance candles can collect dust.  The best way to clean them and get rid of any dust that may be hampering the full fragrance is simple enough to fix.  All this problem requires are two things.

You will need a cotton ball and a drop or two of baby oil or cooking oil. The oil works wonders to grab onto the dust without marring the wax as it cleans. This way its fragrance can once scent the air as it should.  

Do try this trick because it will beautify your candle and whatever room you have it in again!

Out With the Old Makeup and Time for the New Makeup!

This current year is about to end with a new one soon to start.  This is the perfect time to clean your makeup bag and toss out the old products and make way for the new.  After all, you don’t want to risk your beauty to cosmetics with preservatives that might have started to break down or already deteriorated.  

Since cosmetic manufacturers aren’t required by law to include expiration dates, you probably won’t find a date on most of those products.  A good idea is to jot down the date that you opened it and record that information in a small notebook with all your other makeup and skin care products to keep track of their expected shelf life.  

Another thought is to use an indelible marker to date it directly on the product, provided you have enough room to write. Regardless of the method you choose, this extra step will be very useful later when you need to remember how long you used the product to best judge whether to keep it.

Eye makeup that goes closest to the eye like mascara and eyeliners presents the most risk. Therefore, you should replace them every three months because once opened, bacteria start growing that can lead to an eye infection.  You may want to toss sooner if you like to share those cosmetics with your friends or are in the habit of pumping your wand in and out of the tube. 

Liquid and creamy forms of cosmetics and skin care basically are good for about a year but lipsticks can last even longer–closer to two years.  However, if you see the product separating, notice an unusual smell, or the color changes somewhat, clumping, settling at the bottom, you need to pitch it.  Throw out your lipstick once it becomes dry or tastes odd.

Just remember, you introduce fresh bacteria with every application of those types of foundations, cream eye shadows and blushes, concealers, lipsticks, moisturizers, and eye creams simply by touching them.   

Pump dispensed products are a bit more sanitary, but they do not end the contamination threat since every pump draws in air, which also has particles of dust, mold, bacteria, pollen, and animal dander if you have a pet. 

Lip glosses are trickier business since they are a breeding ground for bacteria to better incubate due to the sponge.  Play it safe and toss glosses after a year is the general rule. Replace sooner if you happen to notice the formula becoming excessively stickier than it was.  

Nail polish generally has a shelf life of up to two years.  Since quite a few companies have been coming out with non-toxic formulas, those varieties tend to expire sooner so be vigilant if that consistency changes.  A clue to look for is the need to continually shake the bottle to try to get the color to blend.  This is a sign to give up and toss that polish. 

Powder cosmetics like your blushes and eye shadows normally last at least two years. Then again, if you apply your eye shadow by wetting your brush first, the product can go bad sooner.  A good way to tell if those powders are contaminated is by examining the texture.  If it looks overly dry than you remember, it’s likely the product should be disposed of.

You can find many different thoughts on how long a typical fragrance can last.  Some believe a fragrance should be good for about eight years, if properly stored in a dry, cool, place away from the sunlight.  On the other hand, there are others who believe that two to three years is a more accurate answer.  On a personal note, I have some vintage perfumes that smell divine and have kept their staying power.  So, I truly do not believe anyone really knows for sure.  

Nonetheless, a good fragrance indicator is the color of the liquid itself.  If the color has lightened considerably, in all probability, the fragrance went bad.  Another way to tell if your fragrance is still good is by testing how long it lasts.  A fragrance that needs to be thrown away is one that suddenly fades too quickly unlike the strength of what it smelled like when it was new.

The information that I have given you here is a place to start.  Please keep in mind that how you store your makeup and skin care, such as too close to the heat or a window where sunlight can hit them, can further reduce their shelf life just as keeping products in a bathroom also can.  Please do keep all of the above in mind.