A few of my favorite things - February 2014

          Along with raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, I have A few of my favorite things to share with you today! February is one of my favorite color months. It gives me the liberty to wear pink, pink, and more pink! (As far as I'm concerned, pink might as well be a neutral hue). For this month's edition of A few of my favorite things, I've put together a list of the mostly-pink-themed accoutrements that I've been enjoying!

1. Kate Spade scarf 
I'm always happy to have a little Kate Spade on hand, whether it be a purse, perfume or pretty piece of another sort. This month I've been loving my pink spade-print scarf. It's a festive accent piece, perfect for February!

2. NARS nail polish in Schiap 
This Elsa Schiaparelli - inspired hot pink is a perennial pick for me, come February. While I don't often gravitate towards brights, hot pinks are always welcome in my book! I'd love to have the matching NARS Schiap lipstick; it's quite high on my current wishlist!

3. CHANEL Rouge Coco in Dédicace (click for review)
This cool, cheery pink has been a staple for me this month. (I had a  brief scare when I thought it had fallen out of my purse--- thankfully I found it the passenger side seat of my car). CHANEL Dédicace seems to have been a less popular pick from the Notes de Printemps collection (in the blogosphere at least), but it's a winner by me!

4. Diptyque Eau Rose perfume
When it comes to perfume, I'm a year-round floral kind of girl. When it comes to the winter months, I find myself gravitating to the full-bodied character of rose. I've been mixing up my rosy routine with a spritz of Diptyque Eau Rose. It's a fun take on rose, with sweet blackberry and lychee adding a delicious touch.

5. Cartier Goutte de Rose
I adore Cartier perfumes (composed by perfumer Mathilde Laurent); the natural minimalism of their scents resonates quite strongly with me! I had to pick up Cartier Goutte de Rose when it debuted last year, as I had yet to find a solid rose scent for my collection. I love how the scent strikes a balance between the sweet and mature aspects of this quintessential bloom.

6. CHANEL Perfection Lumiere foundation (click for review)
I hope you'll indulge me in my broken-record kind of endorsement of CHANEL Perfection Lumière! (It's been in a number of my A few of my favorite things posts already!) Lately I've been using this foundation along with my new beauty blender sponge, which tends to eat up the foundation, but provides a beautiful finish.

7. Illamasqua blusher in Nymph
I've become a bit more bold with blush lately. I'll use a liberal dusting, as opposed to my usual whisper. It's fitting for the pallor of my winter complexion, as well as adding a little fullness to my relatively thin face. My favorite blusher this month has been Illamasqua Nymph, a pretty candy pink!

          Thanks for reading! Do we share any favorites? What pink shades have you been wearing this month? What perfumes have you been gravitating towards?

Love, Dovey.

A few of my favorite things - October 2013

          Happy October! The combination of crisp air, colorful gourds, and candy corn make this my favorite month of the year! Beautiful, striking colors are lining the farm-side produce stands, glowing vermilion, white, and jack-o-lantern orange in the glancing afternoon sunlight. (snapshot by mom!) In commemoration of this final, colorful harvest of the year, I'd like to share a few of my favorite fall-themed accoutrements!

1. Vermilion sweater (St. John) + orange patterned blouse (GAP) - I paired a favorite vermilion sweater with an orange print, to mimic the complementary colors of the pumpkins.

2. OPI Did you 'ear about Van Gogh? (reviewed here) - This shade reminds me of wheat fields ready for harvest; it's an appropriate sentiment, given Van Gogh's proclivity for the subject in his artwork.

3. Essie nail polish in Blanc* -This color channels the pale white of the albino pumpkins, as well as little bedsheet phantasms that will appear on neighborhood sidewalks later on this month!

4. Dior Vernis in Riviera (reviewed here) -I find that sporting a bright vermilion is a chic alternative to classic jack-o-lantern orange this month.

5. CHANEL Double Perfection Lumière powder foundation - I'm proud to say I hit pan on this foundation! Needless to say, it's still getting a lot of love.

6.  Diptyque satchel - I love little logo pouches and was tickled when Mr. Lovey brought this one home for me. It's perfect for housing my collection of Diptyque perfume samples! (Be sure to check out my Diptyque perfume reviews here).

The perfect storage solution for my collection of Diptyque samples!

          I hope you enjoyed my ode to October! The combination of vermilion and white is a colorfully crisp variation on a fall theme that I'm going to enjoy incorporating into my routine this month. And of course, a dash of jack-o-lantern orange is always appropriate as well!

        Thanks for reading! What kind of colors and cosmetics are inspiring you this October?

Love, Dovey.
*Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own.

Diptyque Philosykos Eau de Toilette review

          When I was but a sapling, my family and I lived in the heat of California's San Joaquin valley. Known for its fertile soil and bountiful sun, the valley is home to thousands of acres of fig trees, with their gnarled, twisting branches reaching upwards and outwards like giant parasols shading the valley floor. Historically, the trees were brought to California and planted in small numbers by settlers during the gold rush. With the introduction of caprification (a method of artificially pollinating fig trees) in the late 1890s, the fig industry in California exploded! Today the overwhelming majority of US-grown figs originate from the San Joaquin valley. The trees thrive in the dry 104 degree summers, perfectly adapted to the heated climates that supported ancient civilizations.

         Though I've since moved from the fig center of the United States, cartons of fresh figs are always on my grocery list when in season. However, I realize that in modern times, many have never experienced the cool pleasure of a fresh fig. While the readily available Fig Newtons do have their own classically delicious charm, the real experience is quite different. Herein lies the beauty of Diptyque Philosykos; it is a perfume that evokes the fruit of Ficus carica as enjoyed by the ancients, for the pleasure of the modern day palate!

Mr. Lovey spotted this little fig tree on our recent trip to the beautiful Chicago Botanic Garden!

          The story of Diptyque Philosykos is that of the cool, milky fig amidst an airy rustle of leaves and the slight warmth of dry wood. The scent opens with the exhalation of a light green curtain of leaves shielding our moist fig from the scorching sun. Fig is absolutely central to Philosykos; its green, earthy, and milky tones are all beautifully intertwined within the composition. One can even appreciate the nuttiness of the seeds that are an archetypal trait of the fruit. Coconut water adds just the right touch, adding the feel of delicate dusty skin that just a slip of a finger will crease. Over time, as the scent 'ripens', the fig dries down to a more fibrous green fragrance. It becomes slightly sweeter and more jammy (perhaps a la 'Newton). A soft dry wood buoys the base.

          I've noticed that some reviews have overemphasized a supposed sense of 'cool/moist soil/bark/earth' of a figurative fig grove in Diptyque Philosykos. Much to the contrary, I found Philosykos to be a remarkably fig  fruit-centric scent, with only a soft contribution from the tree itself. (Not to mention, the oft-described cool, damp forest is biologically incongruous with the hot, dry habitat of Ficus carica.) While the aforementioned scent signatures are present, the 'cool earthiness' of Philoskyos belongs to the fig fruit itself, not its arboreal mother!

         In Diptyque Philosykos, we experience a pendulous fig magically alight amongst broad leaves: a cool oasis sublimated by the efforts of a scorching sun. It's a simple delight that transcends time. One bite (or rather one spritz) of this sweet milky fruit transports me back to the sunbaked California valley of my childhood and even further, back across the timeless generations to cradle of life where figs were first savored by human lips.

       The beautifully crafted fragrance in Diptyque Philosykos is wonderful for fig aficionadas like myself, and also an intriguing scent to those yet unfamiliar with the unique flavor of the fig. As Philoskykos is among the more 'simple' delights in Diptyque's lineup, it's a great starting point for those looking to explore Diptyque perfumes!

       Thanks for reading! What Diptyque perfumes or products have you tried recently? Do you have any favorites? Have you ever tried fresh figs?

Love, Dovey.

P.S. For more of my Diptyque reviews, take a steamship voyage with Diptyque Volutes, roam the exotic jungles of Diptyque Eau Moheli, and take a break in a cool cafe with Diptyque Eau Duelle.

Diptyque Eau Duelle Eau de Toilette review

Diptyque Paris boutique, Chicago.

         I've become quite enamored with Diptyque fragrances lately. Like a good book, each perfume has a story to tell; the notes unraveling like unbound pages, transport me to faraway lands! I'm lucky to live in one of the few cities with a free-standing Diptyque boutique, so I enjoy the luxury of stopping by and perusing the wooden shelves in search of my next olfactory voyage. Recently, I acquired Diptyque Eau Duelle Eau de Toilette, a spiced vanilla scent that sent me spinning to the other end of the globe!

          Diptyque Eau Duelle is a clever concoction that recalls dessert --- after all, vanilla is involved! In the western world, many a sweet childhood memory builds from the piping hot aroma of baked goods emerging from an oven. Likewise, many a perfume builds upon the warm gourmand essence of vanilla. However, in Diptyque Eau Duelle, I was thrown for a turn by the cool and refreshing nature of the vanilla fragrance, seemingly inspired by South Asian desserts. It's more kheer than cake --- a cold treat to enjoy in hot equatorial climates!

Notes: Cardamom, Elemi resin, Olibanum, Bergamot, Pink pepper, Juniper, Saffron, Black Tea, Musk, Ambergris, Bourbon vanilla.

         Diptyque Eau Duelle is a vanilla perfume accentuated by green resins, incense, and sweet spices. The overall experience is akin to sitting in a small café after a long day of exploring, savoring the shade and cool breeze that carries with it trails of incense and breaths of foliage.

         The perfume opens on an invigorating green resinous note, which is no doubt the Elemi. After its moment, a secondary round of green freshness arises from the juniper and tea, with trails of olibanum incense and a pinch of dewy spice from pink pepper. This cool green edge lingers well into the body of Eau Duelle.

        In the body of the perfume, dessert is served. The milky vanilla is blended with the delightful complexity of cardamom and the sweet wafting fullness of saffron. The creamy wood and marine tones of ambergris dominate the base (especially on warm skin), and add fullness to the light vanilla. A touch of musk is also present.

A selection of sweets from a recent brunch at India House, Chicago.

        Just as a spoonful of sweet milky dessert is the perfect antidote to hot weather (and hot curry!), the cool spiced vanilla in Diptyque Eau Duelle imparts a sense of respite in a perfume landscape filled with warm vanilla fragrances. With its infusion of green resins and sweet South Asian spices, you could say that Diptyque Eau Duelle is, in fact, anything but 'vanilla'!

         If you love your gourmand fragrances, Diptyque Eau Duelle is certainly worth a sniff! However, as with Diptyque Eau Moheli (reviewed here), I will stress that the notes wear differently depending on your temperature. On cool skin and paper strips, you can appreciate the delicious vanilla and delicate saffron spice, while on heated skin you might find that the resins, incense, and ambergris dominate.

          Thanks for reading! What was the last Diptyque fragrance or product you tried? What are your favorite vanilla fragrances?

Love, Dovey.
P.S. For more reading on Diptyque perfumes, be sure to check out my reviews of Diptyque Eau Mohéli and Diptyque Volutes!

A few of my favorite things - July 2013

       July has been a busy, busy month for me! With a new line of work and pressing schedule, I've had less time to dabble, and instead have relied on a few select favorites to get me through the month. Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite things for July 2013. Enjoy!

1. Harper's BAZAAR (August 2013) - Harper's BAZAAR is my favorite subscription, hands down. The photography is gorgeous --- and this month especially so! I was blown away by the August 2013 cover and its stunning southwest scenery. Traveling to National Parks is one of my passions --- and I loved how it reminded me of my trip to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks a couple years ago (see my photos here and here).

2. CHANEL Double Perfection Lumière Foundation in B20 - This has been my foundation BFF for the past few months. Thanks to a busier schedule, I've had less time in the morning to prep - a powder foundation definitely saves time!

3. Diptyque Baies Mini Candle - This was a surprise gift from Mr. Lovey! Blackcurrant and rose make a stunning combination. I'm also loving samples of Diptyque L'Ombre dans L'Eau, which is the companion fragrance to Baies.

4. NARS Exotic Dance eyeshadow duo (reviewed here) - I tend to shy away from golds, however given the current climate I can't seem to get enough of it! This oldie-but-goodie has been getting some much deserved love this month.

5. Kate Spade Earrings - My golden boat earrings from Kate Spade are my favorite accessory purchase this summer. I have the matching bracelet as well, which you may have seen on my Instagram feed!

           I'm definitely getting a warm vibe from my July favorites --- with the flaming rocks and rich gold tones seen here. Being from Chicago's cold climate, I suppose I can't help but revel in the heat of summer!

        Thanks for reading --- and I hope everyone's had a great summer so far! What are colors and products you're loving right now?

Love, Dovey.

Diptyque Eau Mohéli Eau de Toilette review

        Chicago is lucky to have one of only four Diptyque boutiques in the United States (two being in New York City on Bleecker St. and Madison Ave., and one on Maiden Lane in San Francisco). Chicago's boutique is nestled in Bucktown, which has a nice set of shops away from the hustle and bustle of North Michigan Avenue. Candles and perfumes packed in neat wooden displays decorate the cozy interior--- it's a bit more spare and streamlined than the glitzy Bleecker St. boutique, which I've also passed by. Recently, I stepped into the Chicago Diptyque boutique after seeing their brand new perfume, Diptyque Eau Mohéli, on display!

         Diptyque Eau Mohéli Eau de Toilette is an exotic floral perfume inspired by its namesake island. Moheli is part of a three island archipelago that makes up the nation Comoros, located off the east coast of Africa between Mozambique and Madagascar. The island is rich in flora; visitors can enjoy the striking fragrance of ylang-ylang, and admire a bevy of local orchid species and endemic palms. Moheli is also home to baobob trees and a number of pepper and vanilla plantations.

Notes: Floral notes, Ylang-ylang, patchouli, pink pepper, ginger, vetiver, benzoin, incense.

        Diptyque Eau Mohéli Eau de Toilette is an exotic floral perfume crafted around ylang-ylang. Woody benzoin opens the scent; it's spicy, but a bit watered down and not-so-acrid. Ginger root immediately follows (it's more dry peel-on ginger as opposed to fresh cut) and has a lasting presence throughout the scent. The root is laced with a generous helping of pink pepper that tickles the nose. These spices enhance the natural character of the warm ylang-ylang, which is joined by pretty florals that add a nice lucidity to the scent. In the second part of the fragrance, the root-like character of the perfume transfers from ginger over to vetiver. The green root-like smell has an odd warm freshness --- like a green mist exhaled by large jungle fronds under the burning sun. A light patchouli fits in seamlessly with the vetiver, adding a fuzzy focus and depth.The final dry-down features ginger, ylang-ylang, patchouli, pepper, and a leafy jungle green.

          The refreshing breath of hot fronds and pretty flowers combined with the warm medicinal feel of the roots and spice in Diptyque Eau Mohéli definitely channels the feel of an island jungle under the sun. The perfume is full but not heavy. I found that the heat of one's skin plays a significant role in the scent experience. On strips of fabric or cool skin, it's easier to appreciate the florals and lush green tones in Diptyque Eau Moheli. On warmer skin, the ginger and roots seem to predominate. If you're interested in Eau Moheli, I'd recommend trying the perfume on your skin first to see how it behaves.

          Diptyque Eau Mohéli is a spicy ylang-ylang perfume that really captures the imagination. It's an off-the-beaten path type of scent that channels the ylang-ylang flowers, pepper plantations, and warm green vegetation of its namesake island. I'd definitely recommend a sniff of Eau Moheli this summer --- you might be surprised where it takes you! Thanks for reading! Have you tried Diptyque Eau Moheli? Have you ever visited a Diptyque boutique? What was the last Diptyque perfume or candle you tried?

Love, Dovey.
P.S. For more Diptyque, be sure to check out my review of Diptyque Volutes!

Diptyque Volutes Eau de Toilette review

          Volutes refer to swirls and whorls, epitomized by the spinning tendrils of rising tobacco smoke. Aptly named, Diptyque Volutes evokes memories of long voyages redolent of spice and adventure, with elegant ladies leaning on a ship's rails smoking Khedive cigarettes. This unisex scent was constructed around a Diptyque founder's childhood experiences in the Orient.

Notes: iris, honey, dried fruits, pink pepper, saffron, hay, immortell, opopanax, myrhh, styrax, and benzoin.

           The honeyed and spiced tobacco scent of Diptyqe Volutes unfolds like a well-worn map, revealing new points of interest as you smooth out its creases by candlelight. The fragrance opens with the crisp alacrity typical of citrus, in the form of the spicy woody resin scent of benzoin. This punchy note quickly steps aside to reveal a powdery (and not so green) iris. As the fragrance enters its mid-tone zone, tobacco becomes increasingly evident. The tobacco dances with different partners; it lingers with resin first, followed by a long pause with a savory honey, before settling into an intimate relationship with black pepper. The pepper adds a pep in the step of smoky tobacco in its final incarnation. There's also a subtly sweet contribution from dried fruit at the end.

         As I mentioned above, Diptyqe Volutes Eau de Parfum is meant to be worn by both men and women. With this in mind, the construction follows a somewhat expected formula: a floral whisp, savory middle notes, and wooden tones. Also to please both sexes, the scent falls into a middle ground when it comes to weight; its delicate character counters the warm and weighty contribution of spice.

           The construction of Diptyque Volutes is, admittedly, nice. I can see how this oriental scent is more like ladies smoking on the rails of a cruise-ship, as opposed to an adventurer's foray into the courtyard of a maharajah. The tobacco, honey, and spice fragrance features an array of discernible notes that are delicate enough to be approachable, yet spicy enough to be interesting. Being a unisex scent, Volutes does straddle a middle ground, giving it an uncertain identity. Mr. Lovey and I prefer more cleanly demarcated feminine and masculine scents, so it's not our cup of tea. However, if you prefer soft oriental, spicy, or woody scents, this relaxing blend will probably please.

          Thanks for reading! Have you tried Diptyque Volutes? What are your favorite Diptyque items? How do you feel about Unisex scents?

Love, Dovey.