Givenchy Very Irresistible Eau de Toilette review

          Givenchy Very Irresistible pays homage to a time when fashion and cinema were intertwined. The scent is a union between the elegance of French cinema and the pizzazz of American film. I can imagine the slender shape and slightly swept curvature of the pink bottle to be an abstraction of a startlet's dress.
  
          Givenchy Very Irresistible is a rose and anise scent with light to medium strength. The intended notes include Centifolia rose, Peony rose, Fantasia rose, Passion rose, Emotion rose, Verbena Leaf, and Star Anise. The scent opens with rose blooms; after all, they list quite a selection in the intended notes! The rose is clear, but relaxed. It's not a full-bodied rose bouquet like Stella McCartney Stella. The experience is more like a rolling dewdrop passing from petal to petal. I can't detect a strong contribution from the Verbena leaf, though there is a light freshness that might be attributed to it. Anise adds a touch of interest and charm to the scent. It's present at the opening and a light licorice scent pervades throughout. The floral fades rather quickly to focus on the Anise. After time passes, the fragrance settles on my skin to include a hint of vanilla. Givenchy Very Irresistible doesn't contain traditional base notes like musk, amber, or patchouli. Without a grounding base, this mid-tone focused scent imparts a floating feeling, perhaps like the dress described above.

          Judging from the description and pink packaging, Givenchy Very Irresistible Eau de Toilette should be a scent that appeals to me. That said, I wore it only once, despite having this sample for quite some time. Most fragrances forge an emotional connection in my memory, however I could not put my finger on how I felt about Givenchy Very Irresistible. After smelling it again for the purpose of review, I agree with my initial impression. It's a pleasant and wearable fragrance, but I'm not persuaded into any particular direction. Perhaps the mixed classical and pop inspirations have guided the scent into a middle ground. Overall, Givenchy Very Irresistible is a pretty scent that would be nice to wear in daytime. While the fragrance has a quiet neutrality, there are hints of glamour, beauty, and intrigue that become evident to those who lean in close. Thanks for reading! Have you tried Very Irresistible Givenchy? Have you tried other Givenchy fragrances? Do you like rose or anise in a perfume?

Love, Dovey.

 P. S. For a very different take on rose and anise, you might want to read my review of Guerlain La Petite Robe Noir (read here).

Fragrance, a mini menagerie

          This summer I've found my nose perusing the fragrance shelves of Sephora again. I figured it was time to pull out the deluxe sized fragrance samples I've collected from fragrance kits or gift with purchases. Most are florals or fruity florals, which are general crowd pleasers. I'll give a quick breakdown of my thoughts. Stella McCartney Stella is an old favorite of mine; I actually have the bottle in full size. This is really one of the best rose scents out there. Escada Especially Escada is my newest sample; it might still be available as a 100 point perk on Sephora. I haven't pieced through the elements in the scent, but it has a different fruity edge that I'm really liking. The bottle is gorgeous too. Coach Poppy and Versace Bright crystal have smooth fruits mixed in their scents; they'd be easy for even non-fragrance lovers to wear. Dior Addict Shine isn't available anymore online. It's a shame because I did enjoy the fresh blend of cedar and raspberry in it. Givenchy Very Irresistible and Ralph Lauren Romance were ok, but haven't yet left lasting impressions. I believe I wasn't terribly fond of Marc Jacobs Daisy and Juicy Couture Juicy Couture. It's a shame since both of the scents have cute bottles.

           Even with all these delightful bottles, I can't help but eye new scents. I still have my eye on Dolce + Gabbana Light Blue (and its summer counterpart), Chanel Chance Eau Tendre (even though it smells nearly identical to my DKNY Fresh Blossom), and maybe the Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin which I recently read about on The Non-Blonde. I have a little tester of Prada Infusion d'Iris too, which is in a category of its own. However, before I go off the deep end, I'm announcing a fragrance ban until I review each and every one of the samples shown here. I'm inwardly groaning at the thought, but I know it's for my own good. What deluxe fragrance minis do you have on your dresser? What samples or scents have you been liking this summer?

Love, Dovey.

P.S. I already reviewed Coach Poppy (see here). One down!

Fragrance minis

           As a sample collector, it's simply inevitable that I end up  with a large number of fragrance sleeves and vials. However, the number of scents that make it into my rotation are quite limited. As you can imagine samples come from all genres and I, like most, fall into a certain niche. In general, I'm a 'pink' scent person. As a cheerful chipmunk, I can take maximum doses of bright and optimistic florals with citrus. Hints of musk, jasmine, vanilla, and sandalwood appeal to me. More relaxed citrus based scents are ok. I generally dislike oriental, spicy, powdery, or opulent scents. Two sample vials I remember completely using up were DKNY Fresh Blossom and Kate Spade Twirl. Today' I'm sharing the four sample scents that successfully made it into my rotation.

1. Dolce + Gabbana Light Blue - I'm sure I've mentioned this on the blog and twitter before. Out of the four shown here, Light Blue has the best chance running dry due to use! It's not my typical kind of scent, however it's perfect for winding down at home after a long day.  I wouldn't wear this during daytime; it's too relaxing for me. Light Blue's top notes include Sicilian Citron and apple; the crisp scents add the perfect dash of energy to an otherwise warm cedar/amber/musk base. I might buy a rollerball size one day.

2. Tocca Graciella - Graciella is a medium weight floral musk with definite water tones. The florals include ylang ylang and rose de mai. For some reason, I was expecting Toccas to be lighter floral scents. The inclusion of apricot and asian pear results in a mellow fruity tone that I really enjoy. I think the apricot and pear really add a pleasant and unexpected dimension to the scent. However, after the initial burst, it becomes harder to find these elements, and I am left with a more watery and floral musk dry down. I'm really not a water scent type of person, so though I am intrigued, I would not purchase this. I'm pleased with the overall construction the scent, which makes me want to explore other Tocca fragrances (perhaps Cleopatra or Bianca).

3. Miss Dior Eau de Parfum - Miss Dior seems like a scent worn by a young chic sophisticate. It's a weighty floral (jasmine) with citrus and patchouli. The patchouli isn't really noticeable to me, which I like. The scent is a bit sweet. The scent is a bit heavy for me, but I'll try to finish it anyway.

4. Givenchy Play for Her - From the its namesake 'Play' I was expecting a playful energetic fragrance. However, Givenchy Play is a more relaxed feminine scent that isn't overly opulent or complex. It seems like a fairly mild mixture of woody, citrus, and floral scents. This seems like a good scent for a down-to-earth girl who doesn't want to be overwhelmed by flowers. Overall, I think this is a nice scent, but it's a bit too relaxed for my personality. I need something a little more high strung!

         Thanks for reading this episode of fragrance minis! Now that it's warmer, I've rekindled my interest in fragrances and will try my hand at more fragrance writing. What samples or scents have appealed to you lately?

Love, Dovey.

P.S. Sporadic internet service and a tighter schedule have made me a bit slower in replying to comments; however I do plan on getting to them and genuinely appreciate everyone who has taken the time to leave a note!  Hearing from friends, both old and new, always lifts my spirits, especially during busy times :)