Stella by Stella McCartney Eau de Parfum review

          Stella McCartney Stella Eau de Parfum was a purchase from early on in my fragrance exploration; it was an evening appropriate counterpart to my light floral collection. Even visually, the blackened rose gradient stands out amongst my largely pink or clear fragrances; the bottle design beautifully depicts the dramatic floral scent inside.

           Stella McCartney Stella is the personification of a ripe, resplendent rose. It captures the flower at the moment when the heavily perfumed petals can barely stay alight. The intended notes include rose, peony flower, mandarin, rose absolute, and amber. Rose is the dominant and almost singular note. The other notes are built underneath to bolster the natural character of a fragrant rose. As mentioned above, this rose is mature , not one of a green bud. Peony adds an opulence and fuller body to the rose scent; one might imagine that our basic rose has gained a multitude of burgeoning petals like a peony. The mandarin was not readily apparent; I had to sift through layers of the scent to find a true mandarin at the heart. The juiciness of this mellow citrus complements the sweet nectar component of the rose. Stella has an amber base. The amber scent is clean, with just a hint of spice running throughout. I would describe Stella as a medium to heavy scent due to the strength of the rose, as opposed to a strong amber, musk, or patchouli base. Though it is a heavier floral, it may still appeal to light floral lovers due to its simplicity and lack of exotic or heavy base notes. As someone who typically wears light florals, I consider this to be an evening scent. However, I have heard Stella called a daytime fragrance; I think it's just a matter of personal preference and perspective.

Stella Jr., trying on Stella's hat for size.

          Stella McCartney Stella is the essence of a full petaled rose. In reality, this rose is too voluptuous to be a a true rose. This sleight of mind is accomplished via a supporting cast of scents used to bolster the natural character of a rose fragrance. Rose scents can come across as mature or dated. However, the simple structure of the scent and the clean amber base keeps it fresh. Thanks for reading! Have you tried Stella? Would you wear this in the daytime or evening? What are your favorite rose fragrances or body products?

Love, Dovey.

P.S. I'm 'petal'-ing through the last requirements of my fragrance ban (see here). After this, there's only one more scent to go!

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!