Cult of Pretty

This time of year is full of awesome excuses: have to go shopping, have to eat marshmallows shaped like birds, have to get some new perfume.

With this, I bring you a few inspirations and new cults-to-be for your Spring scent wardrobe updates:

1. Orla Kiely Rosie - Limited Edition.  Her designs manage to be feminine and at the same time ungirlie. So it is with this interesting woody floral based on natural rose.

2. Narcisco Rodriguez For Her Eau Délicate - Limited Edition. Narcisco could make Shoe Stank for Her and I would buy it.  I think the fundamentals of this fragrance are a masterpiece that so many have copied.  A delicate version = air freshener, pillow freshener, air freshener, lingerie drawer freshener, etc.

3. Flora by Gucci Glamourous Magnolia - To me, a green/white floral is the essence of the new season - it’s literally the scent of Spring!

4. Ferragamo Signorina - Jasmine plus panna cotta. Just saying! And the bottle is too good. Let’s buy 2 and tape the tops on our ballet flats. What. I think it would work.

This post is brought to you by Debenhams. Visit their women’s designer fragrance destination online - or IRL, if you’re lucky and/or British. All editorial content my own; image: Ella Bella Floral.

I’ve been listening to a ton of Bruce lately (Tunnel of Love much?) so I think I might have to pick some of this up.

Does this: A clean, sweet lavender with vanilla and musk - inspired by Chanel’s favorite state fabric
Is this: Les Exclusifs de Chanel - Jersey
Get this: Above
Price: $110.00 (2.5 oz), $210 (6.8 oz)

There’s something about fragrance oil that’s more human that eau de toilette.  The scent sinks in, warms on your skin, and somehow feels more intimate, personal … more “signature.”  For summer, I have a theory that oils just last longer on your schweaty body.

Fragrance oils have been making cult beauty lists for ages, so I thought I’d share my top five cult classics, and my top five “next generation” cult favorites.

The old (but still wonderful) guard - >

1. Kiehl’s Musk Oil ($26): My first personal cult fragrance, still use it for layering/personalizing other scents.  Warm, sexy and understated.
2. Moynette Paris - Original ($45): BIG Tahitian gardenia and orchid scent - sultry, legendary.
3. Kai ($48): A fresh white floral that takes me to Hawaii, in a white-sheets-doors-open-to-the-water kind of way.
4. Child ($53): John Mayer’s pick up line, take that as you will.  I kind of love that guy but don’t tell anyone I said that. A straightforward but gorgeous jasmine scent, also great for layering.
5. The Body Shop White Musk ($16): Quite indescribable, sweet, underrated in its oddness, and well due for a comeback.

And for the newbies on the block ->

1. Ilari ($65): A modern jasmine.  The perfumer wore it, a guy came up to her and said he could fall in love with a woman in that scent, and now they’re married. Just saying.
2. Leila Lou ($38): So I love a lot of the fruity florals out there in prestige fragrance, like Juicy Couture, but I would never wear them (too recognizable) - I would wear this.  Nectarine, grass, pear blossom, cotton musk and other summer love.
3. Miss Marisa Tropical ($62): A delectable, beachy tropical floral with class.
4. Black Gardenia by Michele Bergman ($120): I can’t even write about this, it gives me chills.  If you like gardenia you will marry this; Pee-wee is probably available to officiate.
5. Silk by Jalaine ($150): If you like vanilla but won’t admit it, this is your fragrance.  No one will be the wiser - it’s that sophisticated.

Tell me, did I miss any of your personal favorites?