Fragrance Review: Bond No. 9's High Line

Happy Spring!

... okay, so maybe it isn't officially spring yet, but it IS March. Which for me, equates that winter is certainly on its way out- and a whole new batch of little dresses and bikinis are headed in. ;)

To celebrate "my" spring coming, I set forth towards the Bond No. 9 counter. While my signature is The Scent of Peace (and always will be), I was looking for something springlike and new- something to start fresh with. Spring has always been my favorite season, and I love how it brings a sense of growth, change, and beauty. (Any of this sound familiar? hah.) Call me crazy, but I want to wear a fragrance that reflects that. I went through my massive pile of Bond bonbon samples at home, but none of them really spoke to me. I have a lot of Bond favorites, but I was really looking for something specific. With the help of my Bond SA and my best friend, I found what I was looking for with High Line.

Bond describes High Line as "an androgynous floral-marine bouquet, contrasting the hardy flowers and greens. The scent starts off with a prairie grazing weed—purple love grass-mixed with citrusy bergamot and zesty Indian rhubarb. The perfume’s floral heart is red-leaf rose, Lady Jane tulips, and grape hyacinth. Its lingering base notes combine bur oak with imported sea moss, along with musk and teakwood."

High Line's namesake is the High Line of  New York, a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. If you haven't been to the High Line or the Meatpacking District, it's definitely a must-see while you're in New York. Of course, the shopping is killer in the revitalized area- be sure to check out DVF, Scoop NYC, Stella McCartney, and Louboutin while you're there. What makes the area so special, though, is the High Line- a little oasis in an otherwise very industrial spot. Bond's take on this very special part of the city just nails it.

Bond's High Line opens with a very fresh green burst, which then progresses into a very pretty, fresh floral that has a strong emphasis of tulips and hyacinths. It then dries down to a clean, warm floral that is different from any other I've experienced. Soft, comforting, and yet decidedly evocative of spring. The sillage is phenomenal, lingering on me all day.

Highly, highly recommend this one! Bond No. 9 does it again!

Voluspa Candles: Suede Blanc

As you've probably gathered from this blog, I'm a true girly girl, and enjoy little things that bring an extra "sparkle" to my life. As I have mentioned before, Voluspa candles are one of those little pleasures for me. I burn one of their candles nearly every evening, and I love how it creates a warm, cozy ambiance to my home, no matter how crazy my day has been.

I recently had a small issue with one of my favorite Suede Blanc candles from their Maison Blanc collection, and sent off a quick email to their headquarters about it. Within a day, I had received a concerned response from Voluspa's co-founder, Troy Arntsen. A week later, I received a replacement package of Suede Blanc products as a gesture of goodwill for the mishap.

I've shopped and vacationed at many places that are renowned for their customer service. Saks sends gracious thank you cards. Louis Vuitton offers complimentary gold stamping. Bond No. 9 sends samples. The Ritz-Carlton has welcomed us with chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne. I'm pretty loyal when it comes to brands if I love a certain product, so these little things matter to me. Just as any business course will tell you, companies can retain customers for years if they go that extra mile to make them happy.

Voluspa is a total example of this... they went above and beyond to ensure my satisfaction. In a time where convenience and cost-cutting is often a priority for many companies, it's refreshing when you encounter companies that are focused on the core of their business: the customer.

Suede Blanc remains my favorite home fragrance, and surprisingly, it's something I'd liken to a "boyfriend" type scent. It's rich with notes of cedar and sueded leather, and it's such a comforting fragrance. I adore the packaging: the white and gold is gorgeous, and totally compliments my neutral French chic decor. Like the Macaron candle I reviewed a few months ago, the milky white glass jar just glows beautifully and the scent is evenly distributed in the room.

                                        Love, love, love!

Product Review: Giorgio Armani Face Fabric

I'd been meaning to try Armani's Face Fabric since it was released back in 2008, but I always ended up purchasing other foundation instead. Having heard great reviews about it, I was excited to finally try it out for myself. Face Fabric is definitely different from any other foundation I've used in the past, so I have slightly mixed feelings on this one.

The good?
The packaging is SO convenient! The sleek plastic tube can be thrown carelessly into your cosmetic bag without the fear of breaking a gloss bottle. (NARS, I'm talking to you!)
While the sun protection isn't spectacular, I still love that Face Fabric has SPF 12 in it. I'll take all of the anti-aging measures I can get, whether it be from my foundation or moisturizer.
You only need a tiny dime-sized bit of product per application- which can be applied with either your fingers or a brush.
Smooth, silky texture (due to its silicone base) that is SO lightweight, you feel like you're wearing nothing.
Long-lasting.
The bad?
While the coverage is fairly buildable, it is very, very light if you only apply one layer. This is great for a natural look, but don't expect it to work miracles.
Expect to use concealer with Face Fabric if your skin isn't absolutely perfect.
There is a bit of skill necessary when you apply this product- due to the consistency, it sets within seconds. As long as you can work the product in quickly, you should be fine.

My verdict?
 I really like Face Fabric, and expect that I'll like it even more in the summer when I simplify my beauty routine. In the summer, I go for much lighter makeup and become considerably less high-maintenance as I become tan and glowy, so Face Fabric will likely be rotated with my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. That being said, I'm going to use it as a silicone primer/base for now, also using NARS' Sheer Glow sparingly where I need a bit more coverage.