Our darling Musette posted last summer about how Frederic Malle’s Noir Epices fragrance didn’t move her, but its body lotion/cream sent her over the moon. Well, her experience inspired me to rethink several scents. Case in point: I wanted to love FM’s Portrait of a Lady, but even one light spritz was just too, too much — too much rose, too much spice, too much of everything. I almost felt as if I were being rolled up and smothered in a heavy, albeit gorgeous, dark red Oriental rug.
So I got my mitts on a bit of the body cream a while back and tried it on a particularly cold day. (Cue angels singing “Hallelujah!”) And then I was very nearly cutting that proverbial rug, dancing with joy at the sheer beauty of it. The oppressive weight was gone, leaving me draped in a sumptuous cashmere throw, rosy, warm and enveloping, yet at the same time as light as angel wings.
Alas, the price of the divine black jar that is Portrait of a Lady is on par with that luscious fabric, so my wallet must sorrowfully decline. But that’s all right; I know where my next windfall will be spent, should I ever get one.
I had a similar experience with Ormonde Jayne Woman. It’s a stunning fragrance, no doubt, but on some days, it feels a bit overpowering to me, and has me wishing I could dial it down a few notches. But after slathering a sample jar of the body lotion on my hands and arms, I found it to be just right for those days when a spray is just too much. Ah … now this lets me have just a little peek into OJ Woman’s dark, lush, fairy-tale forest.
Have you found a fragrance that you love as a body product but aren’t as crazy for the actual juice itself? Or vice-versa?
BTW, I’ve since discovered that I CAN wear Portrait of a Lady if I use just a tiny dot or two out of the sample vial.
Portrait of a Lady body butter is $200 for a 6.8-ounce jar; available online and in-store at Frederic Malle, Aedes de Venustas and Barney’s New York. Sample jars of Ormonde Jayne Woman body lotion are available at Surrender to Chance.
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This turned into a TL;DR post, sorry Usually I dab lightly because I've lived with sensitive people, so I worry about being too 'loud'. Samples last me a long time. Never tried Portrait of a Lady, have not had much Malle luck. Much more interested in Amouage! Also interested in Byredo though the scents I wanted are not available as butters/creams yet.... I love OJ Woman and am thrilled to know that there are samples of body cream available! Definitely adding to my wishlist... I love POTL body cream actually, it's the only perfume-y one I have. Cuddly warm and clearer, less 'fuzzy' for when the spray might feel choking. Usually I use unscented lotion/oil/butter or vanilla shea butter or a lemony body oil. Pretty simple, though I came into fragrance through body products. Still have a spray and lotion I mixed myself, woods and pumpkin pie and plum. Though I also love Black Cashmere as a lotion, sometimes it is too strong for others around me (love the perfume too but whoa). Original Gucci came in lotion and solid perfume which were both softer and more clean-musky, less cumin-y to me. Loved layering or wearing alone. Perlier Vaniglia is one I never found in pure fragrance but the bubble bath led me to stake out TJ Max in vain for years, then resort to Ebay. I found Vaniglia body butter and *love* it (despite high shipping charges), might be my favorite vanilla. It is cooler than most vanillas, no spice or wood at all, and milky and sweet and clean. Ecco Bella did vanilla body wash, lotion, and perfume and they were all different--the spray fragrance was very deep, dark, and bourbon-y (like the drink and the vanilla mixed together), the lotion was kind of sweet and maybe a touch woody/balsamy but mostly just like great vanilla. The body wash was a teensy bit herbal and not as creamy-rich-foody as the lotion. Tied for favorite vanilla as a group I think. Also love Natio Body Butter in Jasmine Attar, which I think does not have 'fragrance' except for jasmine oil and some other natural extracts. Clearance at TJ Max under 10$, found an unswiped jar after sniffing the mauled one. I really love it and feel like more people should share the love too--and I say this as a converted jasmine-phobe who came to it through jasmine green tea (pearls then yin hao) and then appreciated the perfumes (The Pour Un Ete). Kiehls Lychee something lotion is an amazing dupe of Ginestet Botrytis and I would love to layer them on a really cold day. Fail: Caron Bellodgia lotion. Wanted to love love love it but smells sour and off, and the perfume is not great on me--people said it smells strong and old-lady (not my words). Sigh. Cannot think of another big fail like this...