Mainstream Monday: Rollerball mania

rollerballKilling time one evening while waiting to pick my son up from church camp, I popped into an Ulta in the mall, just to browse and putz around. I saw lots of fun nail polishes (although that’s for another day), and ended up parked in front of the rollerball display.
There was a plethora of choices, but most I had already seen/sniffed. But one caught my eye: Kate Spade Walk on Air Sunshine. I like the original WoA and have written about it before, but wasn’t aware of this flanker.

The Kate Spade Web site calls it “a lighter weight, extra-refreshing edition of walk on air by kate spade new york, a fragrance that celebrates the graceful confidence of its wearer. sweet and tender layers of lily of the valley–the flower of happiness and joy–magnolia and crinum lily are a breath of fresh air. the fragrance exudes delight; it’s an invitation to seize the day and envelop yourself in the promise of something wonderful.”

Notes (from Kate Spade site) Top notes: clementine, linden blossom, sicilian lemon; heart: violet leaf, cyclamen, jasmine sambac; base: lentisque, vetiver, white peach

It is a bit lighter and brighter (and obviously more citrus-y than the original), but WoA wasn’t exactly a sledgehammer of scent to begin with. But still, it’s very pleasant and refreshing, and I’m looking forward to spending a bit more time with Sunshine.

Although it’s ironic that its lightness would make me more inclined to spritz with abandon, rather than roll it on, so I think I might be happier with a small spray or decant, for lasting power alone. But in the interest of creating very close sillage, portability and non-spillage, it’s hard to beat a rollerball. Especially for scents that have way too much oomph when sprayed, the roll-on application takes it down a notch or two.

Are you a rollerball fan? If so, what are your faves?

  • odonata9 says:

    I enjoy rollerballs. I have several in a mug on my desk – Philosphy Falling in Love, Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar, Lavanila Vanilla Grapefruit, and some random thing I got at Anthropologie ages ago that they no longer carry.

    • Ann says:

      Hi! What a nice batch of scents there, and a great way to store them — will have to borrow the mug idea!

  • rosarita313 says:

    Ann, I’m with you and Maggiecat on the affordability of rollerballs. Right now I have three, and while I really like Kate Walsh Boyfriend and a Monyette Paris dupe in rollerballs, I hardly ever wear Stella because I can barely smell it, a spray would be better. I think I prefer rollerballs for oils.

    • Ann says:

      Hiya, dear — so nice to see you! Yes, I think rollerballs are particularly good for oils. And I’m glad you mentioned Kate Walsh Boyfriend; hadn’t thought of that one for a good while now, and I remember enjoying the body cream and thinking it was super-yummy. I love it that you guys are always jarring my scent memory on forgotten favorites!

  • Portia says:

    Hey there Ann,
    Yes, I love a rollerball though I’ve had a couple leak on me so I always keep them in a little baggie. Currently have Costume National So Nude, Madonna Truth or Dare and a roller decant of Eau de Marveilles by Hermès. They stay in a little purse in my Trivia bag in case of emergencies.
    Portia xx

    • Ann says:

      Oh, no, Portia — sorry to hear about the leakage, but in my experience, a plastic baggie is always a good idea. And I love it that you’re still grooving on Truth or Dare. BTW, did you ever try the second one in that line?

      • Portia says:

        Oh yes Ann,
        Tom Pease and I scoured LA for Truth or Dare Naked and it was only in one stare after being released only a month earlier. We couldn’t decide if madonna decided to do it as a limited run or if they’d sold so well but only one store had them so I bought three sets. It’s lovely, very wearable and fun but the one I sleep coming back to is the original, people ask what it is regularly and I often recommend it.
        Portia xx

        • Ann says:

          Good to know, Portia, and a good thing you stocked up. Think I have a sample around here that I need to dig up. I remember liking the original T or D body lotion very much, as it was softer and much better on me than the juice itself. Thanks!

  • mikasminion says:

    I used to have a Fracas rollerball and it worked nicely: made it easily office appropriate.
    It’s not my favorite way to apply most scents, but I do have a rollerball decant of MKK that makes it easy to apply a nice dab as a musky base or a huge smear if I need a full-dose. I also had a rollerball decant of Tauer’s Loretta for layering and I have a couple of easy to wear scents in my gym bag; L’Ombre dans L’eau, Stella, and Pacifica Lilac.

    • Ann says:

      I agree — those two would be excellent in rollerball form, esp. the Fracas. And those are some nice choices for a gym bag.

  • HeidiC says:

    When I wear CF and Fracas, I want to be smelled, so I’m happy spraying those — but I think my Cuir de Russie might work better as a rollerball. The spray is a bit much, but I have to dab quite a bit to get enough. I think the only rollerball I have right now is Elizabeth & James Nirvana White, which is a nice summery smell. Oh, and the sample of Armani Prive Vert Malachite I got from a very special fairy godmother(!) is in a sort of rollerball-y vial, which is good to keep it from being too big a smell.

    • Ann says:

      Howdy, Heidi! I don’t wear Fracas much at all (she’s just too much for me), but i do like CF both sprayed and also in a rollerball, for those days when you really want to be discreet. Must try the Nirvana White; only worn the Black but loved it. And glad to see you’re a fan of the Vert Malachite. They were wise to put their samples in that form, weren’t they?

  • Maggiecat says:

    I’ll need to check this one out- sounds lovely! Rollerballs are mostly an economy thing for me, an inexpensive way to buy a scent I like. I’d rather have a spray, but until that lottery investment pays off…

    • Ann says:

      Me, too, Maggiecat — it really is a nicely affordable way to enjoy a favorite scent. And unless I just love, love, love the fragrance to pieces, not sure I’d ever be able to drain a full spray bottle, ha!

  • Sarah says:

    Love rollerballs. Fracas, Carnal Flower work well this way. Wish I could put my Amourage Gold and Habanita in one. Wonder what Mitsouko would do in one?
    Will have to sniff Air Sunshine up. Thanks for the suggestion. Into the Summer we go!

    • Ann says:

      Yes, Sarah!! I agree that CF and Fracas would be great in rollerballs. Mitsouko might be a little irritated; don’t think she’d like to be contained so much, ha!