BCBG Bon Chic Eau de Parfum is very pretty and has “good style.” One immediately gets that the fragrance is luxurious, and the presentation, opulent. All you have to do is gaze at the packaging. The matte, gold outer carton features an embossed “ribbon” upon which sits an embossed “flower” in the middle of the front panel. That flower is further defined in the multi-toned gold plastic flower that is nestled atop the curvy, clear glass bottle that is fluted at the bottom to showcase the light gold tinted juice within. To me, it’s a little jewel, a fragrance “flowerpot” filled with beauty.
According to the press literature, BCBGMAXAZRIA Bon Chic was inspired by the woman who makes an entrance “Her confidence, cool and poise cause heads to turn as soon as she steps into the room. Decadently dripping with opulent textures that speak to her innate taste and style, the feminine fragrance is a luxurious sensory experience containing the highest-quality ingredients – from black raspberry and violet to soft woods and cashmere musk.”
Perfume collectors won’t need to know a single thing more to run and purchase this for their collection. But fragrance isn’t just mean to be gazed at — it’s meant to be worn. This fragrance immediately radiates fruit, although it’s not overly brash or overly simple, but it does have some sweet notes. It starts with black raspberry, mango and Asian pear. The heart is floral with notes of pink peony, violet and orange blossom. But what saves Bon Chic from being just another fruity floral is the sensual base of soft woods, vanilla and cashmere musk. The feel is user friendly, but still elegant. And, once the fragrance dries down, you get a flirty fruit scent with a bit of florals and woods, that will appeal to young women of style, but also to more mature women with Joi de Vivre. It also has some staying power on your skin, but it’s not going to blow anyone over with too, too much fragrance. A
For such a lavish presentation, the price is modest: : $55 (1.7 Fl. Oz) and $75 (3.4 Fl. Oz) . Get yours at department stores like Macys and Nordstrom, and their online counterparts.
ED HARDY Skulls & Roses
You don’t have to be a biker chick, or into tattoo art, to get a bit “wild” with a fragrance called “Ed Hardy Skulls & Roses for Her Christian Audigier for Women. This Eau de Parfum Natural Spray is, as the press information says, is: ” Inspired by the strength, confidence and passion of today’s young women, the scents celebrates the daring nature of Ed Hardy’s loyal following. Designed in the form of sculptural skulls, the unique fragrance bottle resembles a ghostly interpretations of Ed Hardy’s infamous skulls & roses tattoo.”
The outer carton is a stark, square, metallic silver, unadorned on the front except for the white skull with a red rose in it’s mouth, and the Ed Hardy signature. The bottle inside is a white plastic skull with a red fabric rose in it’s teeth (the men’s version is a black skull). The plastic skull and the fabric rose could seem a bit tacky to some, but if you “get it” you’ll want it. As to the fragrance itself, it’s a warm, sugary confection that seems completely out of character for a skull flacon. The notes a top of strawberry, violet leaves and pink grapefruit, a heart of florals including honeysuckle, magnolia and daisy, and gourmand base notes of caramel, vanilla bean and white musk.
With notes like these, I wasn’t surprised that my first sniff was that of the citrus-y pink grapefruit. But almost immediately, the fragrance changes. The strawberry comes out and makes itself known, kind of covering up the floral heart and moving quickly to drydown, and a wave of gourmand that hits your nose with caramel and vanilla, that doesn’t die down. I enjoyed experiencing the scent unfolding in layers. It was, like a n intricate tattoo, with a lot to take in, and a lot of meaning.
Depending upon your body chemistry, this could be a great fragrance, or perhaps not one that’s going to harmonize with your skin. But it does stick around for a while, which I like. It is a youthful scent, meant for younger girls and women who will want something easy to understand and (dare I say it) on the sweet side. What I think is highly amusing about the fragrance and the packaging, is that the fragrance so innocent and girly, but the bottle…well, it’s a skull! Skulls & Roses embodies the qualities of light and dark, and it’s done well. Young women are going to love having the skull on their dressing tables just to be a bit “bad-ass,” I have no doubt that plenty of more mature ladies are going to want it, as well. If you love the fragrance, or just can’t live without the skull bottle, either, or both, it’s definitely a statement, and worth $65.00 for 3.4 fl. oz. You can find it in places like Boscovs and Dillards and Macys.
