Pre De Provence Rosemary Mint Soap Review

 I'm definitely not immune to social media influencing. For a while I kept seeing everyone eat the Korean Buldak noodles which made me want to give them a go. I read the 3x spicy was so spicy it was temporarily banned in Denmark. I found the 2x in the store up my street and had to give it a try. I don't eat instant Ramen much anymore, I basically survived off the stuff in college and I'm just over it. It's not really good for you anyway...Instant Ramen is technically a fried food and who wants to waste their fried food eats on noodles. I thought they were spicy- but I got through it. It's not the spiciest I have ever had but it gave my lips a good tingle. 

But we aren't here to talk noodles. We are here to talk...soap. 

Pre De Provence claims:

Pre de Provence Soap Shea Enriched Everyday French Soap Bar - Rosemary Mint.

A shimmering rosemary accord intermingles with fresh mint to create a herbaceous, earthy and nature inspired fragrance.

For centuries, the luxury of French-milled soaps has remained the gold standard of excellence. Each time you begin to lather a French made soap, you enter a time and place where quality and craftsmanship have stood still. Traditional French soap is triple-milled to produce a completely uniform and smooth soap, without impurities, thus lasting longer.

Each bar of Pre de Provence soap is not only carefully made today by dedicated soapmakers in Provence following their proud traditions, but quad-milled to be smoother and have a richer lather to create our luxurious feel.

Using pure, natural ingredients enriched with shea butter, you can feel the difference in our unique quad-milling process. Aromatic fragrances transport you into a moment of calmness, vitality, dreaming, or well-being.

Not all French Soaps are Created Equal ®

• Quad-milled Shea Butter Enriched Soaps
• No Animal Testing 
• No GMO's
• No Mineral Oil or Petrochemicals
• No Phthalates, Shellac or Plasticizers
• No Micronized Titanium Dioxide
• No Lead

FREE OF: Parabens, Ethyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, DEA, BPA/Phthalates

I've wanted to try this brand for awhile....They are a soap made in France but they don't seem to be sold in France. I still wanted to give them a go. At this point I've used a ton of soaps made in France. I bought a mini sampler set that way I could give a bunch of the scents a go. I wasn't excited for this scent but surprisingly...I loved it! 

It's not straight up Rosemary Mint as if they used the essential oil. But I get a punch Rosemary and a hint of mint. And not in a medicinal way. Its Rosemary Mint blended in a sophisticated way. I loved the scent. I would definitely buy it again. 

Rosemary Mint is a very popular combination- I've tried the Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Conditioner. from Aveda, the Aveda Rosemary Mint Soap, and the Zum Rosemary Mint soap which smells true to the Essential Oils. And probably a few more things I'm missing. This is the best scented of them all.

The soap itself is as good as any other triple milled soap. Great lather, rinses clean, not very drying. My skin has definitely been a bit softer lately. 

The only thing I dislike about it is I can't find the ingredients listed anywhere. Not even on the packaging it came in....

Overall, I LOVED the scent and I would definitely pick up a full size bar. 

Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady Eau De Parfum Review

 I just finished a perfume today...so I ordered a new one and in the meantime this will be my go to. It's almost gone though so I figured no time like the present to review it. Frederic Malle is a new brand to me. I am trying to get my hands on more of the classic fragrances. So far it's been a fun journey for me. I actually ordered this to go to my parents house and then picked it up when I went to the states because I noticed it was on sale and they actually sold the small size. So that's what I ended up with. But even the small size was kinda pricey. Even on sale. 

Frederic Malle claims:

Eau de Parfum 

Floral Chypre notes

It’s not just a perfume, it’s a revolution.

A paradox in every drop

An exceptional fragrance by Dominique Ropion, PORTRAIT OF A LADY enhances the opulence and voluptuousness of the Turkish rose in extravagant proportions.  

With PORTRAIT OF A LADY, Frédéric Malle and perfumer Dominique Ropion mark a new stage in the great timeline of perfumery. With this immoderate rose, magnified by woody tones, amber and incense, the designers are redrawing the contours of the cypress, an olfactory family synonymous with the finest eras of 20th-century perfumery. Their play of light and shadow, their elegance and extreme refinement. From this expert craftsmanship, there emerges a splendour created to outlast time.  

Rose, patchouli, sandalwood, incense

Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle is a Oriental Floral fragrance for women. Portrait of a Lady was launched in 2010. The nose behind this fragrance is Dominique Ropion. Top notes are Rose, Clove, Raspberry, Black Currant, Cinnamon and Red Berries; middle notes are Turkish Rose, Patchouli, Incense, Sandalwood and Ylang-Ylang; base notes are Incense, Sandalwood, Musk, Benzoin, Amber, Cedar, Ambergris and Vanilla.

I'm surprised to see the perfume has only been around since 2010. The name just evokes a feeling of it being a very old fragrance. But I do really like the name. It's very intriguing. Kinda like the perfume. 

I've gotten quite a bit of compliments on it which was surprising to me. I'm not sure I've really developed an opinion on whether I like it myself.

I do like that it's unique. So many newer scents tend to smell the same. They all seem to be very sweet florals. This is a very unique scent. I've never smelled anything like it. I can say I do like that about it. 

I don't know how to describe it. It's definitely a grown woman scent. It does have rose in it, but it smells different from all other rose scents. It's incense-y, dark, spicy, mysterious. If I take a deep sniff, I get a lot of Rose. But...the very best Rose scent. It's not powdery. Which is a good thing for me. I don't like powdery rose. Or at least all the powdery rose scents I've used lately I definitely have not liked. I'm sniffing my shirt with it now...and the rose is intoxicating. 

I was kinda surprised when I looked up reviews to see a lot of men reviewing it. So I guess it's unisex. I can kinda see that. 

I've been wearing it for 9 hours and it's still going strong. Especially in my clothes. So it does last very well.

I like it. I'm glad I gave it a go. I don't think it's one I will be sad about when I use it up. Nor will I wish I bought a bigger size. But I'm glad I got my nose on it. 

Capri Blue Volcano Multi-Surface Cleaner Review

 I'm on the last season of A Different World. How sad. I want more Duane and Whitley. Although I can see the arguments for Whitley ending up Byron. He made her a better person. But I love seeing Duane take charge of Whitley. I think they were really good together.

This one had me at a minute and 29 seconds in. 😍

And I just love the other characters- especially Kim. I think she's my favorite of the whole show.  And Ron is a little cutie. 

But let me stop talking A Different World cause I would be here all night. Back to the cleaning.

Capri Blue claims:

Don't stress the mess and get to work, honey! This Volcano Multi-Surface Cleaner is formulated with grapefruit essential oil to pump up your daily cleaning needs while infusing your fav fragrance into those pesky chores!

Non-toxic. Vegan formula. Cruelty-Free. Formulated without gluten, parabens, sulfates and phthalates. No synthetic colors.

I'm definitely done with the Capri Blue Candles. I don't think I'll buy another one for at least a year. But I am still curious about their other stuff. Especially their cleaning stuff. I liked their dryer balls and the drops well enough. I bought this spray around the same time. Mostly I wanted the glass bottle. The fact that it came with product in it was a bonus. I also know I bought it on sale. So I didn't pay full price. But then again, I never do! I did see that they changed the packaging to plastic now though. 

It smells exactly like the Volcano scent that you get in the candle. I like to point that out because I bought the soap and it smelled different but not in a good way. This is juicy, sweet, bright, happy, and citrus-y. It smells really nice and the candle is the perfect daytime scent. 

So this smells exactly like it. It doesn't linger excessively though. Maybe 30 minutes to an hour. 

The first couple of times I used it, I was convinced it didn't work. But I was being very stingy with it. It's expensive and I had that in my mind so I would do one spray and then get to cleaning. Eventually I realized I needed to be as liberal as I am with my other cleaning products. And now that I use it as I use my other stuff- it works quite well. Leaves everything sparkly clean-bathroom sink, glass shower doors, kitchen counters etc. Fixtures are shiny. It doesn't disinfect or claim to kill germs- it's just a cleaner. Which is fine with me for most things. 

I am still quite stingy with it in that I don't grab it for everything. I use my DIY cleaners for most stuff. But when I feel like using something that will add a pleasant scent- I grab for this! 

I don't really harp on the ingredients in cleaners- but interesting to note this actually contains essential oils. 

Ingredients:

Water/Aqua/Eau, Parfum/Fragrance, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Capryl/Decyl Glucoside, Deceth-5, Saccharomyces Ferment, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, PPG-6-Laureth-3, Sodium Citrate, Diethyl Hexyl Adipate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

I really like it. It's an expensive cleaning spray. But if you feel like splurging and you like the Volcano scent it could be worth it. 

It does come in a concentrate/refill. I do plan on picking that up and giving it a go sometime in the future. I do wish they would do smaller refills in glass bottles that you add water to. They also have wipes- I probably wouldn't pick it up though because they aren't compostable and don't disinfect. 

Skyy

 

I've got time for a quick music post. My power went out and although it wasn't a long time, it kinda threw me off. I was planning to do a little baking but while it was down I made a few pB&J sandwiches so I definitely overate bread/carbs. 

But back to the music. Skyy. I have three songs by this group but they one of the groups I forget until I hear their music. 

I feel like It's Real Love is one of the most memorable songs? Maybe it was their most popular? IDK, but they sound amazing although I wouldn't say they have any unique voices when it comes to 80's groups.

Actually, maybe that's not their most popular. This one has more views. And it's definitely my favorite song they have. It's so smooth.

Did we save the best for last? This is a funky song. It's kinda crazy, all these songs sound like they came from a completely different group. This one was familiar to me. It has Rick James vibes to it. 

I'm off to play Call Me a few times and get some movement in....

Keys Soulcare Sage + Oat Milk Scented Candle Review

I'm branching out and trying a new brand. One thing I want to do this year is try 10 new brands-whether it's candles, bath and body etc. Or maybe I should up that to 20 since it's only March and I'm already on the seventh new brand. 

It seems like every celebrity is coming out with their own brand. Some I have plans to try, others I actively avoid. I don't hear much about Alicia's brand but I saw it on Ulta and immediately wanted to give the candle a go. Not that Sage and Oat Milk sounds particularly appealing. But it's definitely intriguing. 

Keys Soulcare claims: 

A soothing, calming oat milk and sage candle that invites you to relax, set the vibe and put your senses at ease.

• Gives off a warm, welcoming fragrance that’s sweet, subtle and cleansing. 
• Calming candle helps add clarity to your thoughts.
• Helps soothe and relax your body and mind.
• Artisinal soy candle made of hand-poured, vegan wax.

Our aromatherapy candle with a 65-hour burn time helps you relax, recenter and refocus your energy. Its warm, soothing fragrance of sage calms and restores while clearing negative energy and encouraging mindfulness. Its sweet scent of oat milk eases the body and mind into a state of relaxation. Together, both scents in this calming candle invite you to press reset, come back to center and connect with your true self as you relax, enjoy the moment and ease into your favorite Soulcare ritual. 

SIZE: 7.5 oz. / 212 g (Burn time: 65 Hours) 

• SAGE

  Clary sage calms and purifies with a smoky, soothing warmth that has made it a mainstay of herbal teas for thousands of years. 

• OAT MILK

  Soothes and relaxes the mind and body with its sweet and subtle fragrance. 

• Clean and cruelty-free. All Keys Soulcare products are formulated without parabens, phthalates, sulfates, formaldehyde, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, triclocarban, toluene, coal tar, lead, mercury, acrylamide, hydroquinone, and over 1,680 substances restricted by the FDA and European Union Cosmetics Regulation Guidelines.

  
  
  
  

The list price is $39.00. Which is certainly pricey. It's probably mid luxury pricing as far as candles go. I have seen it go on sale though, and I had just missed the sale. So I did pay full price. And then I saw it on sale again.  I probably should have ordered off her site and picked a few thing up and used the intro coupon code. But I bought it off Amazon. 

The packaging is nice. Comes in a box. The candle itself is on the smaller side but the burn time is quite long. But I don't think it's as long as they say. 

The jar itself is also really nice. A cute black jar with the label printed on. Makes it seem more elevated than other brands that might use a sticker. So packaging is solid. Very gift-able. 

As for the scent it does smell like Oat Milk. But I'm not so sure I think it smells like sage- in particular Clary Sage. But maybe I get Sage vibes. It's a very gentle and calming scent though. I don't think it smells terribly unique...although I can't really name a candle that I think it smells similar too. It just seems very familiar. I do like the scent and I would call it a calming scent. Something you would burn to wind down.

It's also one that can easily fade into the background. I really only started noticing it more as I've burned it down. I have noticed that with soy candles though. It's like the scent buries itself deep into the bottom of the wax.

I haven't had any issues with smoking. Or if there were issues it's hard to tell because the jar is black. But it does burn evenly and clean. No issues with the wick, even after burning it a long time. 

The throw is soft. I don't think this candle would do good in a large open area. 

One thing I do really like is they list the ingredients. Kinda. I don't think the it's the full list. But it looks to be soy wax. I don't see any mention of paraffin so hopefully it's paraffin free.

Overall, it's a nice scent. I don't think I would repurchase at full. I think it's kinda overpriced. But if the price was around $25-$28, maybe I would consider a repurchase. 

  

Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash Review

 Spring is loading. The sun has been OUT and it's putting me in such a good mood. I was sick and tired of the cold weather. Really and truly. Also...flu season. I didn't catch the flu but I do know it made its rounds and was particularly horrible this year. So it's important to keep those hands clean. I've been seeing this hand soap heavy on social media. I've heard nothing but good things. So good, I bought two different scents for my Mom as gifts the year before last. I wanted to try it for myself so see what the hype was about so I ended up buying this.

Aesop claims:

A gentle formulation containing oils of Orange, Rosemary and Lavender to effectively cleanse the hands without drying them out.

Skin feel

                                                                       Cleansed, refreshed

Aroma

                                                                    Citrus, woody, herbaceous

Key ingredients

Mandarin Rind, Rosemary Leaf, Cedar Atlas

Aesop has really exploded in popularity. This would be my very first product from them since they are on the pricier side. They are an Australian brand. Even made in Australia. I've never tried anything from Australia so I was excited to get this. 

It's $43.00 for 16.9 oz. Which made it $2.50 an ounce. I could buy an entire bottle of Dial or Softsoap for that price just to put it in perspective. Very expensive. And I don't think it's any more concentrated than drugstore soaps- so I am still going through it pretty quickly. I do wash my hands a lot though.

And...I don't think it's worth it.

First up...packaging. I hear so many people making a fuss over the packaging and I don't really get it. It's a plastic bottle with a basic sticker design and pump. Not even glass!  I've seen similar looking packaging in Lidl. More than likely it was a dupe but not very hard to dupe. I just don't see it for packaging. Not to say the packaging is bad. It's just nothing special. You can buy a "refill". Which basically is the same bottle with a cap rather than the pump. I think they can make a refill that uses even less plastic if they switch to a bag. You do save $2.00 if you buy a refill though. I will probably keep the pump somewhere in case I snag another scent to try.  That way I can save the $2.00. 

Next the scent. It's a nice scent.... very pleasant. And I don't think a drugstore soap would have the same vibe. But I still don't think it's worth that much more. The scent is kinda medical. I smell rosemary and lemon pretty prominently. Then there are some other herbal notes So it does smell very, very herbal. Almost reminds me of something you might use in the kitchen. It's a nice scent. It's not strong, doesn't perfume the bathroom air in any way. Doesn't really linger in a noticeable way on my hands.

It also isn't drying. But I wouldn't call it hydrating either.

The texture is ok. Like any other gel soap. It doesn't make a rich, thick, bubbly lather. It's more gel like and rinses away quickly. 

The ingredients are interesting. It's not a Castile soap which I assumed it was. I don't see fragrance, only essential oils so I believe it is only scented with essential oils. Which is nice. Most soaps are using artificial fragrance. Maybe that's where the cost goes? Even then I still think it's overpriced. 

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cedrus Atlantica (Cedarwood) Bark Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Coconut Acid, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Limonene, Linalool

Overall, it's ok. I wouldn't purchase it again...not at that price. I do see a company that has a dupe though at a much more affordable price so maybe I'll give that a try and compare.