Jo Malone Ginger & Nutmeg

Sometimes I wonder where did I misplace my brain. I keep telling myself it's just stress and that I need a vacation when some of the more obvious things hit me in the face after a lot of time has passed since the point in time when it was actually obvious.

Like the fact that I needed something light and fresh for the summer heat and kept going through my collection finding nothing that warms my heart and cools my head. Most of the summer fragrances I have do one of those things, but I wanted something that would do both. So, I looked at other blogs, read through reviews, ordered some things, swapped for some things, tried some at my local stores and sniffed some great things and found some new loves, but nothing that would fit both categories I wanted at the same time. That is, until I started putting my wardrobe into some semblance of order and found a full bottle of Jo Malone Nutmeg and ginger (that's the original name, in my mind it's always ginger and nutmeg). After buying it last autumn in Paris of all places, people kept telling me they are not terribly happy with Jo Malone because it doesn't last. That is a problem when you have eau de cologne though. :) I for one was thrilled to discover it (after I stopped being angry with myself for forgetting I have it). I don't mind reapplying in the middle of the day although it's not that it completely disappears, it just dries down to cedarwood and sandalwood and stays close to skin.

This seems to hit all my spots. :) It's a spicy eau de cologne. I love the citrusy openings and find spices highly addictive.

Notes: neroli, lemon; nutmeg, ginger, lilly of the valley; cedarwood and sandalwood.

There's no depth or wealth of notes and discoveries, it just goes through the stages and smells great and light. I don't get the lilly of the valley though and get more cedar than sandal, but I don't mind, I enjoy it completely. :)

On the other hand, I finally got a sample of Delrae Amoureuse. All I can say, wow! There you have all the depth and discovery missing in my edc.

Notes of tangerine, cardamom, tuberose, jasmine, cedar moss and honey by Perfumed court.

I read awhile ago a great review by Grain de musc and I knew I had to try it. I love it! It's wonderful and new while smelling oldish at the same time (like a modern version of an old perfume). I was having problems figuring out what is that first note that hits the nose, what I came up with was that it smelled like parsley. :) I guess I'm a bit off since the opening is cardamom -tangerine, but hey, I tried. I did get the aldehydes (finally!). Those aldehydes have been bugging me for a time (couldn't smell a trace of it - couldn't distinguish it). Now I know where to practice. Anyway, I did get the citrusy thing, thinking that it was perhaps bergamot (but no, tangerine). I got the whole floral middle, thinking it was mixed with civet, but no, that was honey. :) Now in the drydown, I can smell the honey quite clearly and I like it. It balances nicely without getting into the "territory". I totally fell in love with the pricklishness of the structure. This feels like something a slightly brazen girl would wear, and though I don't think of myself as such (though sometimes I wish I was), I am definitely getting myself a bottle.

Image by: www.jomalone.com