Viva Woman

I always buy fragrance for my mum and on this Mother’s Day, I bought her the Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Scent Spray.  I wanted to buy the Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Topical that I reviewed last July but I couldn’t find it at the Sasa outlet which I did my fragrance shopping so I settled for the Scent Spray instead.

I picked Ellizabeth Arden Green Tea Scent Spray over the other fragrances because it was uplifting and it revived my low spirits at that point in time.  In fact, all the other sweet scents were smelling a bit familiar but this one was clean and fresh; definitely not heavy like the rest.  

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Scent Spray comes in a light green bottle but I’m not too sure if the parfum is light green.  But precisely because it isn’t a heavy scent, this parfum has no lasting power.

I bought the 100ml at S$58.40 from Sasa. A smaller one at 50ml is available for S$42+.  If you like something light and different, check this out or better still, the Elizabeth Green Tea Topical. 

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I received a sample of the John Varvatos Eau De Parfum in my mail last week and I was immediately struck by the pretty pink color of the perfume and the lovely shape of the bottle.  I don’t use fragrance frequently but I have been buying them on a regular basis for my mum who loves them.  Apart from the scent, I’ll buy the perfume if the packaging appeals to me because  I think a beautiful bottle and an enticing color makes a wonderful gift and will somehow enhance the whole user experience. 

What’s interesting to mention is that John Varvatos is an American contemporary fashion brand with its own range of skincare products and fragrances that caters to men and John Varvatos Eau de Parfum is actually the first women’s fragrance under the brand. 

Described as a classy fruity chypre, the fragrance is composed of Aromatic Grappa, Georgian apricot, damascus plum and golden mandarin.

The top note is then enriched with a warm unique floral heart-rubrum lilies, Indian mango blossom, Egyptian jasmine and Turkish rose attar conveying an unmistakable femininity and elegance. The rich background is pure sensuality oakmoss, patchouli, tonka beans and wild honey.

I’m no expert when it comes to perfumery but I certainly know a lovely fragrance when I come across one.  John Varvatos Eau de Parfum is definitely a feminine signature that brims with sweetness and sensuality.  The scent is fresh and light, yet the sweetness lingers on even after a couple of hours.  I had originally planned to pass this to my mum but after trying it for a few days, I’m thinking this is a keeper.

John Varvatos Eau de Parfum is available online from US$70 (1.6 oz) and those in US can enjoy free shipping. However, the international delivery charges are rather steep so it’s better to ship via vPOST if you’re thinking of ordering.

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I have tried a few organic or botannical anti-perspirants and deodorants but they usually do not have good staying power.  In plain English, they suck.  Sukin Organics Deodorant which I reviewed recently performed better but fared badly in terms of usage.  So I was really skeptical about Nature’s Gate Organics Fruit Blends Deodorant which was mentioned in Health.com as an organic deodorant that work and leave you smelling sweet. 

But girls, they’re right.  This deodorant rub on stick which is paraben-free with no aluminum but contains only 100% natural and 70% certified organic, vegetable-derived ingredients does work!

There are a few formulations and the one I bought was Nature’s Gate Organics Fruit Blends Persimmon & Rose Geranium Deodorant Stick.  It is gentle and uses a mixture of baking soda and certified organic fruit plus floral and herbal extracts to help neutralize odor with its natural antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties.  With no propylene glycol and no aluminum chlorohydrate, this deodorant is totally natural scents and keep our underarms residue-free. 

Okay, I wouldn’t say it left me that shower-fresh feeling throughout the day but it achieved 80% of that.  I just have to remember to apply LIBERALLY!    

Ingredients:  Vegetable Glycerin, Certified Organic Rose Geranium (Grown in Accordance with the California Organic Foods Act of 1990), Certified Organic Mint Allplant Essence (Grown in Accordance with the California Organic Foods Act of 1990), Sodium Stearate, Steareth-100, Certified Organic Pomegranate (Certified Organic by ECOCERT), Litchi & Persimmon Extracts (Certified Organic by ECOCERT), Sodium Bicarbonate, Certified Organic Extracts of Mallow (Certified Organic by ECOCERT), Linden (Certified Organic by ECOCERT), Rosemary (Certified Organic by ECOCERT), French Rose (Certified Organic by ECOCERT), Pansy (Certified Organic by ECOCERT), Certified Organic Aloe Vera (Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International), Glyceryl Stearate, Oleic Acid, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance Oils.

Nature’s Gate Organic Fruit Blends is definitely good for those who are worried about paraben preservatives or are sensitive to formaldehyde.  I’ve actually tried Nature’s Gate Organics Lemon Grass and Clary Sage but I have to say, go for the fruit blend formula which cost about S$12+.

And those who are concerned about animals would be happy to know that this products is cruelty-free as it is produced without animal testing and with no animal by-products.

Anyway, I’m loving this and will definitely be buying it again.

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Even if the claims of antiperspirants and deodorants causing breast cancer maybe over-exaggerated, I have always wanted to use one that does not contain aluminum or parabens.  However, it’s not easy to find one that really works.  While we’ve heard all the good things about organic or botanical skincare products, how well they work to get rid of underarm odour is another question. 

So it is with this level of skepticism that I set out to try Sukin Organics Deodorant Spray. This aluminium and paraben free deodorant is said to eliminate the bacteria that causes odour without using harsh ingredients.  To be honest, I had expected my armpit to smell bad after an hour or so after spraying this on but surprising, this stuff actually works for a good day if I don’t go under the hot sun, provided I spray enough of it.  Under the hot sun, I have to say its performance is slightly above average as my armpits do smell a bit after too much perspiration.

But there’s something I dislike about this deodorant.  The spraying!  I find my armpits dripping wet with this stuff after like 3 to 4 squirts.  It’ll be great if they make this into a cream which I can roll on. 

So while Sukin Organics Deodorant Spray works to a large extent and smells great with its combination of aroma-therapeutic essential oils of tangerine, mandarin, lavender and vanilla extract, it is not convenient to use.  Well, at least for me.  So at the moment, I’m really undecided if I will buy this 125ml formula again at S$12.95 over at selected Watson’s. 

Ingredients: Purified Water, organic blend of aloe vera, nettle, burdock and horsetail. Acohol Denat (vegetable), Zinc Phenosulfonate, Ceteareth-20 (vegetable), tangerie essential oil, mandarin essential oil, lavender essential oil, vanilla extract.

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