His & Her Scentsy "First Sniff" Review: 2015 Spring/Summer New Releases

Scentsy did something pretty awesome this cataloge and put all the new scents in one big category called “New Releases”. This makes it easy for longtime Scentsy fans to find the new stuff. The other thing they did right  (well for me anyways) is make the 2015 scent of the year coconut milk.  This soft, tropical scent is featured in four of the new fragrances.

The New Releases are mostly realistic florals and light fragrances. These types of scents are right up my alley.   Floral fans will be thrilled since to date, many of the florals were perfumey or sweet florals rather than florals that smell like they were picked from your own backyard.

While I’m a fan of light fragrances and floral scents, I realize that many of you prefer the heavier, delicious scents.  Peter (my husband) is included with this group - which is why I forced asked him to help me with my “first sniff” test.   Having him help me worked out even better than I thought since listening to a man describe a scent is pretty hilarious - His responses range from only one word opinions (in protest to being involved) to hilarious one-liners… He’s definitely going to be “asked” to do this again with me in the future.

All of the reviews below are our first impressions of the New Releases from the tester.  The star ratings are based on how much I like them compared to the other scents in THIS collection (Peter refused to participate in the star ratings). Keep in mind that some of them may smell very different once warmed.

Bamboo Yuzu  - 3.5 Stars

Imagine a Japenese garden as you breathe in dewy bamboo, tranquil lotus flower and fresh yuzu with hints of sage.

B: This smells exactly the way you think bamboo should smell – Light, watery and green.  I can smell a hint of the sweet yuzu fruit in the background.

P: This smells like a bath… Or gum. I like it.

B-A-N-A-N-A-S – 5 Stars

A delicious tropical banana mixed with coconut milk and island vanilla, reminiscent of banana-flavoured taffy.

B: Mmmm so good! This smells like a banana-colada or maybe Banana Boat sunscreen.

P: Why did they spell bananas like that? It smells like suntan lotion.

B: Is that a good thing for you?

P: Yes I like it.

Blond Wood & Moonflower - 5 Stars

Pale, warm wood and amber envelop demure moonflower, delicate white roses and upturned lilies in a modern, magical fragrance.

B: Wow, I really like this. I get mainly very soft warm woods and amber with a hint of florals. It’s sort of a softer/sweeter version of Satin Sheets.

P: Very floral, don’t like it.

(Note – When Peter calls something “floral” it’s his code for “I hate it.” This scent is definitely not “very floral”)

Bonfire Beach – 4 Stars

Toasted marshmallow smoldering over white flint and sandalwood harmonize with salty sea air and ocean spray.

B: This scent is weird but good – The more I smell it, the more it grows on me.  I can smell both the toasted marshmallow top notes (yum!) and the aquatic base notes. The only thing I wonder about is if it will turn really masculine when warmed.

P: Meh, very light. 

Coconut Cotton - 3 Stars

Sun-warmed cotton, creamy coconut milk, bright citrus and white sandalwood transport you to a cabana on a tropical beach.

B:  I get mainly a very light coconut and an artificial smelling citrus… And once in a while a hint of play dough?  I think I might love it when it’s warmed, but it’s too hard to tell from the tester.

P: This is kinda nice!

Coconut Flower - 4 Stars

Graceful tropical blossoms meet luscious pineapple and the subtle scent of coconut milk in a feminine floral fragrance.

B:  This is a very nice tropical floral.  It reminds me of Jet, Set, Go!.

P: Nice.  

B: (almost fell off my chair from shock at Peter calling anything with floral notes "nice")

Dark Harbor - 5 Stars (compared to the Scentsy Man collection)

A romantic, exotic fragrance of kafir lime and blue-green mint with notes of watery ocean lavender and mysterious amber.

B: Smells like lemons and cologne. I’m not a fan of the masculine scents but I like this way more than anything from the Scentsy Man collection.

P: Gross.  (Note to reader, aside from the dreaded “florals” Peter also hates anything that smells like “Axe body spray”)

Fields of Gold – 3.5 Stars

Golden bergamot, reddest apple and damask plum glow against rustic cashmere woods and exotic patchouli.

B: I can smell the dirt! I think it’s because of the patchouli. It smells like you ripped a flower out of your garden - mud covered roots and all.  That being said, there's a touch of sweetness, which I think is the apple.

P: It smells like a hippy’s apartment.

Fresh Cut Daisies – 5 Stars

A meadow awash in summer blooms: freshly cut grass and clover with daisies, buttercups and ivy.

B: Wow, this is the most realistic floral scent I’ve smelt from Scentsy. I think it’s because of the grass notes.  I really like it.

P: This smells EXACTLY like a fucking flower… But I don’t like florals. 

My Only Sunshine – 3 Stars

Start your day with a smile as you experience golden tuberose and jasmine balanced by sandalwood, vanilla and glowing amber.

B: Another true floral scent.  The sandalwood, vanilla and amber are pretty much non-existent but I know they’re there since otherwise this scent would be a lot sharper.

P: I don’t like it.

Mystic Magnolia – 3.5 Stars

Southern charm in a fragrance: pure-white magnolias with flirty green leaves and sultry notes of rosewood and amber.

B: If Simply Rose and Peony Petals were to have a baby it would by Mystic Magnolia.  This is a  glamorous floral.

P: Floral again. (said in a very dismissive tone)

Poppy & Blush Suede - 1 Star

Lighthearted poppies, verbena and honeysuckle yield to masculine blush suede, lush plum blossoms and white musk.

B: A sweet, floral suede… Ew.

P: This smells like a boot, a boot and flowers. Who’d want this?

Sea, Sun & Fun - 5 Stars

Summer fun! A splash of salt water, an orange twist, scattered lily petals and rays of sunny amber.

B: This sort of smells like Wet Wipes to me (because of the lilies)…  I have a feeling that once it’s warmed it will make your house smell like fresh, spring air.  I love scents that make it smell like I actually clean our house once in a while.

P: I like it! It smells like a Maeve Binchy book about the sea.  (Peter thinks it's hilarious I like Maeve Binchy books)

Sedona Sunset – 2.5 Stars

Just as the setting sun paints the desert sky, flamboyant desert lily and vanilla orchid enliven creamy coconut milk and ethereal jasmine.

B: Meh. It’s not bad, it just doesn’t do anything for me.

P: Not offensive.

Sunburst Blooms – 4 Stars

Cheerful lemon and pink grapefruit drenched in fresh air and sunshine, with tendrils of honeysuckle and dancing jonquils.

B: Citrus and florals. This is another one that I bet would make your house smell pretty good – like you clean more than you do.

P: It smells like lemons… It’s still floral but it’s fruity so I like it.

I hope you had fun reading our first ever joint review! Let me know if there's anything else you'd like me to force Peter into reviewing! hah! 

Email me at thesafecandleshoppe@gamil.com or message me on Facebook for a PDF copy of the new catalog!

 

Cheers, 

Beth

Scentsy Zodiac Gift Guide: Taurus - April 20 to May 21

Tauruses are admirable individuals who value highly value security and family. Underneath their sweet nature lies a strong willed individual.

When visiting a Taurus, you can expect their home to showcase the ideal mix of luxury, comfort and good taste. They invest in timeless pieces for their home that are as solidly made as they are.

Tauruses are the ideal Scentsy recipients as they like to surround themselves with beautiful things and highly enjoy sensory pleasures.  Scentsy's Bronze Vine warmer's antiqued bronze floral design is tailor-made for Tauruses.  Its traditional design and neutral palette will appeal to the Taurean's conventional tastes.

  

When it comes to fragrances, Tauruses find comforting and sensual scents the most pleasing.  This includes warm oriental fragrances, cheerful florals and sweet fruits.  

Here are some Scentsy bars that will be sure to please your favorite Taurus...

Happy Go Lucky hits all of the right notes for Taurus with its flirty blend of luscious red berries, silky orchid, and Japanese plum floating on a cloud of amber vanilla.

Skinny Dippin' is the perfect fragrance for when Taurus is in a playful mood.  They'll enjoy basking in its fresh green apples, refreshing melons and juicy pears.

Peony Petals rounds up our trio of perfectly Taurean scents. Taurus will appreciate this romantically sophisticated, peony and rose fragrance.

Visit www.thesafecandleshoppe.scensty.ca to buy these scent-sational gifts for your beloved Taurus!

Cheers, 

Beth 

Afternoon Tea with Lace & Peony Petals

February is the time of year when the winter blues are at their peak.  To help distract myself and my friends form the cold, I usually try to have a get together of some sort during the month.  After binge watching the most recent season of Downton Abbey, I decided that this year my winter blues party would be a tea party!

To give the affair a classic tea party vibe I picked up a china tea cup for each of my guests at a second hand store. 

I asked my mom to borrow a tablecloth and hit the jackpot when she found an old crochet cloth stored away in her basement. To finish it off, I bought a few fresh flowers for the table.   

I think it turned out pretty nicely, if I do say so myself...  BUT I can't say I wasn't a little disappointed when Scentsy's Lace warmer was released only 2 weeks later...

Lace would have been the perfect accent with its vintagey lace pattern imprinted into the porcelain.  I would have used a classic floral Scentsy bar reminiscent of an English garden to compliment the mood. 

Simply Rose or French Lavender would both be perfect choices for a tea party, but if I were having another party tomorrow I'd likely use new, Peony Petals.

Here is Scentsy's description of the fragrance -- "Peony and rose petals dance on a soft breeze."

Peony Petals smells like a mixed bouquet of highly fragrant spring flowers. While still a true floral scent, it's more modern than some of Scentsy's soliflore options (ie. Lush Gardenia, Simply Rose and French Lavender).  It's in the same vein as Chole, fans of that perfume will likely love Peony Petals as well. 

Visit our online store to purchase Lace and Peony Petals, and bring a touch of Downton Abbey to your home as well!

Cheers, 

Beth

Glamorous Gardenias: Lush Gardenia and Tiare Maohi

I love gardenias and their ultra feminine, vintagey appeal...

 

Gardenias symbolize love, harmony and grace

Funnily enough, even though gardenias have a strong fragrance in real life, gardenia scented products and perfumes are not actually made from gardenias.  It is almost impossible to extract their natural essential oils.  Instead, perfumers blend a variety of other oils to mimic their scent.  Unfortunately, while some gardenia fragrances are beautiful many of them are way too loud and cloying.

In my opinion, Chanel’s Gardenia perfume is an example of a very well done, classic, gardenia fragrance…

Knowing how many perfumers have tried and miserably failed to produce a successful gardenia fragrance, I was delighted when I sampled Scentsy’s two perfectly executed gardenia based offerings; Lush Gardenia and Tiare Maohi.

Here is Scentsy's description of Lush Gardenia -  "The creamy, full scent of classic gardenia, with a whisper of tuberose."

Scentsy's fragrance description for this one is spot on.  Of their two gardenia scents, this one really reminds me of Chanel's version.  You can smell the intoxicating gardenia blossom in addition to green undertones, making it feel freshly plucked from your garden. 

In contrast to this, Tiare Maohi explores the more sensual side of gardenias with its balmy, tropical undercurrents -- "Pure white, wild gardenia -- a sumptuously luxurious floral with a sheen of coconut."

Tiare Maohi is a little more user friendly than Lush Gardenia.  The coconut undertones help to temper the loud white floral scent. Overall, this is a bombshell of a scent...

Billie Holiday

While I love both of these Scentsy fragrances I would not recommend buying them untested unless you know for sure that gardenias are for you.  The smell of gardenias are big, perfumey and loud, and because of this, they are not for everyone. 

Visit our online store or email us at TheSafeCandleShoppe@gmail.com to buy your Lush Gardenia and Tiare Maohi Scentsy Fragrance products today!

Cheers, 

Beth