The theme today is...taking a break from makeup! I've been blogging about color cosmetics too much lately so for now let's chill out from that. I wanna share my current favorite perfume, one of the best sellers from the brand: the Philosophy Amazing Grace Spray Fragrance EDT (P2,495). 

Whenever I mention this to friends and acquaintances they always go, "Oh, I love that!" It's easy to smell why. Amazing Grace is a feminine, clean scent that can make anyone wearing it feel beautiful and pure. It has a welcoming bergamot note to greet the senses; irresistibly soft, clean muguet blossoms; and lasting musk as base.

A long drive across the countryside, windows open, can do things to me. I think of simpler times, away from the lights and noise of the city. I drink big gulps of healthy air and it goes to my head. "What if I don't go back? What if I stay here?" The wind blows through my hair and the smell of greenery is luscious and intoxicating.  

This mood, this feeling is what's in the bottle of the new Pure DKNY Verbena. It's a crisp green scent that softens into a floral glow as it settles on your skin.

Think of a garden that's been freshly watered - the smell of cut leaves mingle with those of dainty petals, not one standing out from the other. It's a wholesome, earthy scent that I can't help but love.

How do you like your scents? I love perfumes that are feminine but not overly twee, girly but grown up and sophisticated. That means sweet floral or fruity notes toned down by a touch of wood or musk. If we have the same taste, then you'll love the recently launched Ralph Lauren Big Pony Fragrance for Women!

There are four variants: Big Pony RL Blue (fresh, invigorating mix of sparkling grapefruit and cool blue lotus), RL Pink (cranberry and tonka mousse to create a sensual, fruity scent), Yellow (infused with the natural radiance of pear notes and mimosa for a dazzling floral scent), and Purple, which is the one I have.

The name of this product cracks me up. Get this: according to the label, it is the Snoe Body Ritual Recipes Scrumptious Body Spritz in Honey Dew Melon Yogurt (P249). The person who thought of the name is a sigurista, that is, he or she definitely wants to cover all the bases when it comes to naming things. :P 

Kiddng aside, I like this cologne. It smells of sweet melon candy, with a touch of the creaminess of yogurt. Lasting power is not too bad for a cologne at two to three hours too.

I want to go to New York someday. I want to experience the beauty and energy of the most fast-paced city in the world. It's a city so familiar to me because I've read many stories set in it - I feel like I've already been there, at least in my head! But until I've actually set foot in it, I'd take Donna Karan's word that one of her newest scents, DKNY Women, is New York in a bottle.

Packaging. Like New York, DKNY Women is built like a skyscraper - tall, elegant, all glinting edges. It comes in a silver box that fits the perfume bottle's contours, looking modern and forward just like the scent. The bottle is a bit inconvenient to travel with, but it does look nice on the dresser, dwarfing all the other normally bottled scents.

Scent. DKNY Women is a fun and energetic scent that's underscored by a touch of romance. I'd say it's perfect for the modern, no-nonsense woman that's focused on her career.

A perfume review is the most difficult to do. To begin with, how can I communicate a scent over a monitor? What are the right words to use? It takes me time to review scents because I need to know the perfume first until we are old friends.  

Merely saying that a scent is "nice" or "good" is not enough. Most fragrances smell nice anyway (which is why they are called such, ha ha). These days, they are more about creating a mood, an image, or a story than just merely smelling good. That's why packaging and branding are just as important as the actual formula.

So what is Elizabeth Arden's Pretty Hot EDP about? It's a feminine scent, but with an undertone of smoldering allure. This is the girl you meet wearing chiffon dresses and dainty heels, but she is also extremely confident, competitive, and crafty.

Beauty cheers me up, in whatever form. God knows I need cheering up. Thanks to Elizabeth Arden for the gorgeous bouquet and their latest scent, Pretty Hot. It smells divine and sexy at the same time!

In a tropical weather like ours, it's best to avoid heavy, musky fragrances during the day. Why? As the day progresses and the sun goes higher, the heat tends to magnify the scent of the essential oils in your perfume. Imagine it mixing with copious amounts of sweat and natural oils in your body, and you've got a musky, strong smell that's not pleasant at all!

That's why I prefer using light, energetic scents for day. My past favorites are the DKNY Be Delicious EDP and the Benetton Giallo EDC for their lovely floral/ fruity fragrance that's made for beautiful sunny days. Lately though I find myself reaching out for one of Guerlain's best-loved perfumes called the Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca.

As the name suggests, this perfume smells like a basket of fresh herbs. It invokes mental images of walking in a field of grass, just before the sun rises, before the sparkly dew evaporates in the first rays of the day. It's got a pinch of citrus, a sprig of mint thrown in, and a lovely flowery mix just wafting from underneath.