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Escada Taj Sunset Eau de Toilette
by elysia2003
*** Escada ***
It's been several years since I first became acquainted with the Escada brand of perfumes. The bottle initially caught my attention, it was so colourful and vibrant and the name 'Rockin' Rio' conjured up all sorts of visions of carnivals and fiesta's, and happy times enjoying oneself on holiday. Therefore it was ... very apt, that this chance meeting was at a Duty Free lounge, as I was waiting for a flight to the Algarve.
Although I didn't purchase any at the time, I desperately wished I had, and hoped to buy some on my return. Two weeks passed in a whirlwind, and having arrived home with a 'stowaway' (my daughter), thoughts of this captivating perfume were forgotten amongst the excitement of my pregnancy.
*** Summery Fragrance ***
That being said, one year later, almost to the day, we were at the same airport, going to the same destination and fate came knocking. There, in all its glory was Escada perfume, once again. The bottle was the same, the vibrant colours were the same, and the holiday-ish name was the same. It was now called Pacific Paradise, and the fragrance was slightly altered, but it had the same unmistakable notes to it, a sweet sugariness. This time I wasn't leaving until I had it, and I purchased it there and then.
Since that time Escada has become my summer fragrance. Every year I buy the new Escada perfume; usually with some birthday money that I've been luckily enough to receive. :)
*** About Taj Sunset ***
Taj Sunset is only available as an eau de toilette, its 50ml (1.6 fl.oz.) bottle is large enough to last the whole summer long, even when you wear it every day.
The box is a traditional cardboard style, which is easily identifiable; its vibrant colours simply shout out 'look at me'. The fuchsia, mango, lemon and teal colours are unmissable.
The bottle, as always, is an upside down teardrop shape. Where it would normally be a point, this is flattened so that the bottle stands up easily.
The bottle is translucent with just a hint of orange. Where the glass is thicker, it gives a more intense colour and therefore you get a graduating ombre effect. Escada Taj Sunset is written on the reverse of the bottle, and a design reminiscent of an Indian Henna tattoo is applied to the front.
*** The Fragrance ***
Enough waffling about the bottle, I hear you say? What does it smell like? According to the Escada website, this a sweet and smooth scent with a tropical mango fruit note and a velvety cream twist, a contrast that perfectly embodies the adventure and exoticism of summer in Goa.
While that is all well and good - what initially hits you is the sweetness. If you do happen to try a tester, please try it on your skin, and not on the cardboard tester strips. The sweetness is intense and zingy, and reminds me of oranges, and mangoes; Fruity with a tropical sharpness.
Within moments this dies down, and the middle notes come through. These are still fruity but with a slight floral edge. I can't say to my untrained nose what these are but a glance at the Escada website tells me that this flirty scent is due to water lily, lotus flowers, sweet pomorose, star apple and raspberry. I can detect the raspberry fruitiness coming through, but the water blossoms are such subtle scents there's no way I can pick each individual bouquet. This eau de toilette mellows on the skin wonderfully; it almost becomes a dessert scent, rather like peaches and cream.
The final layer is subtle and totally at the other end of the spectrum to when it was first applied. It's said to be coconut cream, musk and sandalwood. It's warm and captivating, and yet mysterious. I absolutely adore it. This is summer in a bottle, not an English summer, I admit, mores the pity.
This is definitely a day time perfume, or even going out with friends. For evening use on romantic dates, this is too light, and fruity. It might be intense in fragrance but it's also sweet and citrusy, some may even say too sickly, to be an evening perfume; it lacks headiness and that voluptous scent that you'd more likely require then.
*** Silage ***
Even though it's a fragrance I love, it's a little annoying to have to re-apply. It has moderate silage (the way that the perfume lingers and wafts). I get lots of people asking what I'm wearing whenever I wear this perfume, but to be completely honest, it's usually not long after I've reapplied. I would say that a spritz of Taj Sunset in the morning will take me through until lunchtime, at which time I'll reapply and that will take me through to the evening. It is only an eau de toilette so that's pretty average I would say.
*** Where to Buy ***
At the time of reworking this review (May 2013) this is currently on sale on amazon.co.uk for a rather more befitting £18.00 including postage and packaging. This perfume was limited to the summer of 2012 and as such will not be available to purchase in most stores that sell perfumes or on the Escada website. I'm glad to see it's still available to purchase though, I might treat myself to another as I only have a trickle left in mine. I would say that £18 is a truer reflection of the price of this perfume; I feel that the £33 that I paid last year was a little overpriced for its longevity.
*** My Thoughts ***
In conclusion, the Escada ranges of perfumes are my summer signature scent, I absolutely love them. This one has got to be one of the best though. I just hope you can get past the initial sickly sweetness, and give this a go, as the fragrance that lingers longest, is the most wonderful, warm, summery scent imaginable.
Even though this was a scent limited to last year, it still gets a big thumbs up and 5 out of 5 from me.
Many thanks for reading my review.
This review has been posted on Ciao under my same username, but has been updated for Dooyoo.
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Avon Secret Fantasy Eau de Toilette
by rolandrat
===The Product===
'Discover your innermost hopes and dreams. Secret Fantasy, unlock the magic.'
Avon Secret Fantasy Eau de Toilette, 50 mls.
69.2% ethanol, is flammable and made in Poland.
Comes in a purple box with an 'S' swirl in deep pink. Has a sparkling keyhole image on the front of the box.
Box has ... a white card liner. The inside of the box is purple with white keyhole images.
The bottle is round bulbous with a narrow neck. Made form rose pink glass. The name is on the fornt of the bottle.
Has a silver spray top - no cap but has a silver metal horse shoe shaped piece of metal to clip aroudn the neck to stop the stray being depressed. This piece of metal has a chain attached and ends in a small metal key.
Comes with a detachable cast iron key shaped charm on a 2cm stainless steel chain.
===Cost===
Full price is £11 but currently on sale for £7.
===Variations===
This perfume was launched in 2010 and was followed by:
Secret Fantasy Star in 2011 - Top notes are mandarin orange and plu; middle notes are jasmine and peony; the base note is sandalwood.
Secret Fantasy Kiss in 2012 - Top notes are blackberry, green apple and mango; middle notes are rose petals, magnolia and violet; base notes are sandalwood, amber and moss.
===My Opinion===
The fragrantina website state that 'Secret Fantasy is a sweet blend of innocent red fruits, pineapple, feminine jasmine, lilac, velvety white musk, amber and warm sandalwood'.
This perfume was launched in 2010 by Avon but I have only not got around to trying it.
To be honest I was not really attracted to it at all - I don't know if it was the shape of the bottle or the way it was marketed in the catalogues but I had the feeling that it was not really for me.
Anyway I decided to take the plunge and order a bottle. The bottle design and packaging in my mind are quite young and cheap looking. There is no cap at all over the stray but a funny metal 'neck' thing you wedge under the spray to stop it being activated. It also has a key charm but this is attached and not good for much of anything.
The glass is not see through at all but a solid deep rose pink colour.
The description of this perfume calls it 'sweet' - and it is - very sweet and girly. I could not really detect any single notes to this perfume and it did not seem to have much depth, just one smell form when it was sprayed on.
It is not overpoweringly strong but to be fair it does last for 3-4 hours. It is sweet and sort of immature and not really one I would say would be a favourite. However it is ok to just use as a spritz in the daytime - reasonably nice when being worn - but definitely nothing special and not worth the full price of £11.
Not much better than a body spray in my opinion.
Might make a cute gift for a young girl when on offer.
===Star Rating===
3 stars.
===Would I Recommend?===
Yes.
===Website===
www.avonshop.co.uk
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