Recent Fragrance Purchases - Commodity Gold and Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon

As the seasons change, I invariably start reaching for heavier scents. I picked up two fragrances recently that I think will be good as we transition into fall. Commodity Gold is something I have had on my wishlist for some time now and I finally decided to try it out. Elizabeth and James expanded their line a couple months ago and added two new fragrances, Bourbon and Rose. I chose the Bourbon version. 

Commodity Gold Notes (from Sephora): 
Bergamot, Juniper Berries, Camphor, Amber, Haitian Vetiver, Benzoin, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Nubian Musk. 

Commodity Gold is a fairly strong scent. I think it is interesting that this is in the White Collection, as that collection is supposed to be light and airy scents. This is not - it is definitely more heavy and it lasts a long time. I purchased the smaller version, which is actually a spray and not a rollerball. I can only do one spritz of this. Any more than that and it is too strong for me. On me, this goes directly from the amber notes down to the vanilla and musk. I do not get any of the juniper or bergamot. It is a nice scent that I like a lot, but given how strong it is, I'm not sure that I will repurchase.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon Notes (from Sephora):
Vanilla Bourbon. Oakwood. Tuberose.

I love my Elizabeth and James Nirvana scents in White and Black, so I had high expectations for this one as well. Bourbon does not disappoint. It is a creamy vanilla bourbon, but the bourbon note is definitely there. If you dislike the smell of bourbon, you should really try in store first. This is kind of reminiscent of Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, in that the vanilla is very dark and intense (this is way less expensive and lacking the tobacco note, sadly). The rollerball is perfect, as I really like putting stronger scents on pulse points, rather than spraying my clothes. Staying power with the roller version was great. It has lasted a full day each time I have tried it. I saw some reviews on Sephora complaining about the scent fading quickly, so I wonder if the difference is the spray vs. roller. 

Switching to deeper scents is making me happy about the season change. I love fall, but not really looking forward to the snow that will shortly follow. Do you wear the same scents year round or switch based on seasons?

Current Loves/Wish List

Here are some of the items that I have been getting a ton of use from lately:

Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Miranda May. Full review here, but the bright color has been a staple for me recently.

Natasha Denona 5 Eyeshadow #02 has been my go to formula, as it has the most amazing pigmentation and staying power. Full recap with swatches here. I definitely need to get another of these palettes soon.

By Terry Baume de Rose (review here) has been helping with the hydration issues my lips are having with the 90+ degree weather we are currently experiencing. I am very ready for fall or, at least, some relief from this heat.

Freida Rothman's Indigo Armour Collection. The whole collection is beautiful and I was so excited and very grateful to receive the rectangular ring (shown above) as a gift from my family.

It seems like there are tons of new launches happening in beauty right now. Here are a few I have my eye on:

Anastasia Foundation Stick. I love stick foundations in general and the lower price point of $25 has really piqued my interest in these. They are currently available from Anastasia's website, but I will most likely wait until I can see them in person at Sephora to ensure a good match.

NARS Velvet Lip Glides. These are described as a lipstick and lipgloss hybrid and I am really looking forward to trying these when they launch in early September. Temptalia already has some swatches up of the colors and the formula looks amazing. 

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon and Rose fragrances. I checked them out in person this weekend and they are amazing. I love the White (reviewed here) and Black versions, so I am sure that as we move into fall, these two will be purchased and added to the collection. 

Current Summer Scents

Today I am sharing a few of the scents that have been in my rotation a lot this summer. Like most people, I prefer lighter scents in the summer. I also tend to go a little heavier on the florals, as well. I hope you enjoy this roundup. Please let me know if you would like to see another post like this as we move into fall.

I have Elizabeth and James Nirvana in Black and White and love them both, but in the summer I prefer the White version. The main notes in White are Peony, Muguet (aka Lily of the Valley), and Musk. It is a great floral that dries down to a clean scent. I love the rollerball version, as I prefer how it dries down on my skin versus on my clothes when sprayed. As I love both of the current Nirvana scents, I am definitely going to be checking out the new Rose and Bourbon versions.

Tocca Simone is a scent that I have from a sampler set of a few Tocca perfumes. Out of all of them, Simone was hands down my favorite for summer. The description says that the inspiration came from Australia's Bondi Beach, so it is not surprising that it has become such a summer staple. It has a fruity scent and I definitely get a big hit of watermelon and woods with this one. The main notes are: Apple, Watermelon, Lemon, Calypsone, Frangipani, Ylang- Ylang, Rose Petals, Freesia, Creamy Lactones, Blonde Woods, Musk, Amber, and Nirvanolide. 

I have a few scents from Maison Margiela (Flower Market, Jazz Club, and Lazy Sunday Morning) and have found that I really get a lot of use out of them. I know that Beach Walk is a favorite of many people, but for some reason it does not agree with my body chemistry. I love the scent and think it would be great for summer as well, but it  is sadly not for me. I have been using Flower Market a lot lately, as it truly is like stepping into a flower market. I love how fresh the florals are and also think the packaging is adorable. The notes for Flower Market are: Crushed Leaves, Freesia, Sambac Jasmine, Jasmine Infusion, Tuberose Infusion, Rose from Grasse, Peach, Cedarwood, and Oak Moss. 

Chloe is another brand that I love and have multiple fragrances from. Roses de Chloe is the one I have been wearing the most lately, though. I love the strength of the rose notes and how they are truly highlighted in the scent. I also like that the packaging gets a great vintage look to it as the metal does tend to patina a bit. The notes include Fresh Cut Roses, Bergamot, Rose Essence, Magnolia Accord, White Musk, and Amber. 

Last, but certainly not least, is actually my favorite of the bunch. It is Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt. This is the scent that truly makes me think of the sea. I think that so many beachy scents tend to go the sunscreen smell route and are oftentimes cloying. This one is not. To me, it highlights the best parts of the beach - driftwood, salt, and an overall cleanliness in the air. I wear it year round and people always ask me what it is, I think mostly because it is so different. The notes on this one are: Top: bergamot, ambrette seeds, buchu leaves. Middle: sea salt, mineral accord, dry fruits. Base: driftwood accord, guaiac wood, white musk, sage.

What are some of your current favorite summer scents?