Jo Malone Osmanthus Blossom Cologne

Ah, something wonderful and springy, just in time for the season to really get in gear.

I recently had the pleasure of stopping by a Jo Malone London counter. I sampled many scents, and I am now possessed of an unfortunately long wishlist. What I came away with was their limited edition Spring scent, Osmanthus Blossom Cologne. The Osmanthus is a kind of flowering plant with many different species, most growing small, white, four-petals flowers. The company describes the scent as "Delicately exotic. This white flower captures the duality of apricot counterpoised with supple leather. Luminous petitgrain and luscious peach and orange flower ripple over voluptuous cashmere wood."

A little overblown? Perhaps. But, I think delicately exotic is an appropriate descriptor. Distinctly floral without being overwhelming, it dries down to a subtle, warm, but still fresh, scent. I don't really detect the leather, and quite frankly, I don't even know what petitgrain is. What I do know is that this smells quite nice. It makes for a lovely spring fragrance on its own, and should pair nicely with many others from the Jo Malone line to carry it into late summer and fall.

Having come into a number of samples with my purchase, I've discovered it pairs stunningly with the Nectarine Blossom and Honey Cologne, and is also quite nice with English Freesia and Pear. I liked the idea of it with Red Roses, but that scent is so full-bodied that it somewhat overwhelmed the delicate combinations of the first.

Jo Malone Osmanthus Blossom Cologne is available for a limited time online and at all Jo Malone counter. It comes in 30ml ($60) and 100ml ($110) sizes.

Merz Apothecary - Lincoln Square

Merz Apothecary is an old-timey corner drugstore-style pharmacy with locations in Lincoln Square and the Loop.  I took myself over to the Lincoln Square location, which is closest to their original location to have a look at what was on offer.  It's really charming, with stained glass detailing in the front window and shelves packed with everything from Burt's Bees products to holistic medicine ingredients.  With the sheer number of products packed into the relatively small space, it was a little difficult for my brain to sort all of the input!  Full to bursting with old world charm, the store also stocks a rather special brand, one that can be a bit difficult to find in stores (as opposed to on the internet) in the U.S., in my experience:  Dyptique.

I've been dying to take a whiff of some of these candles since they first popped up on my radar about a year and a half ago, and I seized my chance yesterday to make my way to this adorable spot.  I have to say, I could not have possibly imagined how much I would enjoy the scents of their many very expensive candles.  I desperately wanted to obtain a Figuier candle right then and there, but the banking gods frowned upon me and I decided against it, lest I raise their ire further.  I also found Choisya and Baies rather enticing, quelle surprise.  But the single most captivating item was the Philosykos Eau de Parfum.  Oh my, it was the most heavenly fruity scent that has ever graced my presence, distinctive without being overpowering, and distinctly feminine.  At $140.00 for 75mL, it's up there, but I intend to make it mine some time in the next 12 months.  I'd be interested to see whether or not it suits for the summer months, but I have the sneaking suspicion it's a good year-rounder.  Oh, Marc Jacobs Daisy, shall I forsake you so soon?  Non, I do still adore you, but Philosykos, you will be mine.  A budding love affair, indeed.

N.B. Chicago is home to one of the few Dyptique boutiques in the United States, and I do intend to take a trip there when I make my first purchase, but it is rather less conveniently located than Merz, and the weather was really not too pleasant yesterday.

Daisy, Daisy, Give Me Your Answer, Do

What can I say?  I babysit a lot.  Children's songs are always floating through my brain.

A while back I became hooked on the idea of needing a new scent.  I had been wearing Burberry for Women Eau de Parfum for like, forever (but seriously, since I was seventeen, that is a lot of life transitioning to stick with one scent).  So I started hunting around, determined to make a well-researched decision.  I tried a number of different products, and I'll do a quick rundown of those in a post soon, but I want to focus on the scent I selected.  Much to my surprise, it ended up being Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Parfum.