Fragrance Time! (Fun with Jo Malone)

I believe I've mentioned before that I am a Chanel girl, at least as far as fragrance goes. Chanel No. 5, the original, the special edition Elixer Sensuelle and in Eau Premiere, Coco Mademoiselle in spray and in gold-flecked gel, Chance in Eau Fraiche. I have enough fragrance to last me a long time since I keep it out of sunlight and watch for signs of aging.

But, you know me. I cannot resist the siren song of new counters at Nordy's - especially Jo Malone! Squee!

My sister-in-law (almost as bad a product slut as I as far as Coach bags go, but I got her hooked on collecting makeup) gave me a wonderful Christmas gift last year. We got glycolic peels at Gene Juarez and then she would take me to a fancy Italian restaurant locally. Since we had some time to kill after our peels and were feeling a little too raw for makeup, we decided to check out the Jo Malone counter.

Dude. Normally I am put off by over-attentive salespeople. I don't like it when they ask me questions about what I've used in the brand and immediately point me to the highest price point item. (That's right, I'm talking to YOU, Guerlain counter lady!) That day I could tell it had been slow, so I was a little more patient when the Jo Malone salesgirl pounced.

This woman was hilarious! She started asking what kinds of scent I liked, then picked up my arm and started smelling me. I mean, actual nose-to-skin smelling me. Again, this would usually send me fleeing, but I was so shocked I just went with it. She started trying scents on me that I didn't really like, but took them off immediately when I asked if we could start with the Jo Malone Red Roses.

Red Roses, according to the company, is a blend of seven different types of roses. To me, it smells like a hothouse filled with old roses that haven't had all the heavy scent bred out. I could not get enough of it.

Then, she started showing me how you could layer Jo Malone fragrances over each other. We played with Nutmeg & Ginger, Lime Basil & Mandarin and several others. I found the Nutmeg & Ginger over the Red Roses made it warmer and sexier, while the Lime Basil & Mandarin made it smell a little more green, a little more sophisticated.

Meanwhile, my sister-in-law (who is even less likely to hang around when someone she doesn't know is all touchy-feely) was experimenting with Blue Agava & Cacao layered with Orange Blossom. She loves chocolate and orange together and said the smell was making her mouth water!

All of a sudden, we realized that we'd been playing with perfumes for over an hour! I didn't even feel like my nose was worn out! I bought the Lime Basil & Mandarin perfume spray and the Red Roses moisturizer and was super-pleased. (Well, until I got home and found out my husband was allergic to the Red Roses. Boo. He liked the Lime Basil & Mandarin, though!)

I really need to go back for another go-round, since I can't wear the Red Roses if I want to be near my husband. There are so many more I want to play with - and Grabby Gal can sniff me all she wants! She rules!