[Ad Gifted] November and December were a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me, and as a result, I fell behind with my Secret Scent Box reviews, but it’s meant I’ve been heading into the New Year with some lovely new fragrances to trial out. I still wanted to make sure I reviewed the fragrance subscription boxes as I love receiving them and the brand has been supportive of me not posting for personal reasons. So let’s recap the subscriptions.
For those who aren’t aware Secret Scent Box is a monthly subscription that’s perfect for those like me who love to discover new fragrances. with three fragrances each month. The perfumes normally come in at a mix of price points and different styles, so there’s something for everyone in the box. The fragrances are beautifully presented in a letterbox friendly package and would make a lovely gift idea.
The boxes also include note cards on each fragrance which I’ve found really helpful for learning more about fragrances and finding patterns in what I like and don’t like. Secret Scent Box has helped me discover fragrances I’d never have purchased myself because bottles or brands I would have overlooked in a regular store setting.
November 2020 Secret Scent Box
Hollister Wave 2 For Her
An interesting choice for November’s inclusion as this just screamed beachy for me. The card notes that this is inspired by Californian skies, from daybreak to sunset – and whilst that this seems like marketing waffle, I do actually understand what they mean. It’s a very fresh scent but balanced in a way that includes fruit, floral and warm notes. The base notes of driftwood, sand and vanilla orchid provide a warm base, with tiare, water lily and freesia providing fresh florals which layer over coconut, peach and mandarin. Overall, it’s a well-balanced perfume with decent lingering power – but it’s one that just is making me crave summer to be here immediately!
Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Love is Love
A new fragrance from D&G and an addition to the ever-popular Light Blue line. It’s an interesting fragrance, on the first spray I was ready to cast this off as another fresh perfume, but it sits somewhere between gourmand and fresh. With citrus and fresh fruit top notes of lemon, apple and red berries, with heart notes of jasmine, raspberry gelato and base notes of cedarwood, amber and Chantilly. It’s interesting and the first few hours it’s on – I love this, however I do find it does disappear quite quickly on me. A very spring like fragrance for me I’m going to save for sunnier days ahead.
Miu Miu L’Eau Bleue
A simple fragrance that is very, very floral with top notes of Lily of the Valley, Honeysuckle and a base note of Akigalawood (from Patchouli Oil), this feels like I’ve walked through a forest of Honeysuckle. This for me is like something from Grandma’s dressing table – this I don’t feel like it’s from a higher-end perfume brand, it’s so one noted and feels like a more unsophisticated blend. I’ll use this up – but layered with other fragrances to tone it down, it’s a bit too intensely honeysuckle for me alone.
December 2020 Secret Scent Box
Bvlgari Splendida Jasmin Noir
As soon as I read the name of this, I knew it was likely to be my favourite from the box. Dark, musky florals are a favourite for me, particularly at this time of year and this is very reminiscent vibes of my all-time favourite perfume, Tom Ford Black Orchid. The top notes of this are fresher florals of Gardenia and Green sap which balance out with the heady, warm notes of Patchouli, Tonka Bean, Cashmere and Almond on the mid and base notes. As the perfume settles Jasmine Sambac is the lingering note. I used this a lot over Christmas and whilst it wore well it didn’t have the spectacular longevity that TF does, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed using it up.
Abercrombie and Fitch First Instinct Together
Reading the notecard before spritzing on this, this sounded particularly summery and like something I would thoroughly enjoy. Whilst when it first sprays I enjoy this, something about it when it settles on me smells… kind of sour – almost like it’s… off? It’s a fruity fragrance with top notes of pineapple and redcurrant being very noticeable for me, whilst delicate florals of peony and lily of the valley become more apparent with wear, but I find it doesn’t wear too well and the warm base notes of amber, musk never really transpire. I’ve never paid much attention to A&F perfumes, and this one certainly didn’t give me high hopes for the future, but interestingly the Hollister one was much better.
Givenchy Eau du Givenchy
A total change of note and not what I would expect from a Givenchy fragrance where I think of rich and opulent designs. This is a fragrance inspired by the South of France and is a very fresh fragrance which I’m going to keep aside for spring. With citrus top notes of Bergamot, Petitgrain, Orange and Lemon, complimented with Orange Blossom, Neroli, Hedione and Almonds. The base notes of cedar and vetiver are notable too. It’s quite a soft and airy fragrance and I can smell it lingering on the skin, but as with most fragrances of this type they’re not the most lingering notes.
As a whole, for the season I prefer the December box personally – I liked all the fragrances in November’s box, but for the warm cosy fragrances I crave at this time of year, it meant that December’s Secret Scent box just sneaked ahead.
Have you tried any of these fragrances before?
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