{FRAGRANCE FAVOURITES} | Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent

To be truly truthful with you, I was never a fan of the original Opium by YSL. The secretary at my grade school often wore it and every time I smelled it, it was a reminder of her meanness. However when the scent of the new Black Opium first touched my nose, I fell totally and absolutely in love. It was announced to be the “rock ‘n roll” rebirth of the classic Opium and pays tribute to the dark and mysterious side of the YSL brand. It is really in tune with my personal style so it really is no wonder why I adore it.

The bottle is superbly glam rock. It is the classic Opium shape but is black and adorned with sequins. The iconic “Yves Saint Laurent” logo appears on the stopper and you get a glimpse of the liquid in the middle of the bottle.

Black Opium is a delicately sensual scent with vanilla, cedar and patchouli at the base. Coffee dominates the heart but it is tempered with delicate jasmine. The perfume is finished off with pink pepper, orange blossoms and pear at the top. The amount of notes is significantly less than those in Opium and with the result being that the few notes shine through exquisitely. It is simple, exotic and beautiful. It is a long lasting scent and doesn’t fade away even after a day of wear.

The ad campaign is dark and simple and it is fronted by British model Edie Campbell. She has the perfect look for the fragrance and I LOVE her hair. The TV ad is shot in Shanghai, China. It shows such a different side to the city and makes me want to visit! The song, Jungle by Emma Louise, perfectly suits that soft, grungy feel.

Black Opium, for me, shows us through its delicate ingredients that even the toughest and most mysterious girl has an innocent, vulnerable side. If you love rocker chic, this one is for you!

You can find Black Opium at all leading retailers where it retails between ZAR910 and ZAR1370

Until next time

Love and (black) sparkles

Zaakira xox

{NEW IN} | Dolce by Dolce and Gabbana

When parents travel, the one thing I can look forward to is perfume from Duty Free. On my Mom’s most recent trip to Malta she chose and brought me back Dolce by Dolce and Gabbana. It is the most recent fragrance offering from the famed fashion house and is said to represent a sensual and emotional journey through Sicily which is where the brand originated and where the duo draw their inspiration from. Domenico Dolce has said of the fragrance, “The nobility of the soul, the elegance of every day gestures, the joy of sharing from generation to generation, and the effortless perfection of a single white flower. This is the picture of Sicily that I carry within me, and the one captured in this delicate fragrance”

So let’s talk about the (gorgeous) bottle. It’s a fairly simple bell-shaped bottle filled with green liquid. There is black writing on the bottle and the word “Dolce” is signed by Domenico Dolce and is said to be reminiscent of his own father’s signature. At the top of the bottle sits a classic black bow and the best part of the bottle sits at the top… the stopper. It is a beautiful cream and pink resin Sicilian flower which sort-of resembles handmade sugar flowers we see on cakes. It perfectly sets the tone for this soft, floral scent.

Dolce is a very gentle, feminine scent. It is floral, demure and has no hint of sweetness. The base notes are cashmere and musk while white flowers sit at the heart. These flowers are white Daffodil, White Water Lily and being used for the 1^st time in a scent, South African (!!!) White Amaryllis (I’m so proud!). The top notes are more colourful, consisting of Neroli leaves and Papaya flower. The result is pleasant and wearable.

Despite the softness of the fragrance, it lasts very long but fades into a very musky, soapy finish. Almost like Anais Anais by Cacherel. If you want to keep that pretty floral scent you might have to reapply after 4 hours or so.

Dolce is the perfect Spring fragrance. It is definitely a very different, more mature direction for the otherwise avant-garde fashion house but it manages to be feminine and demure without being “granny” The ad campaign is simple and beautiful and features Canadian model Kate King.

Dolce by Dolce and Gabbana retails at Red Square for ZAR 780(30mL), ZAR 1,059.98(50mL) and ZAR 1,404.98(75mL). Buy it online here

What was the most recent addition to your fragrance collection?

Until next time

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

FRAGRANCE FAVORITES | Tom Ford Black Orchid

Black Orchid by Tom Ford has been on my radar for a long time although I kept away from it thinking it might be too strong for me. My Dad went on a trip recently and my Mom called me frantically telling me to message him as he was in Heathrow airport duty free and wants to know what perfume I wanted. With no time to think I asked for Black Orchid and it might have been the best thing I could have done.

Firstly, let’s talk about the packaging. It comes in a gold box and the bottle is simple and classy. I’m always harping on (even in my fashion posts) about how classic black and gold look together so the bottle really appeals to me. I love the simplicity of the engraved gold plate against the glossy black glass. The black glass also ensures that the perfume doesn’t get exposed to light and spoil in a hurry. It’s a slim bottle and not bulky at all. I have the 100ml and I’ll still be able to fit it into my handbag.

It IS a very strong but once I let it settle into my skin it became softer and more pleasant. It’s warm, spicy and slightly sweet. The base notes are made up of woody patchouli and sandalwood mixed with dark chocolate, incense, amber, vetiver grass (which originates from India), vanilla and balsam. The rare and mysterious black orchid sits in the heart of the fragrance along with spices and the top notes are French jasmine, black truffle, ylang-ylang, blackcurrant and citrus. The result of the combination of notes is exotic and beautiful.

Because Black Orchid is an Eau De Parfum, it is very long-lasting. It lasted an entire day without me having to reapply and I could still vaguely smell it the next morning.

Although the name suggests flowers, it definitely isn’t for you if you prefer floral scents. I love seriously sweet scents (Prada Candy being a previous favourite) and I absolutely adore Black Orchid. It’s a good option if you like Coco by Chanel, Hypnotic Poison by Dior and Angel and Alien by Theirry Mugler.

Black Orchid is the perfect scent for cold weather and with Winter almost upon us, I think I’ve found my signature scent. I’m also really keen to try out more Tom Ford scents now. 

You can find Tom Ford Black Orchid at most department stores. It retails at around ZAR1500 for 50ml and ZAR2000 for 100ml.

Which is your current favourite scent? Comment below or tweet me… :)

Until next time

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox