Victoria’s Secret Vanilla Lace fragrance products Tuesday, Jan 1 2008

Pro; Beautiful scent, usually good deals on multiples of this fragrance at Victoria’s Secret

Con; For me it’s a little *too* light, but I still love it!

Victoria’s Secret Vanilla Lace scent is yet another fragrance that I fell in love with back in the early/mid 90’s, right along with their stronger fragrances, Rapture and Encounter. Having always been a vanilla fragrance lover, “Vanilla Lace” drew me right in, and I was sold from the moment I first tried it!

Back in the day, the EDP fragrance came in an awkward shaped glass bottle with an arched top and a flat bottom, kind of like a ‘half-circle’ shape. Nowadays, the EDP comes in a small, simple palm sized 1 oz. spray bottle.

The Vanilla Lace fragrance contains vanilla and orchid with hints of amber and musk. The scent is light but beautiful! As Victoria’s Secret describes it, the scent really *is* sensual, not too sweet smelling for those of you who don’t prefer the ’sweetness’ some vanilla fragrances tend to be dominated by.

Personally, this feminine scent has been perfect for me for everyday use, as well as at night, though this scent is pretty light and I like my perfume to have a little more kick than that, however I love this scent so much that I still use it anyway! There is nothing else like it, in my opinion. If you want a little stronger scent, I suggest layering the Vanilla lace lotion, body mist, and the perfume for a longer lasting effect. I keep the 1 oz. EDP in my purse for re applications whenever I think necessary.

The old body mist, which came in an 8 oz bottle, was perfect for everyday, practical use. Of course you have to remember that *usually* body sprays, for the most part, are lighter by default. I’ve always associated the body mists with “subtle, light and airy”. I never considered the EDP to be too powerful, either.

As for the newer Vanilla Lace body mist VS. the older, the ONLY difference I found was the bottle style, design, and the old 8 oz. is now the 8.4 oz! I was VERY pleased to find that the only thing that changed about my favorite Vanilla Lace fragrance was the bottle/packaging! The fragrance has remained the same; beautiful, classic, and sexy! For me, that’s the perfect combination! For anyone who is too sensitive to many perfumes and stronger scents, body mists are the best way to go, and Victoria’s Secret has MANY different fragrances to choose from, depending on your taste in scents. For me, as long as Victoria’s Secret makes “Vanilla Lace”, I’ll be a loyal and adoring customer. <3

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) Packaging; 8++, Performance; 10+++

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Victoria’s Secret Encounter perfume Tuesday, Dec 25 2007

Pro; This is a beautiful fragrance, excellent for vanilla lovers

Con; Victoria’s Secret discontinued it : (

Encounter is another perfume that I fell inlove with in the 90’s, following my newfound affair with “Rapture”.  I first purchased this scent in a tiny purse-size bottle that came in a velvet ‘boot’ for gift giving, and fell in love with this fragrance so much that I went back a while later for the larger 1.7 oz.

To this day, I still have a small bottle that came in a set, unused, which I set aside for some special occasions, and eventually I will be trying to find a good deal on a larger bottle again somewhere online. The only CON of this perfume is that is no longer available for purchase in the stores. I MISS having this fragrance for everyday use!!

Encounter is now listed as a rare, discontinued fragrance from VS. This perfume has base notes of vanilla, which are strong but, much like “Rapture,” it is not at all overpowering to me. This scent is not sweet, but it is beautiful. It’s hard to explain it, as this is one you’d have to truly test to experience. To me, it is pure heaven. It is a very unique and beautiful scent that lasts all day or night with no need to re apply. This perfume, in my opinion, can also go for day or night wear.

Unfortunately, because of it’s inavailability in stores now, many sellers are trying to profit *bigtime* by charging absolutely outrageous prices for a single bottle. What was once a bottle of perfume that went for under $50 is now being sold by many for over $100.. Be sure and check around for the best deal if you’re looking to buy this fragrance.

I absolutely loved this fragrance and am sad that for whatever reason VS discontinued it, I certainly can’t understand why! That perfume was prettier than many I come across in the department stores today, to be honest.

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) packaging; 9++, performance; 10+++++

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Victorias Secret Rapture perfume Tuesday, Dec 25 2007

pro; It’s a beautiful, long lasting, sexy scent

Con;  N/A

Rapture perfume was first perfume I fell in love with and began wearing, way back in the 90’s. Since then I have fallen in love with sweeter, lighter scents as my favorites, but you can bet your bottom dollar there is always a bottle of rapture on my dresser for those extra special evenings.

Rapture contains a blend of exotic florals mixed with amber and wood. The scent is warm and sensual, deep and has a lot of lasting power. One or two sprays is all you need to get you through a night. It is a scent that packs a nice kick, I wouldn’t consider it light, but it is not TOO strong, either, in my opinion.

At last check, the purse size spray was about $20 and the 1.7 oz. bottle was about $35 at Victoria’s Secret. A bit pricey if you’re on a budget, but I have to admit it’s a great buy if you’re looking for something sensual and warm for a sexy evening out or something of that nature. I have always seen this as a night/night out type of perfume, but to each their own. Some will or do love it for day! Either way, it’s absolutely beautiful and has been one of my favorites for over a decade, was in fact my first favorite ever.

It comes in the same signature heart-shaped gold bottle with burgandy cap that it was in when I first bought it so long ago, held in a pretty gold and burgandy trimmed box.

I highly recommend this perfume, despite it’s price range at Victoria’s Secret, you can surely find a better deal online if you check around.. This is one of the sexiest perfumes I have ever smelled!

 1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) packaging; 10+++++, performance; 10++++++++

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“MAXIglide” by Maxius- hair straightener Friday, Dec 21 2007

Pro; Makes hair look *amazing* and glossy, hair feels instantly smooth and looks extremely healty after use.

Con; Expensive as hell (over $100 unless you find a deal somewhere), In case you experience dryness, it’s wise to use a leave-in conditioner and spray designed for use with a flat iron when using the Maxiglide.

I just received my Maxiglide today, and used it on my hair. It took me about 20-25 minutes for me to complete, mainly because my hair is layered and almost to my waist, and it’s a bit thick. My hair is naturally straight but always tends to frizz and look less than silky once it’s washed and blow-dried. My hair is also color treated (blonde) and highlighted on the top, crown area, so that hair is exceptionally fragile to anything very harsh.

My advice to ANYONE who colors, perms, or treats their hair with ANY type of chemical (in other words, you do not have virgin hair), do not turn that dial all the way up to the hottest settings I used were settings 4 and then 5 (the dial goes up to 10), and even touching my hair after it came out of the maxiglide, I nearly scalded my fingers on my hair. If your hair is not extremely course, unruly, terribly curly, etc., you really don’t need to have the heat up that high unless you want to fry your hair. This flattening iron is THAT intense.

I know in the infomercials they boast how you can’t burn your fingers because the outside stays cool, and yes the outside DOES stay cool, but if you’re planning on doing shorter hair, such as bangs that frame your face (like I have), be careful. When I was trying to clamp the device over my bangs to style them, the hot plates were able to touch my knuckles/fingers as I tried to hold the hair in place. The MINIglide (smaller/thinner version of the MAXIglide) might be a better bet for shorter hair or bangs, if that’s all you’re planning on using it for.

The MAXI glide, I have to admit, IS a very cool hair product. I love the way it made my hair look, but it was just a bit awkward to handle, it’s kind of big and bulky/heavy, and it’s not extremely easy to manage 100% of the time. Plus it’s difficult to get the hang of having to remove your hand from holding the ends of the device in order to spray the steam (to prevent burning yourself). It’s pretty heavy so trying to glide that thing one-handed through your hair is a bit tricky. 

For some reason, also, on a few occasions my hair seemed to “catch” in the clamps, maybe tangling in the pins (?), and I couldn’t move the iron down any further. As a result I ended up with a ‘pleat’ in that spot on my hair and had to try that section all over again. I also figure every time it got stuck like that, that part of my hair got a good dose of heat damage as well. : ( I combed my hair out before each use, so I can’t really explain why it happened each time. It just did. Maybe it was the flat ironing spray I had to use prior to each go at the iron, and the dampness caused the ’sticking’. So if that’s the case, its probably best to have completely DRY hair and apply products a bit earlier in the process.

Also, I wouldn’t recommend using the MAXIglide on damp hair at all if you have damaged/weak hair, because wet hair is WEAKER hair, and the chances of severely screwing your hair up just go through the roof. Words to live by; stick with dry hair.

As I said, the device is a bit bulky and ’awkward’ at first but I suspect with time I will get used to using it and it will become easier for me, as it would undoubtedly be for anyone else getting one.  I love how it makes my hair look and feel, my hair is pin straight with an ultra, ultra smooth texture and a  sheen/gloss that it normally doesn’t take on without the aid of shine agents or glossing polishes (which after a day or two, glossing agents make the hair greasy looking). So I am very happy with the MAXIglide overall. I was even surprised to find how utterly smooth the iron made the coarser, highlighted hair around the top of my head, as well.

The iron comes with a cool black travel/carrying bagto hold/store the iron in, and an additional plate (flat with no pins or holes) as well for touch up’s. Also included is the short instructional DVD which wasn’t confusing at all. I did not get the kit with “The end” or the other Maxius products that are sold to work with the iron, but I used my own products instead. I used a basic leave in “protein” conditioner and a flat-ironing conditioning spray, and my hair came out beautiful.

In a nutshell, use caution when you’re still getting used to the iron, condition your hair with a leave-in conditioner to ensure you maintain moisture in your hair if you’re using the MAXIglide on a weekly basis, and find a good flat-ironing spray or balm that is made for use with irons (you can find them in the shampoo and conditioning isle of any drug or grocery store, or a beauty supply store). If you have fine or even normal textured hair or hair that has been treated with any sort of chemical process (coloring, highlights, perming), do not turn the dial beyond 5. I stuck with 4/5 throughout my whole first use, and it was intense enough.

I will probably update this in the near future with how my hair is doing and such since using the MAXIglide on a weekly basis, since I fully intend to, I am very happy with it!

 >>>PRODUCT UPDATE; A day after using my MAXIglide for the first time, after sleeping overnight I figured I would have to wake up to some pleats or ‘waves’ in my hair, but nothing! My hair is still silky, smooth and as pin straight as when I did it 24 hours ago! Normally I have to struggle through my hair and put all kinds of smoothing products in it and then the old ‘wet to straight’ flattening iron I was using,  just to walk out the door feeling decent.. It’s time consuming and annoying when I’ve got a schedule to keep, and I find especially problematic the hair that frames my face, which gets a little more ‘frizzy’ looking than anywhere else, and of course that’s what people see first and foremost! I found that even that hair was still smooth and managable! Before leaving the house, all I really had to do was brush my hair really quick and it took like 20 seconds, leaving me so much more time to concentrate on cosmetics and clothes. Needless to say, this makes me ecstatic! I will definitely be posting more updats on this in the near future. I can’t tell you how happy I am with this product!

>>Second update; After my first wash and dry, I am happy to say that my hairs condition hasn’t been affected in a bad way at all. I had been concerned prior to using the Maxiglide, as to whether or not such an intense iron would harm my hair in any way.. In my experience, there was absolutely no damage, no signs of weakness or breakage, or even any excessive dryness.  I dried my hair as usual with a blow dryer and checked my hair over again, my hair was fine : ) I used the maxiglide again and this time, having a better hang of it, I was done in half the time it took me last time (so about -13 minutes), and my hair is once again glossy, smooth and beautiful! I am no longer sure you have to abide by the ‘once a week’ use, any longer. I’m not saying do it every day and crank it up to a high setting. My average is every 4 days and no higher than 5 (an average of 3 this time). I touched up my hair once after the first use, and that was 2 days later. I didn’t even really *need* to, rather I did it because I was going out and felt like doing a quick touch up. All in all, I recommend this product- it’s WORTH the money and it’s a life-saver to me!! : )

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) Product packaging; 10++, product performance; 10+++++++++++

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Victoria’s Secret “Dream Angels- Divine” perfume Thursday, Dec 20 2007

Pro; It’s a GREAT and LONG lasting scent! A little goes a long way!

Con; It’s pricey, averaging $40 to $50 a bottle (1 oz.) for the eau de parfum

I first tried Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels Divine perfume while passing by the store in the mall waaayyy back in 2001. I was instantly impressed with the scent the moment I put it on, and even hours later as I could still smell it on my skin, and it smelled JUST as good! I never had a single complaint from anyone of the opposite sex, either, when wearing this scent, and I wouldn’t exactly consider it an extremely light or ‘weak’ scent. It holds some pretty strong notes, just not at all overpowering. This fragrance has never, ever given me a headache.

It also does not require numerous re sprays throughout a day or evening, to keep the scent alive. One or two sprays and I’m good to go for an entire day/evening.

Not only does it come in a beautiful bottle with impressive packaging, but there’s a gorgeous heart shaped cap that tops it off, and it looks so pretty on any dresser or vanity as an added little perk. : )

The only real drawback to this perfume is the price, which ranges from about $38 to well over $50 depending on size and what comes with it, if anything. But the body mist, which is a lighter spray version of the same fragrance, is much more reasonable, in the $20+ dollar range.

This perfume is worth the price, however. It has top notes of lotus blossom, rose followed by milder notes of lilly of the valley and waterlilly, with undertones of warmer sandalwood and amber that create a lasting ‘warmth’ to the fragrance. This is truly a beautiful fragrance, which is why I still use it on many occasions almost 7 years later! And yes, this means it doesn’t get “bug spray-ish” after it’s been sitting for a while, either!

I also recommend trying other scents in the VS “Dream Angels” line, as I tested “Heavenly” once before and was also just as impressed with it!

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) Product packaging; 10+++, Product performance; 10+++

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Victorias Secret “Beauty Rush” lip glosses Thursday, Dec 20 2007

Pro; long lasting and pretty, a little will go a long way

Con; Pricey per tube ($7 ea.) unless you get them on sale! (*however*, for those spending $20+ on lip glosses in dept. stores, this price may actually be a PRO)

Victorias Secret “beauty rush” lip gloss line is two thumbs up in my opinion. I bought four when they were on sale last Christmas, and still have and use them now. I chose three with a sparkly shimmer, and one a sheer, pale pink tone with no shimmer. I am equally happy with all of them!

The colors are mostly, that I have seen, sheer/nearly transparent, and with a subtle sparkle/shimmer, with the exception of a few that offer no shimmer. The darker toned pinks are richer in color, but remain sheer. The corals offer a more peachy/flesh toned hint of color, and the lighter pink is nearly transparent except for the shimmery sparkle. The plain gloss with a hint of pink is just that, it deepens the color of natural lips and has a beautiful shine.

All of the glosses I own and have been using have great lasting power and there doesn’t seem to be a need to touch up too frequently, unless of course I was eating or drinking. A little goes a long way so they also will last you a while if you’re mindful of how much you’re putting on. There’s no need to pack these glosses on, they go on a bit heavy anyway. The sparkly ones aren’t too over the top, either, in my opinion. And did I mention the scent/tastes that accompany these glosses? YUM. All of them have a yummy name which is pretty much the light scent you smell once you put them on, you will also taste for example a very sweet and yummy taste of “cupcake” if you buy the “cupquake” gloss from VS “Beauty Rush”.

They go on heavier and last longer than the “Dessert beauty/Sweet Kisses” line by Jessica Simpson, so if you’re a fan of her scent/taste stuff but wanted something that would last, this is the way to go. These glosses also look great over lipsticks if you prefer. I’ve tried wearing the glosses over nude lips and over lipsticks, and think both ways are just beautiful.

The only con of these glosses is that they’re something like $7 a tube, so look for VS sales and specials, and then stock up, or try ebay!

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) Product packaging; 9, Product performance; 10++

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Signature Club A Morning Pearl Cream Thursday, Dec 20 2007

Pro; Gives skin an instant “glow” and brightens the whole face, plumps areas with fine lines. A little goes a long way!

Con; Pricey stuff! Sometimes the “irridescent” tint in the cream ‘cakes’ in small areas if not applied evenly and thoroughly.

Signature club A morning pearl cream is actually my favorite thing to put on, alone or with make up! I love the instant brightening “glow” it gives my face. This is also great if you’re looking for that “candlelight” type glow for an evening event. It is also very good with temporarily firming and plumping fine lines and ‘prepping’ your face for foundation make up, if you so desire. Each time I apply the ‘morning pearl cream’ before I apply make up for the day, I find that my face looks THAT much better and flawless. There is a shimmery sheer tint in the cream that lends a look to the facial skin that I cannot even truly put into words how fantastic it looks, even without any make up! Sometimes I just put a little concealer over problem areas, apply a little morning pearl cream, and I’m done (and happy!).

My only suggestion is to make sure when you apply it, that you’re getting it all evenly, especially in areas where skin crinkles when you make facial expressions, as the irridescent tint will ‘cake’ a bit otherwise. As long as you re check it (and touch it up if need be) with your finger before heading out the door, you should be good to go! This cream also makes a great ‘highlight’ for cheekbones and chin if you’re just looking for a little glow above your blush or just alone. The ‘plumping’ and firming over fine lines, of course, is temporary, but the ‘glow’ this cream offers is benefit enough by itself to use (at least for me)!

Also, with this thick cream, a little goes a looong way! I only dab a bit on the tips of my middle and ring fingers twice during application usually, and these two dabs take care of my entire face for the entire day. So this is another perk of the product, you don’t have to use a lot each time, so your product lasts far longer! I have been using the same container for well over a year, on average a couple of times a week, and still have others that I have not even had to break the seals on yet.

I also use the accompanying “Morning eye gel” which comes in a clear little jar with a black top, and the gel is pink. You dab a bit under your eyes at the beginning of the day and it helps with puffiness. Yet again, I’m impressed with this product as well and almost always use it because I have issues with bags under my eyes when I wake up, and this product tends to almost instantly brighten and tone up my undereye area. This also goes a very long way, as you only need a SMALL dab on one finger (preferably your ring finger, less pressure) to apply.

The signature club A line is offered on HSN.com or can be found on ebay and other similar sites, so shop around for the best deals!

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) Product packaging; 6, Product Performance; 10+++

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Principal Secret “Reclaim” skin care line Thursday, Dec 20 2007

Pro; this line really DOES work, in fact it IMPROVED my skin clarity over time!

Con; I have NO complaints about these products!

When I first tried Victoria Principals “Reclaim” line, I had no expectations, really. The set was a gift from a friend and I thought “oh, why not?” I used the cleanser, anti-aging face cream, and the eye cream over a period of a couple of weeks. Not only did I notice a VISIBLE difference in the overall quality of my facial skin, but I noticed blemishes and acne vanishing!

I’ve had irritating problems with acne breakouts most of my adult life, and attribute it to a high sensitivity to different products, as well as stress and rollercoaster hormone cycles. My breakouts seemed to be an average of every freakin’ week before I began the “Reclaim” regime. After a week or so of using the line every day/night, I noticed my breakouts had ceased, which I absolutely HAD NOT been expecting! The line, as far as I know, does not make any claims at stopping acne breakouts. This line only promises help  with fine lines and wrinkles/skin elasticity. So I was surprised to find that it also cleared up my skin, and I looked radiant! My skin actually was glowing, I even have pictures from that time, where my skin looked like peaches and cream and I was wearing hardly any make up. During that time, I got numerous compliments from friends, as well, on how great my skin looked. Something I am NOT used to hearing!

On top of the acne clarity, I noticed my blemishes and uneven skin tone was clearing up as well, and my skin looked near perfect, the best it had looked in years! Alas, I ran out of the stuff and I got lazy (as I tend to do on a very regular basis) over time, I continued using whatever skin care I had on hand, and said I’d get more of the “Reclaim” just ASAP.. That was a long time ago, and even now as I talk about it, I regret not buying a whole crate of the stuff to use over time because shortly after I stopped using it, my skin breakouts came back and the blemishes also darkened once again. Needless to say, my skin hasn’t looked THAT good since! : (

My advice? If you have acne prone skin, this MAY or MAY NOT work for you. I cannot promise it will help EVERYONE with acne, I can only share that it seemed to help *me* with mine. The line does list it’s skin cream as a non irritant, and I suppose that helped in my situation. It most certainly improved my skin clarity and elasticity as well. I was VERY, VERY impressed with the “Reclaim” products, and would reccommend it to anyone who’s looking for a GOOD skin care line for fine lines and wrinkles/skin clarity. It feels great going on, has a light, fresh scent and doesn’t feel ‘heavy’ on the face. The fact that it is considered a “non irritating formula” is also GREAT for anyone who has sensitive skin and a high intolerance/risk of breakouts with many other skin creams.

.. I really DO need to get more of this line, and QUICK!!!

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding) Packaging; N/A, Product Performance; 10++++

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“Hollywood Pink” by Mark Thursday, Dec 20 2007

pro; Great lasting power

con; I only wish the bottles were bigger! lol

Yet another sweet and sultry scent that I LOVE. This one was given to me by a friend this year, it came early for Christmas. I had never heard of this name before, so it was new to me, but the packaging and design reminded me very much of “Pink Sugar” perfume, and as such I was automatically impressed and curious to see how this would smell!

I wasn’t surprised to find that it had a similarly sweet fragrance, however THIS fragrance has warmer notes than Aquolina’s “Pink Sugar” perfume. “Hollywood Pink” has more warm chocolate notes with that same candy/cake sweetness overall. It’s a GREAT (and less expensive ) alternative to “Pink Sugar” and I’d put it right up there with “Pink Sugar” as far as impressiveness with scent! “Pink Sugar” seems light enough for day, where “Hollywood Pink” seems more an evening fragrance, but of course, to each their own!

 When I put “Hollywood Pink” on, I noticed this fragrance also has lasting power and only needs one or two sprays to last throughout the day/evening for me, and I love that. This fragrance is also a lighter fragrance that doesn’t overpower me or make me sick, but it’s the perfect combination because I’ve always associated “LIGHT” fragrance with “NO LASTING POWER.” So it’s truly another impressive scent!

I never bought the accompanying products to “Pink Sugar” as that line is pretty pricey, but with “Hollywood Pink” I found their products online to be reasonable, normally going for $10-$20 for the perfume, and averaging under $10 for the lotion. I was given both as a gift, and usually layer the lotion and perfume, however, the perfume alone also lasts just as well by itself! 

*Additional Note; If you’re a big fan of Aquolina ‘Pink Sugar’s’ warmer alternative, “chocolovers” (The chocolatey version of Pink Sugar), but don’t want to pay the higher price, “Hollywood Pink” is the PERFECT alternative, a much more reasonable buy, even if you’re looking for the set!

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding); Packaging; 10, Product quality; 10+

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Pink Sugar fragrance by “Aquolina” Thursday, Dec 20 2007

Pro; Lasting power! No need to pack it on, a little goes a long way.

Con; Pricey

If you like a sweet  candy/cake type of fragrance, this one is a winner! One of my personal favorites, and a signature scent that I wear at least 98% of the time, I do not regret the nearly $40 I put out for the 1.7 fl. oz bottle (you can, however, find the smaller 1 oz. version for about $25 through Sephora)! This fragrance is not overpowering (to me) and is just light enough not to cause my head to hurt, which some fragrances tend to give me head aches if they’re too sickeningly sweet or strong. It has lasting power as well, which I am pretty big on. If I have to spray and spray throughout the day to keep smelling the fragrance on me, I am then disappointed in the perfume. Pink Sugar does not and has never disappointed me! I spray it once or twice and it lasts throughout the day/evening without having to reapply.

Pink sugar consists mainly of sweet vanilla, cotton candy, light florals and caramel. Among the many ingredients that Sephora.com lists, are; “Bergamot, Sicilian Orange, Raspberry, Fig Leaves, Lily of the Valley, Strawberry, Red Fruit, Musk, Wood, Powder.”
It actually smells (to me) on like a mixture of delicious sugary candy and icing with a lower note of cupcakes.

While I do have a collection of fragrances that I like and wear on occasion, “Pink Sugar” is my #1 fragrance. Light and sweet just like it’s name, and you can still smell notes of it hours and hours later. Beautiful packaging, too! I have no complaints about this great scent! 

1-10 rating (1 bad, 10 outstanding).. Packaging; 10+++++, Product quality; 10++++++

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