Gourmandgrl

If you've ever wanted to smell like a Raffaello bonbon, or a coconut cream pie, look no further. This is one of the richest and most realistic coconut cream dessert fragrances I've ever tested!

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[40%] shredded coconut
- nothing synthetic about this coconut note
- sweet, realistic, slightly toasted
[40%] vanilla cream
- rich, full-fat, ultra-creamy
[20%] almond
- subtle, not salty or very nutty
- feels like the delicate, thinly-sliced liqueur-soaked almonds in an almond cake
[0%] kiwi or dew drop/aquatic notes

There is a bit of a musky "vanilla orchid" feel in the dry-down, but it's subtle and remains a coconut cream-forward fragrance throughout wearing.

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[On my clothes]
- I get more of the coconut cream, like a Raffaello bonbon
[On my skin]
- A "baked goods" note is prominent, making it feel more like a coconut cream pie with a buttery crust
[Projection and sillage]
- Yummy scent trail when moving my arm
- Could also smell a cloud of coconut cream off of my shirt without moving
[Longevity]
- After testing it on myself in store and driving home, I could smell it in the car (on the fabric seatbelt) the next day
- On my skin, it lasted 6+ hours

The Good Scent's fragrances can be hit or miss, and very few of them are exceptional in my opinion - but this one is rave-worthy to me, especially for under $20 USD (found in TJX/TK Maxx stores). Highly recommended for gourmand coconut/Raffaello lovers!

Saying this smells like a baby wipe might garner mixed reactions. But I personally love baby wipe fragrance profiles, as long as they aren't too aldehydic or powdery. This one is blended so seamlessly, that it's difficult to pull apart the individual notes - but they complement each other well:

The peony doesn't come across as too watery -
just watery enough to infuse an element of something refreshing.

The freesia isn't overtly floral -
just floral enough to provide a breath of fresh air.

The vanilla orchid + vanilla notes aren't dominant enough to make this gourmand -
but they add subtle sweetness, to keep this from becoming too aldehydic.

The cinnamon leaf creates a soft feeling of warmth -
without being spicy in the way undiluted cinnamon would be.

The cloudy white musk adds an undertone of sophistication -
so despite it being similar to a baby wipe, there isn't anything "infantile" about it.

Overall it's not too powdery, not too floral, not too sweet - just clean, fresh, simple, comforting, and timeless. Perfect for post-bath or bedtime, but also classic enough for daytime wear at the office and even more intimate moments.

The notes stick around to make a mostly-linear experience while wearing (eventually dried down to a softer "vanilla extract" solinote about 4 hours in, but all notes were strong prior to this), and it has impressively-strong projection + sillage. This was an instant love for me, and has quickly gained a spot in my "signature" fragrances. If you love fragrances with a little bit of a baby wipe feel, this is among the best I've tried - so I'd highly recommend testing it.

I saw many saying that Lavender Luxe is a repackage of No. 3 Mist - Lavender - but to me, they are different. Despite listing the same notes, it seems like they changed the ratio + added new elements:

- I got 80% earthy lavender, 20% vanilla, and 0% jasmine
- it was soothing, but felt more like a medicinal salve/cream rather than a personal fragrance

- I picked up a slightly-sweetened musk mixed with lavender and a hint of soapy jasmine
- feels like they played up the musk in this iteration, as this was the strongest component
- reminds me of a department store perfume, but I can't remember which one
- overall gives a more "bougie"/fancy vibe (rather than medicinal/herbal)

There's been some debate online about whether this was a repackage of Cotton Candy Clouds . Scent is of course subjective - but to me, Macaron Cloud is a truly-new release rather than a repackage... just with some recycled elements.

- ozonic marshmallows
- a distinctively whipped/light/airy cookie (a surprisingly spot-on interpretation of a macaron)
- the recognizable sugared berries note (a bit tart/"punchy" and almost veering towards Sweet Tarts candy) from Pinkberry Clouds, but toned down/made more subtle

- MC has a distinctive macaron note, that neither CCC nor PC have
- MC's berry note matches the sugared berry note in PC more closely in the candy-like/tart nature, rather than the sweeter/"darker berry" feel of CCC
- MC, CCC, and PC all have some elements of berry-sweetness, and are all heavy on the ozonic notes

Ultimately, it is similar to the others - but the macaron note really sets this one apart, to my nose.

Bath & Body Works re-released In The Sun this month for their Semi-Annual Sale (SAS) - and while there are some similarities, it unfortunately is not the same as the original formula. Comparing the two:

- gorgeous, elevated, complex; could go head-to-head with more expensive fragrances
- nothing about it is synthetic or artificial; the notes feel very high-quality
- breakdown: nectar-like/slightly-fruity orange blossom, fresh + invigorating green neroli, slightly-salty sandalwood (contributes to the beachy/sandy feel), and a hint of bergamot
- gives a luxury sunscreen vibe

- starts out with a similar feel to the original, but more watered down and over-blended/notes are not very distinct
- quickly drys down into a "bug spray" feel of synthetic bergamot + stale neroli

I'm sad it's not the same as the original, but glad I still have an older bottle to enjoy.