Boadicea the Victorious "Pure" and "Vibrant"

image from imdb.com

The first time I heard of Boadicea was when I watched this movie on TV.  I was enthralled with the historical figure, and it doesn't hurt that I love Alex Kingston.  So when I stumbled up this line, I was excited to try some of them.

But holy smokes!  There are so many - how could I decide?!  To tell you the truth, I don't remember how I decided on Pure and Vibrant (I bought these samples from The Perfumed Court a while back and I'm attempting to test as many un-tested samples as I can before I give in and purchase new ones)

Here's a review from Rebella and another from Jess about some of the BtV line.

Pure - I have to say that I really like this one.  It starts off to my nose with a blast of bergamot and citrus and smells old-fashioned in a seductive way (does it also have aldehydes? not sure and not listed); and then the citrus stays while the earthier notes start taking hold.

Luckyscent states the notes as "Bergamot, Sicilian lemon, green tangerine, Mediterranean cypress, basil leaves, Egyptian cumin, juniper berry, ylang ylang, sandalwood, amber, patchouli, vanilla"

Vibrant - well, it's not vibrant but to my nose a pleasant albeit average leather scent.  The BtV website says something like citrus with leather, musk, resin, 'blowsy' rose and a smoky woodsy finish.  Hmmm.

Here's an interesting article about the BtV fragrances that the First Lady chose.

And finally a wonderful post from Left Coast Nose BtV, Michelle Obama and scent

Please chime in regarding your thoughts on the line - I'm interested to know if any of you readers have tried any.

EDIT:  here's another review I found from Michael

Holiday perfume sniff fest with family

Had a wonderful holiday weekend!  Christmas morning my son and his girlfriend came by around 10:00 a.m. - we had lots of great brunch food, and exchanged gifts, and watched "It's a Wonderful Life."

Sunday, the Moth and I went to my mom's where four of my five siblings were in attendance, along with the majority of their families.  Chris was there with his 28 year old son; Diane and 6 of her 10 children (her husband was home ill); Marc with his wife and two daughters; Maria with her husband and their two sons.  (My youngest brother David and his wife and three daughters live in CA so they couldn't make it)

I brought all my perfume - and had a sniff fest!  I went upstairs to the spare bedroom and spread out all my bottles of perfume, then took out some of the samples.  I wanted to gauge what people liked from testing the bottles of perfume first.

Diane joined in - she's looking for a new fragrance but couldn't find exactly what she wanted.  I was giving away my bottle of L'Occitane's Miel and Citron and she gladly re-homed it.   She also wanted a sample of  Hermes Un Jardin apres la Mousson. 

Her 8 year old daughter was hilarious.  She sniffed some of the perfume bottle tops saying something like 'not enough smell' over and over again until she came upon Miller Harris' Fleur Oriental - so I made her a little spray sample of it!

Another of Diane's daughters, age 5, loved L'Artisan's La Chasse Aux Papillons! She put the sample I made in her pocket (and later on, lost it, so we went on a hunt up in the attic to try to find it - and we did!)

My middle brother Marc loves scent.  He really enjoyed Bond No. 9's Chelsea Flowers and most of the Lutens' line that I own.  So I made him up a sample of CF and gave all of my Lutens samples except for the Queen Rose.

One of Marc's two daughters, age 16, was extremely happy to be sniffing perfumes.  She was immediately drawn to Miller Harris' L'Air de Rien!!!  She also really liked Diptyque's L'Ombre dans L'Eau.  As you may know, these are two of my absolute favorites perfumes!! I also gave her my Tokyo Milk samples.

My other sister Maria stopped in for a moment.  She likes "fresh" scents; so I showed her some Annick Goutals and she liked Ninfeo Mio the best (which is one I cannot wear at all - I should have given it to her as that one doesn't set well with me - but she left the room before I could think of it)

But this was the oddest thing - NO ONE liked the three Tauer's that I had them sniff (LdDM, Un Rose Chypree and Un Carillon pour un Ange).  Isn't that weird?

Oh and another thing - my throw-down between Avignon and Cardinal?  I STILL don't know which one I like better!

 Hoping everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!  I'm looking forward to another long weekend as I have this coming Friday off for New Years.

Solstice Party!

Although I'm still ill w/sinus infection and bronchitis, the Moth and I are traveling across town to visit my dearest friend D as she's having her annual Solstice party tonight (although it's not the Solstice, yet - but it IS the weekend!).  I did ask her if it was okay for me to attend; I am taking antibiotics so I don't think I'm infectious.  There will be much fun and food and conversation!

I love this holiday.  When my son was younger, I would always gift him a Solstice gift on the special night.

I cannot wait for the bonfire where we write our wishes/thanks/dreams on a piece of paper and throw it in the fire to the heavens.

The Moth is making his delightful pecan pie to bring to the party.  I'm bringing smelly things - incense and perfume and candles.

I'll be doing the Avignon v. Cardinal throw down this evening - wondering what other folks will say about them, too!?  Should be fun.

Oh, and I actually fussed with my hair today!  Wow, those electrical gadgets DO work.

(photo of some our holiday decoration in 2007; note the bottle of L'Aromarine)

Top Perfume blogs from Online Schools?

(edited 6/28/12 - someone from online schools told me I needed to delete the link)

A few of us are noted on here - does anyone have any information about this site?

Thanks!!!

what nearly a year of blogging about perfume did to me

I have been learning so much;with research and samples and my pal FF and all the other blogs and venues I read (thank you!)  and it's a continual and wonderful voyage.

But mostly *GASP* I'm drooling over perfumes with ALDEHYDES in them.  Yes, you read correctly.  Can you believe I'm saying that!?

Your little Bloody Frida is growing (up)! ;)

EDIT:  I am not saying that one has to enjoy aldehydes to be 'growing/grown up'  What I am saying is that I am going to sit with aldehydes for a while and not have my usual knee-jerk reaction to them; I still may end up not liking the big A after all or in all juice.  We shall see!