Body Sprays from Hollister-so delicious!

I can't even remember how I ended up at Hollister store because I don't really care for their clothes but anyhoo, I was wondering through and saw they also have bodysprays and perfume. Well, well, this is right up my valley;) Let me just say that I like Victoria Secret but lately everything they produce smells the same so I haven't bought anything there for a while but Hollister has only 6 body sprays and these all smell awesome!

here are the two I liked best:

Silver Strand Beach(yellow flower bottle)-notes of sparkling mandarin and peach blossom. This smells so delicious and fruity I felt burrowing my nose in my arm and taking a bite. Lasting power is about the same as any other bodysprays(which is short lived) but the scent is SO MUCH better than VS!

And my other favorite-Malibu Beach(that's the one with red flowers on the bottle), notes of vanilla and almond. Yum, yum. This also smelled wondeful but in vanilla cake/little coconut way(even though coconut is not listed but that's what my nose smelled).

and here are notes for the rest:
 Crystal Cove-kiwi and wild strawberries
Solana Beach-apple, jasmine and white musk
Laguna Beach-peach, freesia and coconut
Crescent Bay-watermelon and poppy
 These are bit more expensive than VS-$16 each or 3 for $30 but I would pick these over VS lastest offerings any day. Try it for yourself

Chanel #5-the most overhyped scent in the history of humanity or the most wondeful? You decide

I think I was 18 or so when I first smelled Chanel #5 and I thought it was God awful. I normally try not to say that it smells like "old lady" but at the time, I thought that only old women would wear this and it was disgusting.
I am 40 now and have much greater appreciation of fragrance so I wanted to revisit this scent once again. The initial scent is rich and spicy-a mix of very spicy rose and jasmine with a bit of bergamot. That lasts for a while and if the scent stayed that way, I could probably see the appeal. However, within 30 minutes, the aldehydes come in full force and it starts smelling dusty and stale. The best way to describe it would be dusty books from the library.
I never tested it on my skin because frankly I was afraid that I was going to hate it so I sprayed it on paper strip. I am glad I didn't because smelling like dust and stale closets is never my goal. Lasting power is quite amazing-I tried it two days ago and my paper strip still smells like like dusty books.

Ok, don't kill me now-I know that fragrance is highly subjective and everyone likes different thing but this scent has been overhyped from here to Sunday. It really has-everytime you open a fashion magazine, there is always something about how classy, iconic, sexy and as Fragrantica says"a symbol of good taste". Now, I love Fragrantica but calling it a symbol of good taste is a bit of a stretch.
I think one of the reasons it remained popular because media is always harping on how great it is, also it IS Chanel(and if it was from Coty, I am sure it wouldn't cause such frenzy and devotion), and of course, because Marylin Monroe wore this.
At the time, it was created, using aldehydes was rather revolutionary because noone has used it before but nowdays, its common place and there is nothing exciting in that alone. If you like it, more power to you, but unlike the fashion magazines, I definately don't think its the best fragrance ever made.

Paris Amour from BBW-the new limited edition trio

I like Paris Amour so I was curious to try the three new scents. So, to the best of my recollection, here goes:
Paris in Bloom-if Love, Love, Love(I really can't stand this name) and Paris Amour had a baby, it would be Paris in Bloom. This is the most "meh" out of all three scents. Notes listed:

Top Notes: Sparkling Grapefruit, Crisp Apple, Dewy Pear, Wild Red Berries

Mid Notes: Lily of the Valley, Peony Petals

Dry Notes: Vanilla Orchid, Cashmere Woods, Velvety Musk

Paris Nights-this is deeper, darker and muskier version of Paris Amour. I liked it. This one has potential. Notes listed:

Top Notes: Bergamot Italian, Camellia, Fresh Dewberry, Clementine, Waterlily

Mid Notes: Quince, Red Rose, Wild Orchid, Night Blooming Jasmine, Blueberry Blossom, Purple Freesia

Dry Notes: Patchouli Leaf, Sandalwood, Amber, Vanilla, Mahogany Wood

Sweet on Paris-this one is a lot sweeter and candy like than original. Out of all three, Sweet on Paris was my favorite. The interesting part is that drydown smelled just like Pink Sugar. I was considering buying that one but it doesn't come in ear de toilette, only in body sprays(which I usually avoid because of poor lasting power) so I didn't get it. Notes listed:

Top Notes: Sparkling Tangerine, Raspberry Kir, Luscious Blackberry, Lemon Meringue

Mid Notes: Jasmine Macaroon, Apricot, Pink Peony, Juicy Nectarine

Dry Notes: Sugared musk, Pink Marshmallow, Creamy Sandalwood, Vanilla Infusion

Incidentally, they also released limited edition Paris Amour bottle which is SO cute and girly. I already have Paris Amour edt so I didn't want to get another bottle but its so MUCH cuter than the original! Click on this link to view http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12963820&cp=4090262.12982860.13299906


By the way, speaking of smelling like cotton candy scents-I like smelling like cotton candy but I don't wear Pink Sugar(I am sure EVERYONE knows what that smells like). I wear something called Delicious Cotton Candy by Gayle Hayman which I got for $12 at TJ Maxx. If you check fragrance boards, you will see that LOT of ladies like this one because its smells more like cotton candy than Pink Sugar, lasts longer and cheap as dirt. Try it!