Scentzilla!

Lola Glo La Dry Body Oils do not bear the same scent as the Lola fragrance oil. The body oils contain a lush magnolia character, with but a touch of gardenia. I would have to say that the scent of these oils is my favorite magnolia I have ever smelled. Their magnolia possesses a focus and clarity I have yet to find in other magnolia products or perfumes.

The Glo La I chose for myself is “Diva Gold,” a very yellowy gold. The only other Glo La I have tried is the “Pink Bling,” tested on the back of my hand. On pale me, that pale pink just looked… funny. I wonder if it might not work better on someone whose skin isn’t a constant sunburn waiting to happen. This doesn’t slide as easily as some body oils, but holy cow, does it absorb really nicely, with no greasy feeling left over. Only softness is what I notice after it’s on. The shimmer in this is subtle, and appears noticable without making my skin look metallic. The staying power of the shimmer is great. It doesn’t particularly transfer onto my clothing, and that pleases me well. While the staying power of the scent isn’t as great, it’s not bad. It lasts roughly half the day on me. The glass bottle is so very adorable, and when you unscrew the cap, it reveals a little plastic cover that just leaves a small hole for the oil, like a cruet. You do need to shake the bottle well before application, in order to mix the shimmer and oil, and to keep the cruet top from clogging. A bottle of Glo La would make a fantastic Christmas present, I think.

The Lola Shimmer Powder Ball shares the same magnolia scent as the body oils. Cute design: it’s a red plastic ball (with a flat base) that unscrews in the middle to reveal a compartment with a cute pink Lola puff and a sifter for the powder. It’s very sturdy. The powder is a pale yellowy gold. It’s very finely milled, and strikes a nice balance between shimmery and slightly glittery. I recommend using the puff to apply, but do use a large brush to blend it out, or you will end up with round puff marks of shine. The scent from this shimmer powder tends to last only an hour, maybe two if it’s cool out. The shimmer clings nicely to the skin, without too much transfer to clothes, though some does seem to stray on me sometimes. I don’t consider the powder as much of a must-have as the body oils, but it is fun, and worth a look-see if you happen to have the Lola brand available to you locally.

Escential Oils and Lotions’ Dragon’s Blood is one of those smells I intimately associate with scentscape of Portland. It’s one of the more common fragrances to notice on people here. I personally haven’t been without a small bottle of it for nearly 14 years.

The fragrance is marked by warm earthy amber and patchouli. I also detect a balsalmic orangey smell tucked into it. These elements are all anchored by a sweet, slightly sticky woody note and sandalwood, giving a strong impression of unlit incense. The perfume oil is incredibly potent, and a light hand is advised.

I find Dragon’s Blood to be one of the sexiest fragrances on men, if not THE sexiest. It works on women (this one, anyhow) as well, but I must confess that I do prefer discovering it on men instead.

The body care products that can be made to match are also enjoyable. The bubble bath gel doesn’t create as many bubbles as I’d like, but it scents the bath nicely. I think it actually makes a much better shower gel, so I tend to employ it for both uses. The massage oil is very, very nice, but like the perfume oil, it is quite potent, and I’d recommend requesting they add a lighter concentration of the perfume oil than comes standard. I use the massage oil made from almond oil. Almond oil doesn’t absorb as readily into the skin as a dry body oil, and warms with body temperature quickly. It is perfect for a slow gently massage.

Picture from Disney’s cartoon, Sleeping Beauty.

Speziali Fiorentini Te’ Nero fluid body cream is a nice medium weight lotion that speads across the skin easily and absorbs quickly. I’d say it’s probably suitable for all skin types.

It starts out smelling very strong, but it fades and softens within a half hour. The lotion initially bears a scent of strong citrusy elements at first, and closer to Earl Grey tea than straight black tea. However, the citrus also tames down within the first half hour, imparting a quieter scent of Lipton black and orange pekoe tea overall. The lotion’s fragrance seems to last on me for a good four to five hours before it becomes undetectable. All in all, not a bad product, and one I’d consider using again.