The following post is sponsored by i smell great. From the creator of CLEAN perfume, the scents you love, extracted, encapsulated, bottled. Isn’t that great? Learn more at ismellgreat.com.
Just call me “wild candy beach babe!”
Not a bad nickname, right? Got a nice ring to it. Could be a good backup drag queen name, in case I ever get tired of Kitty McDiamond. 🙂
Wild candy beach babe is my very own personal scent concoction, a layered combination of three products from i smell great, a brand new fragrance/beauty line by the creator of CLEAN perfume, Randi Shinder, and perfume industry vet/blogger Jane Daly.
There are four fragrances — Beach Babe (my fave), Candy Crush, Angel Cake and Wild Honey — and five product families. I like all of them by themselves, but I REALLY like this combo: Candy Crush Soft Body Whip ($28), Wild Honey Eau de Parfum ($68) and Beach Babe Hair Fragrance ($32), all worn together.
The whole mixing/matching/layering thing is a big part of these, because they were designed to layer seamlessly together.
Still, I’m kind of surprised that I haven’t come up with a gross combo yet. No matter which products I’ve layered, the resulting aroma smells fresh and feminine, like “La-dee-da! I just stepped out of the shower and skipped through a spring meadow.” Nothing too spicy or fruitastically sweet. Just chill, relaxed fragrances that one can wear practically anywhere.
i smell great: the four fragrances
- beach babe: Ah, take me away to a land of tropical breezes, coconut cream and golden suntan oil…
- candy crush: Mouthwatering candied flower petals, rose syrup, icing sugar and candy hearts to tempt and tease you.
- angel cake: A comfy, cozy scent with notes of pink icing, powdered sugar and candied almonds…with a touch of sweetness.
- wild honey: A soothing synthesis of honey, brown sugar, Tahitian vanilla and sweet nectar make this intoxicating aroma irresistible.
To put it another way, these delicate, light fragrances do not trigger trumpets and spotlights when you enter a room. They are not obnoxious or overly strong, and the average human could not possibly smell them from a mile away.
Instead, they’re like something you might catch a whiff of when you hugged your best friend. Of course, right after you squeezed her good and tight, you’d have to ask, “What is that you’re wearing?” Then you’d make a note on your phone to check it out.
i smell great: the five product families
- eau de parfum ($68, 58ml): Delicate, light and long-lasting.
- wellness water mist ($32, 200ml): Delicate and lighter than the perfume, it’s in a base of purified water, aloe and glycerin. I like to spray this all over my bod after a shower.
- soft body whip ($28, 200ml): A highly moisturizing lotion with soothing almond oil, coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E. It absorbs quickly, lasts a long time and doesn’t leave a greasy film.
- reactive lush lip ($28, 9g): A sheer, moderately moisturizing tint with good taste. All of them have a different flavor. Only problem: I’m always tempted to lick them off my lips.
- hair fragrance ($32, 150ml): A gentle conditioner to add shine to your mane. Makes hair feel and smell cleaner, longer. Ideal for post-workouts when you don’t have time to wash your hair…or it’s just too darned cold outside.
Despite their subtlety, these i smell great fragrances do not disappear right after you put them on, and that’s because of the power of self-renewing scent spheres, which is fancy-talk for “these fragrances stick around for a good 6-8 hours.”
Like something out of the Capitol in Hunger Games, touching or rubbing an area where you’ve applied them reactivates the scents.
I witnessed their longevity in action last Friday, when I sprayed the Beach Babe Hair Fragrance on my mop after my workout (didn’t have the time/motivation to wash my hair). It was date night for me and El Hub — dinner and a movie — and then bed a couple hours after we got home.
When I got up the next morning and ran a brush through my hair, I could still smell Beach Babe.
That’s like 12 hours later!
If the thought of mixing and matching your own aromatic elixir and creating your very own personal fragrance profile sounds enticing, i smell great’s Eau de Parfums ($68 each), Hair Fragrances ($32 each), Wellness Water Mists ($32 each), Soft Body Whips ($28 each) and Reactive Lush Lips ($28) are available now at ismellgreat.com (I don’t think they’re carried in stores yet).
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF! 🙂 Mockingjay tonight!
sarahc says
I love CLEAN so I have to give these a sniff. Are they not going to be available in stores?
Karen says
Hi Sarahc,
Ditto on CLEAN, and that’s a good question. I’m trying to find out the answer right now and will update the post.
In other news, TGIF!
Estefania says
I’ve never tried mixing scents before! It sounds so fun!
Karen says
Hi Estefania,
It’s a lot of fun, especially if you’re feeling creative, or if you want a scent that is all your own.
Happy Friday to you! What are you doing this weekend?
Estefania says
You know, when mom and I went to the Tom Ford counter, we asked the SA about it, and he got really excited!
I might have to give it a shot with the samples he gave us!
Happy Friday! I’m actually working this weekend! Gotta tie up all my loose ends before the holidays next week! My sister is coming into town (she’s been away at college), so I’m waiting until then to go see The Hunger Games! You?
Karen says
Yes you should try it! I don’t have enough TM scents around to play (I just have one, which weirdly enough smells like church, but that’s why I like it, lol), but if you find any cool combos let me know. I’m all about #thatcombolife.
Have you managed to use your new blush yet? Or is your mom still bogarting it?
So, tonight (or this afternoon) is Hunger Games of COURSE. Sometime before then I have to run so I can stuff myself silly with popcorn at the theater. Tomorrow is sorting through items to donate to Goodwill. Oh, and cleaning the house (BAH).
How fun that your sister is coming to visit!
Estefania says
I’ll let you know how the mixtures come out!
I cannot wait for The Hunger Games. Eep!
You just reminded me to go work out haha. The only thing keeping me going until next week is the promise of my Beautylish order arriving on Monday!
Karen says
I’m trying my best to make it to an afternoon showing. May the odds be ever in my favor, haha.
What did you order from Beautylish?
Estefania says
I got two of the Charlotte Tilbury quads: The Rock Chick and The Uptown Girl. So. Excited.
Karen says
Oh fun! I think I know what you’re wearing on your eyes next week, lol.
Debra says
Oooh, Beach Babe! And the price beats the BB Beach which is a lotta money to smell Coppertone from my youth!
I like the hair spray idea. I tried BB Beach on my hair and hair did not like it.
Beach Babe is on The List.
Karen says
Hey Debra,
Yes! Beach Babe has a bit of that BB Beach feel to it, but it’s less in yo’ face.
Happy Friday to you! Got any fun plans for the weekend?
Kim says
There is definitely buzz about hair fragrance. How do you find this one, texture/weight wise? I know your hair is thick but does it feel like it’s conditioning(like an oil spritz)or like you’re just spraying a regular EDT on your hair? For gals with thinner hair, do you think it will weigh it down? 🙂
Karen says
Hey Kim,
It’s super lightweight and not oily at all, which is one of the reasons why I like it. I can pretty much use it from roots to ends without my mop feeling greasy. Also, I’ve tried hair perfumes before, and some have a very strong alcohol scent to them, and this one doesn’t.
Agata says
I wish I could smell these. I love the idea of mixing and matching the scents! And the packaging of these products is so pretty!
Karen says
Hi Agata,
I love the packaging too. It’s not fussy and super pretty… It kinda reminds me of my iPhone for some reason, lol.
Happy Friday to you! What are you up to this weekend?
Agata says
I am keeping it low key tonight- just going out to dinner with hubby. Tomorrow we are supposed to hang out with our friends and Sunday is a family bowling afternoon! And of course work in between!
Erin says
The Wild Honey would probably suit me best, I love the idea of a hair mist! I cook a lot at home so my hair gets funky super fast!
May says
Hi Karen,
I love this idea. So ‘Beach babe’ is available? It has my name all over it!! 😀
Hugs from the Great Up North!
Karen says
Hi May,
Yes, Beach Babe is available. Here’s a link so you can check out the products: i smell great beach babe scents.
Happy Friday to ya! What’s the plan for the weekend?
May says
Hi Karen,
That is awesome!! Happy T.G.I.F to you! Unfortunately I do not get regular days off like everyone else. My T.G.I.F is on Saturday evening. I know I will be coming home from work on Sunday morning and dragging my butt to morning mass. The rest of the day depends of if I have the need to sleep or not. Not very exciting… 🙁
How about you? What are your plans for the weekend?
Hugs
May
Karen says
Hi May,
Totally understand how it is to have an unconventional schedule. What type of work do you do? Hope you can still sneak in some fun over the weekend! 🙂
Let’s see, my plans… Well, tonight is the new Hunger Games movie, for sure! Or this afternoon. It depends on how quickly the writing goes, lol. Tomorrow, cleaning (boring). There will hopefully be lots of sleep involved as well. I keep trying to sleep in on the weekends but my body (or my cat) keeps waking me up at 6:30!
gio says
I love the idea of mixing and matching fragrances. And these ones sound lovely, especially Wild Honey.
Karen says
Hi Gio,
That scent is one of my faves! If you like cozy vanilla scents it’s one that I think you’ll really enjoy wearing.
Happy Friday to you!
Allison C says
You had me at “hair fragrance”! This line sounds great. I love to layer different scents too.
Karen says
Hi Allison,
I like the hair fragrance a lot! It’s super light and not obnoxious at all.
Happy Friday! 😀
nicole says
would i still enjoy wild honey if i don’t like the smell of vanilla? or is it more vanilla than honey?
Karen says
Hi Nicole,
I get more of the honey notes rather than the vanilla. I think the vanilla note is pretty subtle.
May says
Hi Karen,
Movie night sounds like fun as it goes well with awesome food (lunch or dinner). I want to see the movie “The Book of Life”. As for cleaning, I hear you. I have to do it too but up here it gets so cold, dark, and dreary that you just want to turn up the heating and hybernate (I am a tropical girl not a polar bear!).
Sleeping in…hehehe Tabs… awww… If you ever want get that I take him in for the weekends so that you can sleep past 06:30. I think that at 06:30 if you are not getting head butted/woken up by Ryan Gosling it might as well be a cute furball like Tabs.
As for my work, I cannot say it on a public domain. 😛
Hugs,
May
Karen says
Oh, The Book of Life seems interesting. If you end up watching it, let me know if it’s good. I’m kind of a movie junkie and have a long list of films I want to watch!
Speaking of dark and dreary, it’s been wet and rainy here in the Bay Area all week long. I’m a tropical girl, too, at heart. Does it snow where you live?
Amy says
You should try Jo Malone, if you enjoy combining fragrances. There are so many fragrances, it can be overwhelming. I recommend talking with the Jo Malone specialist – ask for advice on combinations. They should have a “menu” to help. Nectarine Blossom and Honey is my favorite – so fresh and lovely.
Karen says
Hi Amy,
Thank you for the combo rec. There’s a counter at the Nordie’s near my house — I’ll try your pairing!
Kiss & Make-up says
Wanna bet my first try ends up being an epic failure? lol 🙂 That said, I do really love the idea of mixing and matching scents! I could see myself having loads of fun with it.
Karen says
Nah, I don’t think you could go wrong. All the scents mesh well with each other.
Happy Friday to you! What’s the plan for the weekend?
Natalye says
this sounds great!
Sarah says
I have the beach babe hair mist in the cart but can’t convince myself to purchase it yet, especially bc their return policy says you can only return unopened products. I have so many beach fragrances. Would you think this one is different than all the other ones out there? Can you say anything about this scent that’s better or more special etc etc? Thanks for your help!
Karen says
Hi Sarah,
If you have a lot of beach fragrances already, it’s hard to say. This one is lighter than most and doesn’t start off with as much of a bang, so it lingers in the background more and smells slightly more coconutty to me than most.
One thing that really sets it apart from others for me is how long it lasts, specifically the hair mist. It might not necessarily be a choice between different kinds of beach scents, as just wanting one that can last for 10 hours, which the hair mist does for me.
Sarah says
Thank you, that is very helpful!
Jenny says
Angel Cake and Wild Honey please! Then again I’m hungry right now lol
Wendi S says
I love the sound of Beach Babe I’m sure it smells fantastic.
Toan says
I love when my hair smells good too so would love to try this!
Bobbie Cole says
I love new fragrances.
Freya says
Awww mannn!!! This is closed, huh! I really,really want to try these “I Smell Great” products but it’s just not in my budget. Hopefully you’ll have another giveaway with these products someday.