Hi, fellow fragrance fiends! I’m sitting here at my desk, rockin’ out to Duran Duran (hungry like the wolf!) and sniffing the new Bath & Body Works lotion in Black Amethyst.
The scent is a big departure from Bath & Body Works’ last fragrance, Rainkissed Leaves. Leaves was light, but notes of amber, citrus and vanilla make Black Amethyst a richer, thicker scent for fall.
I assumed that since this also has amber base notes it would smell something like Bath & Body Works’ Sensual Amber (which I *love* wearing in the winter), but the citrus takes Black Amethyst in a completely different direction.
Black Amethyst is the first chypre fragrance by Bath & Body Works. Chypre describes a family of perfumes with citrus top notes and woody base notes of oak moss or amber. Famous chypre scents include Chanel No. 5, Aromatics Elixir by Clinique and YSL Y by Yves Saint Laurent.
On my skin, Black Amethyst smells strongly of oranges, vanilla, cloves and amber. I think the orange and amber dominate the other notes. While I like the way it smells, it’s not really my style. It’s a more unisex scent (think *totally hawt* dude), but I’m partial to more feminine fragrances, ya know?
If you like unisex citrus and amber scents, give Black Amethyst a try. Wee travel-sized samples of the lotion are currently available at Bath & Body Stores for $3.50, but the full-sized lotions ($10), body splashes ($11), shower gels ($10) and other formulations won’t be available in store until September.
If you don’t live near a Bath & Body Works store, you can order Black Amethyst and the other 46 Bath & Body Works fragrances online.
Have you been following the Olympics? That M. Phelps is awfully easy on the eyes, isn’t he? — especially when he’s not sporting the goatee.
Time to grab another cup of coffee! I wish we could all go on a Starbucks run together and gab about our Friday plans. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Brittany says
August 14th, 2008 at 12:04 pmThis is kind of a stupid statement, but those bottles seem more “grown up” looking than most of BBW’s other fragrances. I guess because there aren’t apples or pears on them 😛 Anyways, this sounds like an interesting fragrance. I love citrus scents, but I’m not too keen on woody or amber scents. I’d still like to check this out because you never know. I could love it.
and now I’m totally craving a caramel macchiato. The best thing Starbucks has ever invented! lol
Laurie says
August 14th, 2008 at 12:13 pmI like more feminine fragrances too – but will certainly take a whiff of Black Amethyst the next time I’m at BBW.
Oh and Michael Phelps is pretty good looking. I was thinking that the first night when he was standing on the podium after getting his first gold! Plus – he has an English Bulldog:)
Julia says
August 14th, 2008 at 12:32 pmLove me some Michael Phelps. I haven’t missed a race yet. I’m tempted to put up a poster in my office! His little racing buddy, Lochte, isn’t tough on the eyes either.
Right now I’m lemming the Lancome Secrets of Benghal quad. Have you seen it?
Karen says
August 14th, 2008 at 1:12 pmHi Brittany,
I noticed the same thing about the packaging. The purple tulip (?) sort of confuses me, LOL.
Would you believe I’ve never had a caramel macchiato? I am non-fat latte girl through and through. I swear those things are laced with coffee crack…
Karen says
August 14th, 2008 at 1:13 pmHi Laurie,
How do you feel about the goatee? Are you pro or con?
Karen says
August 14th, 2008 at 1:13 pmHi Julia,
I have! It’s pretty, and I’m a big fan of Lancome shadow textures. I like it a lot, but feel more compelled by the MAC Cult of Cherry quads. *drools*
Dao says
August 14th, 2008 at 1:25 pmChypre is interesting when done right. When done wrong, it smells really awful! Michael Phelps is hot and is it just me but he does look a lot like Kevyn Aucoin when he sports the goatee? I think I’m too deep into makeup these days 🙂
Laurie says
August 14th, 2008 at 1:29 pmI’m not anti-goatee necessarily, but it doesn’t really add much. Plus, aren’t swimmers big on being hairless?!
Karen says
August 14th, 2008 at 1:34 pmHi Dao,
For me I think it’s going to be an acquired taste. Which chypre scents do you like?
Ha! I guess he looks like Kevyn from different angles…
Karen says
August 14th, 2008 at 1:35 pmHi Laurie,
I know! I was thinking the same thing when I saw him with it. Dude, doesn’t that cause drag?
Megan says
August 14th, 2008 at 1:37 pmI gave up on BBW long ago and now only use the antibacterial hand soaps.
Oh and let me just say…there are some hotter than Phelps. Um check out this http://www.usmagazine.com/olympic-hunks-080808 Let me just say that I think Phelps is one of the least attractive in that slideshow…LOL… I think Giuseppe Lanzone looks like a model…makes me want to watch rowing.
Karen says
August 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pmMEGAN!
You just made my slow afternoon at work a bit more interesting.
Guiseppe Lanzome needs to email me about hair gel recommendations. And James Blake should just email me, HA!
Karen B says
August 14th, 2008 at 2:04 pmvery easy on the eyes ^^ Just the way those olympic rings peek out from under that tiny teeny speedo… lol
The goatee is WRONG though.
Karen Bs last blog post..Picspam: Valerenga – Liverpool FC August 5th 08
Karen says
August 14th, 2008 at 2:13 pmHi Karen B.,
GIRL… I hear that. The goatee needs to GO!
Amanda says
August 14th, 2008 at 3:24 pmI’m an olympic junkies….I’ve been staying up WAY too late this week. And so far, the CUTEST swimmer is aaron piersol! 🙂 (way cuter than phelps or lochte IMHO).
Megan says
August 14th, 2008 at 4:04 pmLOl glad I could provide some amusement. I’m kinda digging Bryan Clay too…but seriously…decathlon? Wow…
Karen says
August 14th, 2008 at 4:34 pmHi Amanda,
He’s so boy next door! Love it!
Karen says
August 14th, 2008 at 4:35 pmHi Megan,
I totally dig him, too. He needs to show us his tattoo!
Denise says
August 14th, 2008 at 7:55 pmI tried this on Tuesday and I wasn’t impressed. I do like the pic on the bottle:)
Shefali says
August 15th, 2008 at 7:13 amHi Karen! I tried this scent and didn’t like it at all. It’s too rich and heavy for my taste.
Love Michael Phelps and have been watching his qualifying heats and races too…he’s amazing. Those swimmers have bad ass bodies.
I’m in Oklahoma with hubs and my 21-month-old little guy. We’re on vacation visiting family and relaxing. Going shopping today with my cousins for makeup for my cousin since she is getting married in April. I’m doing her makeup and am going as her advisor 🙂 Tomorrow we are going jetskiing…I can’t wait!
Have a good weekend!
Karen says
August 15th, 2008 at 5:17 pmHi Denise,
Yah, it’s… interesting. I am gonna wait to see what other stuff they roll out later on in the season!
Karen says
August 15th, 2008 at 5:18 pmHi Shefali!
How fun. 🙂 I hope you’re enjoying your vacation so far and that you’re getting go relaxation time in. Have fun shopping with your cuz and wear sunscreen when you go jetskiing!
Take care!
Yinyan says
September 5th, 2008 at 1:58 pmSo I know I’m a little late to the party, but I tried this scent at the store today, and while I didn’t like the perfume (way too fruity on me for some reason…) the lotion was very mellow and smelled…um soft? I don’t know how to describe it, but I think that my body chemistry must bring out the amber more than the orange.
Anyway, the reason I’m writing is because I bought the lotion and apparently all purchases of the black amethyst line come with a special matching lipgloss for free…and it’s fabulous! It has a dark cherry color slightly less intense than the Bing Mattene lipstick from the Cult of Cherry collection except way glossy, it’s not too sticky and doesn’t have a taste so I’m not tempted to lick it all off the second I put it on…plus it was free!