It’s her hair you notice first — long, loose and wavy, and still a little damp from this morning’s shower. Today she’s riding her rickety bicycle, the one with the worn wicker basket on the front, along the cobblestone streets of the small Italian village you both call home.
“Hello, Graciella!” you call to her. She sees you, smiles and waves a hand high in reply.
Clackity-clack-clack, goes the bicycle, as it moves along the cobblestones. She’s wearing a flowery, flowing dress today, and all of a suddenly the air is filled with the scent of oranges, you assume from her shampoo. Fresh from a visit to the early morning market, her basket is brimming with white lilies and a brown paper bag filled with pears. Hungry (she’s always hungry), she nibbles on one of them as she cruises along, and when she passes you, there’s a whiff of soft musk from her skin, but it slowly drifts away…
Just like that, she’s gone, floating off toward the day’s adventure. 🙂
Graciella ($68), Tocca’s newest eau de parfum, is a fleeting, simple beauty on the corner of a cobblestone street. Sweet, feminine and innocent, it starts quietly, with notes of pear and bitter orange, moving from there into a slow song of white lilies, before winding down into a lush, creamy musk.
Like youth, it doesn’t last long, disappearing all too quickly. Unlike two of Tocca’s heavier scents, Colette and Cleopatra, Graciella exits after about an hour and a half on me, and I do wish it lingered longer.
Tocca Graciella’s official fragrance notes
- Top Notes: Bitter Orange, Asian Pear, Watery Apricot
- Middle Notes: Casablanca Lily, Ylang Ylang from Comoros Islands, Karma Fleur, Rose de Mai
- Bottom Notes: Creamy Iris, Cashmere Musk, Benzoin from Laos
But I adore the scent and the way it makes me feel. I’ve been keeping a bottle on my desk and spraying it on my wrists throughout the day, and each time I breathe in that first burst of orange and pear, I see myself riding an old bicycle down those same cobblestone streets, my hair flowing behind me, and me without a care in the world.
PRICE: $68 for a 1.7-ounce bottle
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Sephora stores and also online (NOTE: Right now get 25% off online orders using code HOLIDAY11)
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Now would really be a great time…
…for one of Santa’s elves to stop by and lend me a hand with gift wrapping.
Come to think of it, I may actually skip the wrapping and go the gift bag and tissue route instead. That also gives me an excuse to run to Target and then swing by See’s on the way home. 🙂
I hope you had a great Wednesday. I felt a little better today because I got a good night’s sleep, and right now I’m just sitting down on the couch to watch a movie. I rented Love, Actually a few days ago, so I’m gonna re-watch that for the umpteenth time.
Tabs isn’t big on Hugh Grant (he’s not a fan of his hair), but too bad. Poor cat will just have to deal.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Nina says
December 22nd, 2011 at 6:55 amwhy yes, i think i am a Graciella girl … if only for the fact that i leave my house w/ hair damp from my morning shower, everyday! 🙂
ps — i had an interesting evening and morning. massive flat tire last night, and having to go to the tire store early this morning for 4 new tires… which was on my Christmas lemming list! LOL!
Karen says
December 22nd, 2011 at 8:23 amHi Nina,
Well, on the bright side, at least you have new tires for your trip to the in-laws! It would’ve been much more of a hassle if you had to deal with it en route. Glad you are okay… and yay, new tires! Yes, I get excited about these things. LOL
Nina says
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:35 amme too, it feels great to drive on new tires!
yeah, one less thing to do next week. im happy its done and im happy that it didnt get any worse than a flat.
Karen says
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:10 amIt’s funny, I’ve actually received tires as gifts (LOL) a couple times; once from my dad and I think once from El Hub. It seems like a weird gift, but I totally appreciate it! I’m not really a car person, so when it comes to vehicle maintenance I like anything that makes my life easier when it comes to my ride!
Do your in-laws live far from you guys? We plan to spend the 24th w/my parents (they celebrate on Christmas eve), and then we get to wake up at the crack of dawn on the 25th to five hours to the northern most part of Cali to visit El Hub’s parents early on Christmas day.
Nina says
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:38 ami think i got a set of tires from my sisters one year too … and its awesome when things like that happen. i am totally clueless when it comes to cars too, so reminders/gifts like that are always well appreciated!
they are 3 hours away, so it would be nice to get an early start. but im still at work .. what else is new? LOL!
Karen says
December 22nd, 2011 at 12:24 pmOh, totally. I think one year my dad bought me a new battery, and another he got me some breaks… I was one happy girl, LOL!
You guys have a safe trip out there! I’m sure you’ll have a ton of fun, but if you need to escape for a second you know where I’m at!
Sylvia says
December 22nd, 2011 at 7:50 amSounds beautiful….too bad shipping is ridiculous. $11.66 for ups ground. No thanks! I’ll check it out at my next Sephora trip. Merry Christmas Karen, Hubs, and Tabs!
Karen says
December 22nd, 2011 at 8:23 amMerry Christmas, Sylvia! How will you be spending the holidays?
Swatch And Learn says
December 22nd, 2011 at 8:18 amIn case things get to busy later, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Karen! 🙂 Thanks for being such an interesting and playful blogger. I keep coming back to visit because of your quality content and your personality.
Swatch And Learn recently posted … Katy Perry Purr Shower Gel Review & Pictures
Karen says
December 22nd, 2011 at 8:24 amMerry Christmas, Swatch and Learn! It’s been nice getting to know you through the comments. How/where will you be spending the holidays?
Shannon says
December 22nd, 2011 at 9:42 amI LOVE Tocca scents. LOOOOOOOOOOVE Gulietta and Colette. I was a bit disappointed with Graciella, I too, thought the scent was rather fleeting:(
btw – you’re helping me to fill up the ol’ shopping cart at Sephora thanks to all of the recent NARS reviews. I have dabbled with NARS products in the past, but I feel as though I am discovering them all over again:)
Just a quick “thanks” for the blog. I enjoy it everyday! My 3 yr old loves “sundays with Tabs the cat.” She insists it’s our tabby Dudley. You do a wonderful job blending reviews with everyday girlfriend bantor – and I know I always have a cyber girlfriend @ MBB.
Have a great Holiday! xoxo
Karen says
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:06 amHi Shannon,
I love Tocca scents too. BTW — I tried layering Graciella with Gulietta and it was very pretty!
Oooh, so you’ve got to tell me what NARS you have in your shopping cart. 😀 I hope there’s at least one red lippie in there.
Josie says
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:52 amThat sounds so nice! Thats my moms name but she spells it like “Graziella” which most Italians do. She goes by Grace and loved it when i got her Philosphey’s Grace perfume a few years ago!
Karen says
December 22nd, 2011 at 12:21 pmHi Josie,
What a sweet gift. I bet your mom was very touched by it! If you give this a sniff at Sephora let me know what you think of it. It’s such a pretty scent… just wish it lasted longer.
DalaLuz says
December 22nd, 2011 at 12:30 pmSound yummy!
Gisselle says
December 22nd, 2011 at 7:32 pmHi Karen Merry Christmas to you and familiy. ! :-). Is this code you provided correct. Sephoras website says that the code holiday11 “does not exist”.
Karen says
December 22nd, 2011 at 8:02 pmHi Gisselle,
It’s for the Tocca website, not the Sephora website.