If I could, I’d change the name of Bobbi Brown’s newest summer fragrance. It left the factory known as Almost Bare ($60), but Almost Boy may have been a more accurate moniker.
When I spritzed it on my wrist, I smelled bar soap, tree bark, crushed leaves and citrus rind; the very first thing the scent made me think of was how the Brawny paper towel man must smell after a shower.
Some of my favorite recent products by Bobbi Brown…
- Long-Wear Cream Shadows create an easy, subtle eye look.
- Lip Crayons are pretty and practical.
- Beach Shower Gel smells like vacation in a tube.
Bobbi Brown calls Almost Bare a fresh floral and lists violet, muguet (Lily of the Valley) and jasmine as some of the individual notes within the fragrance, but I couldn’t detect them at all. The product’s more masculine notes — Italian bergamot (a citrus fruit), cedar and amber (a warm, kitchen-ey smell) — dominate the feminine notes, so, basically, it makes me smell like a dude. Sure, I smell like a clean, freshly washed dude (probably a very hot dude), but I still smell like a dude.
Bobbi Brown has marketed Almost Bare as a fragrance for women, but even the name seems a little masculine to me. The marketing folks probably meant to imply a subtle, undressed sexiness, but, honestly, when I hear Almost Bare I can’t help but picture bears. Yes, it’s weird, I know, but I can’t help it.
Nor is it a very complex fragrance. It remains much the same throughout the day, unlike fragrances that transition through a range of different notes over time.
Bobbi Brown Almost Bare Eau de Parfum
Use: A slightly masculine summer fragrance
Price: $60 for 1.5 oz. bottle
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: C+
I may not have been Bobbi Brown’s target customer with Almost Bare. I gravitate toward girly-girl scents with lots of layers. Give me J’adore or Coco Mademoiselle, and I’m in heaven. Even though I typically prefer much more complex and feminine fragrances than Almost Bare, I do have to hand it to Bobbi for creating a perfume that perfectly reflects the company’s makeup aesthetic. For me, the Bobbi Brown makeup line evokes a minimalist, not overly-feminine design. Almost Bare’s simple, clean, unisex fragrance reflects their makeup philosophy to a tee.
Sixty dollars seems like a reasonable price to pay for a 1.5 fl. oz. bottle. I like its classic square shape and the lettering on the front … which might be Georgia (side note: I’m a font freak). And I do like that Almost Bare packs enough fragrance staying power to last most of the day (at least six hours). It’s definitely a fragrance with legs.
While Almost Bare isn’t my cup of fragrance tea, you might enjoy it if you like woodsy, citrusy unisex fragrances.
Care to give Almost Bare a sniff? Try a spritz at your nearby Bobbi Brown counter or read more about it online.
Happy Sunday! After a grey and gloomy Saturday here in the Bay Area, I’m glad to see the sun return. I woke up a lil’ late today because I was awake late last night reading The Host, by Stephanie Meyer. The book’s been great so far, and it’s an easy read. I’m down to the last quarter of the book and already feeling a little sad because I don’t want the story to end. Does that ever happen to you? I’m really tempted to finish it today, but I’ll try to restrain myself to stretch it out a little longer.
What are you reading these days?
If I get all my work done this afternoon, I’d like to visit the Lancome counter before it closes. While surfing their site this morning I saw this beautiful palette: Couture Warms. I’m dying to see it in person! I anticipate love at first sight.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
For more sweet, sweet makeup lovin’, sign up to receive my updates by email. 🙂
Aleks says
May 25th, 2008 at 2:35 pmHappy Sunday!
Yeah, practise makes perfect, as the saying goes! I hope it’ll hold true with the shoes, too, ha. Will try walking in them starting from tomorrow morning 😀
Sounds like we’ll both be celebrating next Saturday then! Congrats to your bro!
My weekend was full of relaxing by the TV and cleaning the house, too. A nice combo of working and relaxing. I hope you were able to rest a bit as well. Too much working doesn’t do any good 🙂
Have a wonderful week, talk to you later!
Alekss last blog post..Turncoat
Karen says
May 25th, 2008 at 4:04 pmHi Aleks,
Happy Sunday to you, too. Yup, with heels it’s all about practice. If they aren’t broken in yet just put a pair of socks on while you’re walking around the house. That helps to stretch them out.
I just got back from a lunch break. El Hub and I went to a cafe (I was craving a salmon club sandwich) so now I’m ready for a Sunday afternoon nap. Hopefully everything will get done by tomorrow. Agh!
You have a great week too. Let me know how the heel practice goes!
melissa says
May 25th, 2008 at 5:46 pmLOLLLL! What about winnie the poo? Please tell me you are having a good weekend, my dear Karen. My brother is visiting and we are all going to see out the Indiana Jones movie tonight sigh…. I didn’t see the other ones so I don’t know if I’m going to like it. I hope so!
Miss QQ says
May 25th, 2008 at 7:20 pmI like unisex and musculine fragrance on men, not on myself. I like fragrance with lots of layers too! I have a bottle of Coco Mademoiselle (for cool weather) and Chance Eau Fraiche (for warm weather). I have tried J’adore before and find it nice too, but have yet to buy it. I won a bottle of Euphoria, Euphoria Blossom and Dior Addict. Too many bottles to use…
I really dislike fragrances that smell like only one ingredient is used. Why pay so much money to buy a bottle of liquid that makes me smell like a flower (eg lily) or a fruit (orange). Perfumes should transition through different notes over time! I love smelling the different layers. =)
Marisol says
May 25th, 2008 at 7:25 pmThe fact that you know the font being used make me think you rock!
It was a gloomy weekend here too so I stayed indoors cleaning my apartment and catching up to my stack of magazines.
Marisols last blog post..omg… I totally pumped my fist in the air.
Terre says
May 25th, 2008 at 7:27 pmAny fans of DKNY’s “Be Delicious”? I got that a few months ago and have been wearing it constantly.
Karen I love love love your website!!
Hope everyone had a good weekend, bye 🙂
kia says
May 25th, 2008 at 9:00 pmwowzers! didn’t expect that of the perfume!
i’m with you.. i love j’adore!
kias last blog post..Yummy411: Contests and How I do my eyebrows
Karen B says
May 26th, 2008 at 12:21 amSure, I smell like a clean, freshly washed dude (probably a very hot dude), but I still smell like a dude.
That comment just cracked me up….
Doesn’t sound like my cup of tea either, Coco Mademoiselle any day 🙂
Karen Bs last blog post..Art journal
Karen says
May 26th, 2008 at 10:58 amHi Miss QQ,
I *love* Chance Eau Fraiche. My birthday is coming up next month and I’m thinking that’s going to be on the list of birthday presents I’m getting for myself. 🙂
Sometimes I like single note scents if the scent brings back a certain memory, however, I’m like you in that I love experiencing the different layers that a fragrance has throughout the day.
Karen says
May 26th, 2008 at 10:58 amHi Marisol,
HA! I think I’ve spent one too many hours contemplating things like font. While I’m at it I have to state for the record that I can’t stand Comic Sans.
Girl, good for you for cleaning your space. Mine is hella dirty right now and I’m totally procrastinating on the cleaning thing. What magazines do you catch up on? I have an issue of Real Simple that I need to get too. Oh, and Better Homes and Gardens! My mom gave me a subscription for Christmas and I kinda like it, LOL.
Karen says
May 26th, 2008 at 10:59 amHi Terre,
That’s the one shaped like an apple, right? I think I smelled it at Sephora and liked it.
I get totally hooked on scents, too. The last one I got obsessed with was Coco Mademoiselle (my mom gave it to me for Christmas). I used it every day for MONTHS!
Karen says
May 26th, 2008 at 10:59 amHi Kia,
You’ve got good taste! 😉 I have a really ancient bottle of the eau de parfum — it’s so old that it doesn’t have the “J’adore” written on the front of it, like the new ones do. I wore it every day for probably three years. I love it.
If you like J’adore you might like Anna Sui (in the purple bottle). 🙂
Happy Memorial Day!
Karen says
May 26th, 2008 at 10:59 amHi Karen B.,
Thanks! Yes, gimme some Coco an I’m a happy girl. I know you are a Chanel girl, too… what do you think of Allure? I’m torn between that one and Chance Eau Fraiche. I want to get myself a bottle of perfume for my birthday and am trying to decide between the two.
Karen B says
May 26th, 2008 at 10:25 pmI would go for Chance Eau Fraiche. I’m not too big a fan of Allure, as I think it’s a bit heavy, for summer I’d prefer the freshness of the Eau Fraiche.
Karen Bs last blog post..Art journal
Karen says
May 27th, 2008 at 9:57 pmAhhh, I think it’s destiny then. I forsee a bottle of Eau Fraiche in my future.
Hope you had a good day! 🙂