Hugo Boss Bottled Unlimited

If you mention the words Hugo Boss and aftershave together I automatically get a shudder down my spine. Not in a good way! Since my first foray into Hugo Boss aftershaves (shudder) with Dark Blue which to be blunt was awful they have actually released a number of good scents for men such as Just Different and Man. Trying to put my prejudices to one side, Rachel (Beautyqueenuk) asked me to get my sniffing tackle around Bottled Unlimited by Hugo Boss.

At £60 for a 100ml bottle this bottle, the fragrance launched in 2014 sits in the medium bracket in terms of affordability so I was expecting good things from this in terms of not just fragrance but also staying power and evolution of the notes.

Without boring you with the marketing blurb I’m going to launch straight in. These are the notes for Hugo Boss Bottled Unlimited:

• Head: Iced Violet Leaves
• Heart: Pineapple
• Dry-down: Sandalwood, musk

From this I would have expected a light floral fragrance with the slight bite of the citrus from the pineapple. To be honest, I can’t recall another fragrance that I’ve tried over the last year with a citrus heart note - just seeing this made me more curious as to what it would smell like, and whether indeed it had the decent base on which to act as a hard-wearing aftershave.

So, on with the sniffing….

Spray one and you think wow, this is strong, and by spray three (I spray quickly) you are thinking “seriously, can an aftershave be this strong”. The strength of the fragrance as it leaves the bottle is like an unexpected slap to the face…..from Floyd Mayweather which makes it pretty hard to bring your senses to bear on it. It took thirty seconds until I had my senses back and could indeed detect a strong floral scent, it wasn’t as subtle as I had expected, this was much stronger and it wasn’t for a good fifteen minutes until this dried down a little and the light citrus from the pineapple came through. It is lovely as it's as though the fragrances melted into each other. 

It takes around an hour until this starts to lighten, it’s really noticeable to me as I move around but it loses some of it’s heavy top notes and becomes slightly lighter, yet with a warm finish on the nose. The sandalwood is light so not to overshadow the floral and citrus and the blend is simply amazing.

This lasts for well over ten hours and I think will appeal to those who light their fragrances light and citrus to those who prefer a heavier and warmer floral. With it being so strong a little really does go a long way with only three sprays needed at the start of the day. It’ll last for ages even when worn for day-wear, nights out or those special occasions. Go on, treat yourself to a bottle of Hugo Boss aftershave (no shudder anymore) and take a closer look at Bottled Unlimited by Hugo Boss.

This post is written by Beautykinguk who also happens to be my Hubby.

Hugo Boss Woman Perfume

When it comes to perfume, I know what I like and what I don't like. Every now and again a fragrance will come into my possession and takes my by surprise and this is one of those fragrances. Hugo Boss Woman was sent to my Hubby to review and we decided that he could do he make version which you can find HERE and I would do the female version.

Hugo Boss Woman is not a scent I ever thought I would like, my last encounter with this brand of perfumes was a short lived affair with Deep Red, a scent which I liked until it hit my skin and then it smelt just awful. So I was slightly nervous about giving this go. 

The perfume comes inside this bright vibrant red box and inside is a rather rotund looking bottle which encompasses the box design by taking on-board he red and silver colouring,  Being a see through glass bottle, you can see the fragrance inside and it looks as though it is tinted red, but in actual fact it is just down to the clever design of the bottle.

Described as being "a fruity floral fragrance with an unconventional boyish twist. The scent is a contrast of feminine and unexpected masculine notes creating a contrast of tones and sensations. HUGO Woman is the scent for modern, stylish women who live life their way and follows the motto to invent yourself". 

The scent itself uses top notes of ripe boysenberry, sparkling Italian mandarin and Himalayan red grass. Top notes are those scents that are perceived immediately on application of a perfume.  The middle notes which are the ingredients used to make up the perfume, and can range from plant and flower extracts to fruity extracts and in this perfume we have Jasmine sambac and plush, darkly fruity black plum and Indian black tea.  So the base notes, which are perhaps the most important because they determine how long a fragrance will last, and most fragrances have similar base notes which often include sandalwood, amber, musk or vanilla. The reason being is because there are only a certain number of notes that will last long enough on the skin to form the base of a fragrance. So within this scent, those Base Notes are Sandalwood laced with cedar, warmed by feminine amber.

I would describe Hugo Woman as being a mixture of both fruity and floral, one the first spritz the fruity scent is really dominant and it soon settles on the skin to become much lighter and more floral.  Infact, it has really good wear time because I can still smell it hours later on my way home from work, which is a good 8-9 hours later.  I had expected this to be a really heavy fragrance, the kind which makes your nose wrinkle as soon as it is spritzed, but it isn't at all, it is one of those fragrances I would want to wear in the springtime because it is so fresh smelling and floral

Overall I really really like this scent, I never expected to find myself saying that but I do and it is just lovely.  It is one of those scents I would put into the versatile category which means you could wear it as a day fragrance, for a night out, on a date or whenever you fancied because for me it meets the criteria of all the above.  This scent is available from Fragrance Direct and 30ml costs just £29.99

Have you tried this scent?

Fragrance Shop Discovery Club Classics Edition

I am a huge perfume fan, love it and I am one of those people who loves perfume samples. What better way to decide whether or not you like the scent of something? We do it with make-up, so why not perfume? Back in April 2013 I brought to my blog a new subscription box from The Fragrance Shop Discovery Club which you can see HERE and again in June which is HERE and then September which is HERE, then the final box of 2013 HERE if you didn’t see it. Already in 2014 I have had the spring edition which you can find HERE, the summer edition which is HERE and the Autumn Edition which I showed not too long ago on my blog is HERE

For those of you not in the know this is the description of the box, which is a subscription:

"If you love fragrance, then you'll love our Discovery Club.

Our exciting new club allows you to explore the very latest fragrance launches from the comfort of your own home. For just £5 per quarter, each edition comes with fragrance samples for you to try, details on each of the fragrances included, as well as discount vouchers so you can make some big savings on all the scents featured."

Today I have before me the 'Classics Collection' to celebrate The Fragrance Shop's 2nd Birthday and I am super impressed with this box and this is what can be found inside.

Thierry Mugler Angel - Angel is a luxurious, chic and timeless fragrance, a delicate blend of exotic fruits, soft caramel, honey and chocolate combined with the captivating power of patchouli and vanilla. Top notes are Bergamot and Helional, with middle notes of Dewberry, Exotic fruits and Honey. Base notes are Vanilla, Chocolate, Patchouli and Caramel.  

No matter how many times I smell Angel, I dislike it.  I don't know what it is about the fragrance, but it definitely is not for me.

Jimmy Choo Parfum expresses an aura of strength and beauty and has a dazzling aura of glittering femininity. With top notes of mandarin orange and green pear, middle notes of orchid and base notes of toffee and patchouli, this fragrance is every bit as stylish as the eponymous shoe brand that bears the same name.

I like this but don't love it.  It is just a nice scent, quite floral and fruity without being too harsh on the nose.

Givenchy Very Irrésistible - A very dynamic sensual fragrance possessing the elegant floral top notes of rose and the exotic daring combination of peony and rose fantasia. A very appealing feminine scent by Givenchy.

This fragrance I adore and have purchased a full bottle of it through having a sample in a previous box.  Wonderful scent which lasts all day and is just lovely.

Touch of Pink By Lacoste which is a fruity floral fragrance for the youthful, energetic female with passion and power. Starting with notes of orange, coriander, peach, and cardamom. A heart of notes of carrot seed, jasmine and violet leaf boasting base notes of sandalwood, musk and vanilla.

One of my trusty faithful perfumes to go to.  Always have a bottle of this around and use it a lot more than I ever thought I would, more so because I am not a fan of things with Vanilla in them, but within this it is so light.

Lady Million Eau My Gold by Paco Rabanne  Lady Million Eau My Gold. The composition of this latest fragrance consists of notes of mango, neroli, bergmot, mandarin and grapefruit.

I am still sat on the fence with this scent, neither like or dislike it.

Nina Ricci - Nina - This magical fragrance is a promise of charm, enchantment and seductive femininity. A fresh floral-fruity fragrance with mouth watering red toffee apple accents.

Absolutely lovely scent and one I really enjoy using, would definitely feature on a wishlist to buy a full sized bottle of.

The final two samples are:

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique - The classic fragrance for women by Jean Paul Gaultier. The corset demonstrates confidence, romance, and timeless style, while the scent embodies femininity with a bewitching, voluptuous rose Eau de Parfum.

Not a fragrance I got too excited about i have to admit.  It is nice but that is really all I can say about it.  If I was given a bottle I would be happy about it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase it.

The most exciting part for me is the Estée Lauder bottle which is just stunning, instead of just having a sample vial, within my box is this super dooper little bottle.

Estée Lauder Modern Muse - Be an inspiration. Experience the fragrance that captures your style, your confidence, your creative spirit. An alluring contrast of sparkling florals and sleek, sensual woods. 

Now this scent is really lovely, one you would perhaps use for special occasions rather than everyday wear.  It is the first time I have come across it and being honest I would it would be a bit 'Mumsy' and something I would buy my own mum, but actually it isn't.

Then we have some samples for the men folk which are

Hugo Boss, Boss Bottled - This is a fresh, crisp citrus aroma with a blend of oriental woods. It's sophisticated and confident created for the modern man. Featuring top notes of oakmoss, bergamot, apple and lemon a heart of mahogany, carnation and cinnamon and a base notes of sandalwood, vanilla, oak tree and cedar.

Sat on the fence with this one, it is alright but not one either of us would rush out to buy.

Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme - Since 1994, L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme has become a hallmark of sophistication in the world of fragrances. It awakens the senses with its blend of citrus, precious woods and spices. The pure, energising scent is perfect for a modern, independent man.

A hit with Steve and a scent he really likes and keeps hinting about! Better be good for Santa!

Paco Rabanne, Invictus for Men - This is purely energising and fresh. The attraction of sensual symbolises masculinity and power. Inhale the scent of victory. Top notes of grapefruit, mandarin orange and marine accords give way to bay leaf and jasmine middle notes. Finishing the scent we have guaiac wood, oakmoss, patchouli and ambergris.

As soon as Steve smelt this he wanted it, that is how nice a scent it is, so I bought him a full sized version and it really is lovely.

I have really enjoyed getting these boxes, from them both Steve and I have acquired quite a few fragrances because we have enjoyed the samples so much and it also helps having voucher codes for money off.

So what do you think to this quarters box? 

Are there any perfume samples you like the sound of?

The Fragrance Shop Discovery Club 5th Edition

Back in April I brought to my blog a new box from The Fragrance Shop Discovery Club which you can see HERE and again in June which is HERE and then September which is HERE, if you didn’t see it.  

For those of you not in the know this is the description:

"If you love fragrance, then you'll love our Discovery Club.
Our exciting new club allows you to explore the very latest fragrance launches from the comfort of your own home. For just £5 per quarter, each edition comes with fragrance samples for you to try, details on each of the fragrances included, as well as discount vouchers so you can make some big savings on all the scents featured."

So now I have my 5th edition and in the box this time I have 6 different perfume samples which are as follows:

Jean Paul Gaultier - Classique.  Launched in 1993, Classique has become a true icon in the fragrance world.  The Supremely seductive oriental floral fragrance pays homage to the beauty of women with its corset inspired design.

Nina Ricci - Nina.  A magical scent captured inside a glass apple.  Nina offers charms and enchantment with a dash of seduction in what is a fresh floral fruity fragrance.

Gucci - Guilty.  Gucci takes as a catalyst its iconic entwined G's and brings us a heroine who regards this emblem as an incitement to subvert.  Gucci Guilty is a modern and daring Oriental Flower

Thierry Mugler - Angel.  Angel, the first fragrance by Thierry Mugler, is a voluptuous oriental gourmand with a truly beautiful bottle resembling dazzling stars cut from the night blue sky.

Thierry Mugler - Alien.  Distinctive and mysterious, yet comforting and soft.  The EDT conveys passion, sensuality and the essence of absolute femininity with a rich floral woody and magical trail for fragrance that is truly out of this world

Givency - Irresistible.  A very dynamic sensual fragrance possessing the elegant floral top notes of rose and the exotic combination of peony and rose fantasia. A very appealing feminine scent.

Hugo Boss - Hugo Man.  Fresh, Sharp and extremely masculine, Hugo is about living your life on your own terms with a certain irreverence.  it is created not for those who go with the trend of the moment, but for those who seek a style of their own.

Hugo Boss - Boss Bottled.  A true male iconic fragrance that remains as popular now as its launch in 1994.  The juice is fresh and shape with a warm woody base whilst the bottle offers a sleek, uncomplicated but very masculine look.

Issey Miyake - L'Eau D'Issey Pour Homme.  Since 1994, L'Eau d'issey Pour Homme has become a hallmark of sophistication in the world of fragrances.  it awakens the senses with its blend of citrus, precious woods and spices.  The pure, energising scent is perfect for a modern, independent man.

Once again, I am really pleased with this box and I love the fact I have new samples to test and try out without having to go into a shop and cover myself in perfumes to see if they smell okay on my skin, yes I am that lazy.  The only fragrances I am not too keen on are the Thierry Mugler ones as I just don't like the scent, but a good friend of mine does, so I am shoving those in with her Christmas box.  

Within the accompanying magazine which tells you about all of the fragrances is also an offer of £5 off each fragrance if you purchase them online.

If you think this is something you would like to sign up to, you can find the link HERE along with further information.

So what do you think to my box? Are you a subscriber? 

Will you subscribe?