Wakey, wakey friends I’m alive. Sort of. I’m actually currently sitting in a golf cart, in stupid degree humidity, typing this up on my iPad as my dad golfs. Why he thinks it’s ok to golf in the heat is beyond me but here we are. I’m temporarily safe from getting out of this cart to actually put in the effort to sport with him since he has his little old man group he is hanging out with today and I’ve turned into the Caddy Mate for all of them. When did my dad get old? And also, why is it so hot? Also, also, Ariana Grande has a new perfume. Ok, let’s get into that because I have thoughts.

Ariana Grande LOVENOTES Plush Vanilla Eau de Parfum is about to drop and I’m not blind buying. Look at me being all adult about my perfume purchases. Are you proud? Tell me you’re proud of me! Go on now. I’m listening. In all seriousness, Ari’s perfumes are normally a safe blind buy for me as I tend to love them. Are they a little juvenile? Yes. Am I an adult woman that wants to sweet? Also, yes. When Aria decided to drop LoveNotes back in in Fall 2024 the only thing going through my head was how do I capture all these Pokemon? Because here we had four different fragrances but only one was dropping in North America. The rest were scattered across the world.

Each fragrance was a love letter to a different part of the world from Ariana expressing messages of joy, gratitude, and affection. The US, Australia, UK, and the rest of Europe each got one exclusive fragrance. Here in the US we got LOVENOTES Pink Woods Eau de Parfum which was a fresh floral fragrance with notes of jasmine, tonka, and cashmere woods. I immediately purchased it online without having to smell it because I just like Ariana’s fragrances and I was convinced I’d love this. I didn’t. But it’s my own fault as I’m a gourmand girlie and this was a floral fragrance. That being said I did think it was going to be interesting none the less. It wasn’t. It just smelled like linen to me and that’s not my bag at all.

Fast forward and Fall, my dearest friends, is on the horizon and the drops are starting to happen! One of which is this new Love Notes Plush Vanilla Perfume. It’s being described as an older sister to Mod Vanilla which sounds promising. It’s a warm, sweet gourmand which checks off all the marks for me that has key notes of vanilla macaron, cashmere woods, and amber crystals as well as orange blossom, sugared petals, and warm amber. The only problem is they contradict themselves in the marketing and proceed to say it’s a delicate, fluffy, playful vanilla as hey, how can Mod Vanilla’s older sister being playful and fluffy when Mod Vanilla is already pretty girlish and fun and Plush Vanilla is supposed to be darker. Hmmmmm!

Is it a safe blind buy? Probably not. So far, LoveNotes has proved a little disappointing with that first launch so, I’m practicing caution if I do indulge in Lovenotes Plush Vanilla! How about you? Are you a fan of the original release and are you eager for the new one?

Ariana Grande LoveNotes Plush Vanilla launches the first week of August.

Where to buy

Sephora

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Here’s Juju at a Rare Beauty Event in Thailand. Proceed to gush, melt, and just fan girl out to this man with me because did you ever think that you’d see him at a Rare Beauty Event (the endorsements are endorsing)? I mean, if you told me hey, so and so is endorsing Rare Beauty would he be the person that came to your mind? “People think I’m obsess with this. But I’m okay with it, I am obsessed with it and um I think this is an obsession that doesn’t hurt anyone…”

If you know, you know, if you don’t, well, dm me, I’ll give you a complete history and profile breakdown including special access to never before scene edits (Just don’t ask me his shade of Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil Stain! I have no idea! Somethings have to remain sacred!). You’re welcome!

But really all this was just an excuse to use to post about the new Rare Beauty Perfume. Yes, Rare Beauty has a perfume upcoming! Rare Beauty isn’t new to the fragrance world. We’ve gotten not one but two different fragrance mists from the brand over the course of the last three years. Both of which were quite lovely if not long lasting.

Rare Eau de Parfum by Rare Beauty will be available August 7th at Sephora with early access on the app starting August 6th. The 50 ML bottle will be $75 or snag a travel spray for $30. According to reports the formula is not only vegan and cruelty for but ideal for sensitive skin. Rare Beauty continues to grow globally with sales reaching 400 million in 2024 which was 14% higher than the year before. A fragrance launch seems like the perfect addition to the main line particularly with the success of the Bath and Body Collection they already released. The nose behind the scent is Perfumer Jérôme Epinette. If you be familiar that name that would be because he’s worked on fragrances for both Byredo and Atelier Cologne (which of my fav brands).

What does Rare Eau de Parfum smell like? My mind did go to Sol de Janeiro as it has notes of caramel and pistachio….! Interesting! There’s pink pepper here as well with a warm vanilla heart, ginger, cocoa beans, sandalwood, tonka beans, and skin musks. It seems very much like the Rare Beauty Comfort Fragrance but perhaps with more complexity as that, too, is a skin scent. The launch of the perfume also includes four different Fragrance Layering Balms in Floral Peony Blossom, Amber Vanilla, Fresh Bergamot and Woody Oak to customize the perfume. This also introduces newer fragrance lovers to the art of cocktailing different fragrances. Each of the balms will be $19 each.

I’m looking forward to trying this out. How about you?

Where to buy

Sephora

12 Comments