Spring is burgeoning with much vim and vigor here in the Northwest. Camellias, Daphne, Forsythia, Crocus, Cherry Trees and Narcissus grace us daily with new blossoms and a kaleidoscopic display of color. That means Mother’s Day will get here before you know it and Roxana Villa’s chocolate solid fragrances are special and lovingly made gifts. This review is for Roxana’s 2nd Tier of chocolate perfumes, and you can read my review of her 1st Tier posted just before Valentine’s Day.
Pétales: “The classic combination of chocolate and roses.”
Beautiful and subtle. Pétales is the perfect name for this scent as the rose fragrance is delicate, very pretty and thankfully the chocolate does not overwhelm its dainty petals. Because the rose scent is so authentic and lovely, I would like it to be a little more pronounced and to possess more throw as Pétales wears very close to the skin. It’s perfect for a work or scent-sensitive environment, but I’d love it to be more intensely rosy for an evening out as well.
Coeur de Jasmin: “Rich heart of jasmine enveloped by creamy chocolate.”
Sometimes it only takes a few words to aptly describe a perfume, and Roxana did so with her above written depiction. The heart of jasmine in this case is juicy and indolic, worked into an even more sensual experience with the decadence of dark chocolate. Coeur de Jasmin is truly for the jasmine lover, who wants it with a gourmand touch.
Fleurs de Orange: “A buzz with orange blossom flowers, honey and chocolate.”
This is the one I fell hard for the moment it landed on my skin, and is my favorite of all 11 offerings. Orange blossom absolute, neroli and blood orange put the Orange in Fleurs de Orange. (The difference between neroli and orange blossom absolute is the manner in which the blossoms’ essence is obtained. Neroli is from steam distillation of the bitter orange blossom and the absolute is extracted using solvents.) Fleurs de Orange is a full-bodied, intoxicating citrusy floral, with a mere suggestion of cacao. It is different than L’Orangerie, from the first tier, as L’Orangerie is more of an orange tinged chocolate confection while Fleurs de Orange is a rich and lush floral with a hint of indoles and honey.
Blanc: “Opposite of Noir, a milk chocolate truffle featuring the Vanilla Orchid Bean at center stage.”
Blanc is the most straightforward fragrance in Roxana’s chocolate collection. It smells just like high quality milk chocolate. The vanilla gives it a creamy feel, but it’s really all about the chocolate. Blanc would also be a wonderful fragrance for layering.
Chêne (Oak): “A tribute to the mighty Oak with notes of wood, resin, moss, and oud. The cacao note is more subdued.”
I would agree that the chocolate tones are subtle in Chêne, but it does give a delicious buttressing in the topnotes. Like Roxana’s La Forêt, chocolate and basalmic notes meld beautifully together with the bittersweetness of rich cocoa supporting and intensifying the earthiness. Chêne reminds me of two other Roxana perfumes, as it has the resinous quality of Q and the earthy tang of oud that resides in Terrestre. Chêne has incredible staying power and lasts on my skin for the entire day. I highly recommend it to lovers of piquant woody fragrances.
Thanks to Roxana for another generous giveaway! Go to Roxana’s Etsy site to check out the 5 gm jar and pick the one from the 2nd Tier Chocolate Series you would like to win. Leave a comment telling me which one you want and you will be entered. You are eligible for extra entries, one each, by following Roxana on Twitter and/or her Blog, or making her a favorite on etsy. You can get can also get extra entries if you follow Scent Hive on Bloglovin, Twitter, Google Friend Connect, Facebook’s Networked Blogs, or subscribe to Scent Hive. (Check the right sidebar for the Scent Hive links). Please let me know in your comments what you did so you can get the entries you deserve! We Have our Winner!
Posted by ~Trish
Disclosure: Samples from Roxana Illuminated Perfume were provided for this review. The opinons in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review or any other.
following Roxana’s Blog
Hearted her on etsy (momtoem)
Wow! That’s 6 entries momtoem! Thanks so much and the best of luck
~Trish
I follow trish on twitter and I’d like to win Petales.. =D
check @bintansholihat.. you can contact me on bintan.sholihat@gmail.com
thank you..
Hi Tann,
Thanks for the Twitter follow
Nice choice with Petales! That 2 entries for you.
Good luck,
Trish
I love her perfumes! I finally got her bois de chocolat and can’t get enough of it. I love the woodsy scents so my next choice would be Chêne. I’ve already hearted her shop and am following your blog as I am a scent ‘junky’ and am always thinking of a new interesting scent to try!
Skeptis,
How nice that you are familiar with Roxana’s chocolate series. Bois de Chocolat is lovely. I think you will adore Chene
Thanks for the follows, that makes 3 entries!
Best,
Trish
I’d like to enter. Fleurs de Orange sounds like bottled heaven.
I following Roxana on twitter (as Feminine Things), and she is on my list of favs on Etsy. I also follow her blog.
I’m also following you on Twitter and through blog networks.
Hi Diana,
I am a fan of your blog! Good work
Thanks for the follows, that’s 6 entries to better you chance of getting FdO
Good luck,
Trish
Name: Fiona Chan
email: feeyonachan @gmail.com
I want Figure 7: Pétales
followed roxana’s blog (google fc) AND twitter (twitter: FionaChan), favourited her on etsy (username FionaChan), followed you on Twitter, facebook’s networked blogs, Google FC, subscribed to the blog
Fiona,
Wow! That’s 8 entries for you….I think that’s a record Thank you sooooo much.
Petales is really beautiful and I hope you get the chance to try it, one way or another!
Thanks again and good luck,
Trish
I would love to win Figure 8: Coeur de Jasmin
Sounds good Joanna! Thanks so much for entering.
Best of luck
~T
I’d love to try Chene!
Yay! I love Chene
I also love your tag name!!
Best of luck,
~T
Great giveaway! Enter me please!
I’m following Roxana’s Blog and you.
Thanks Andrea, Roxana and I are happy to do it!
That’s 3 entries for you, good luck!
~T
Hi!
I love Chêne (Oak)
I’m following your blog and Roxana’s blog!
I’m following you and Roxana on twitter as @Lucianittaa !
lucianita[@]sapo[.]pt
Hi Lu,
Chene is gorgeous! Thanks for the follows, that’s 5 entries for you!
Best of luck,
Trish
Figure 10: Blanc
Opposite of Noir, a milk chocolate truffle featuring the Vanilla Orchid Bean at center stage. This would be awesome gift for a friend,
kimbers867 at comcast dot net
Kim,
What a wonderful gift!!
Good luck
~T
I like the Fleurs de Orange the most. cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com
I follow Roxana on twitter as 409cope.
I follow Roxana through google friend as 409cope.
I follow Scenthive on twitter as 409cope.
I follow Scenthive through google friend as 409cope.
I am an email subscriber.
That’s 6 entries! Thanks so much
Good luck winning the FdO!
Cheers,
Trish
I’d like to win Blanc!
I follow Roxana on her blog (Grace Wong), twitter (gracewong1), and hearted her etsy (gracewong1).
I follow you on twitter (gracewong1), google friend connect, and networked blogs.
Grace,
That’s a whopping 7 entries! Thank you so much for all the follows
Best of luck,
Trish
I would love to try the Coeur de Jasmin!!I love chocolates, and I love jasmines, so this must be a dream!
lagringa_009 AT hotmail DOT com
Hi Marie,
The drawing closed last night…..sorry about that. But keep stopping by as I’ve always got another fabulous giveaway right around the corner!
~Trish
I’m a traditionalist:-) I like Petales.
Love,
jayne.lee[at]yahoo.com.au
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, but the drawing is over.
There will be more to come though, I promise!
~T