Perfume Review: Lulu Beauty Marlena
 Lulu Beauty is a glamourpuss collection of makeup that also includes four perfumes with very pinup names, Gigi, Lula Mae, Marlena, and Starlet. Being a huge Marlene Dietrich fan, I was of course interested in Marlena. With notes of bergamot, jasmine, Moroccan rose, musk, vanilla and patchouli, this is a scent for a screen goddess on a laid back vacation at some exotic destination. Marlena smells to me like a result of a fling between Jasmin Full and Dior-Dior. The beautiful offspring inherited the sweet, tropical jasmine of the Montale and the dirty base of the Dior. It is less complex, softer and more delicate then the voluptuous parents, but it is still sexy as all get out. For me, the beauty and the originality of this scent lies in the patchouli note. Without it, Marlena would have been just another jasmine-vanilla blend (and the name of those is a legion). Patchouli brings warmth, earthiness and an almost-gourmand undertone to the composition. Because of it, the scent has both a summery-tropical feel and a cozy, enveloping quality that will make it extremely enjoyable in the impending cold months. Sultry and strangely comforting, Marlena is a delight.It can be found at Lulu Beauty, $40 for 0.25oz. I think the packaging, which looks like a retro, azure cigarette box (wiht a little mirror inside), is adorable. |
posted by Marina |
12:03 AM
18 Comments:
Love the idea of a scent named for Marlene - am also a huge fan. Jasmin Full and Dior-Dior?? I'd have been interested even if it had been named for one of the Olsen twins - OK, it might have taken a little more convincing and I'd have had to purchase it in a brown paper bag and tape over the name. However, this really does sound divine. Definitely a must have scent.
Jasmin Full and Dior-Dior -- sounds like a wicked combo!
Well, like everyone else here I worship La Dietrich, and I love Dior-Dior--BUT I seem to be the only one among my cyberfriends who cannot wear Jasmin Full. So I would have to sample before I plunked my money down (and I'm plunking far too much lately, anyway)!
L,
It is definitely simpler and more toned down than either its mama or...um, mama :-) But it is really nice.
March,
It's not that wicked :-P Not nearly as wicked as either of those two. It is sort of rounder and warmer.
J,
Definitely sampels first, but it si not ideantical to Jasmin full. Theer is just something about the jasmine here that reminded me of it.
Marinka, will I like it?
Ina,
I think you will at least like it. It performed admirable on my skin last night, lasted a long, long time and did not go "off" in the drydown as quite a few oils do. :-)
Did I ever send you a sample of Galimard way back whenever? I think Marlena is quite similar, but Galimard seems better balanced to me...
Of course I'm biased on the subject of Lulu Beauty - it's ALL about the Gigi, heh. Lulu Mae is quite pretty, too, and despite the fact that it's a parfum, it's perfect for warm weather. Try the Gigi :)
Eeeek. I meant to say Galimar. Galimar by Galimard. Can't type today. Guess I'm a Galitard.
Kaite,
I don't remeber if I've ever tried Galimar(d) :-) The description makes Gigi sound too fruity for my taste, what with papaya and pear. Plus gardenia! Judging just by the lists of notes of the other 3 Lulus, Marlena is the one for me :-)
Well, everything doesn't have to be wicked. It just sounds very, very pretty.
I am wearing maybe 5 too many fragrances right now, this is awful.
Aromatics Elixir + Coty Chypre + Banana Republic Black Walnut = head for the shower.
March! Wait! Don't go yet! :-) Tell me about Black Walnut. And if you tried Rosewood, tell me about that too. :-)
I am trying to be less of a b!tch. Can I type that word on your blog? They were all ... I dunno. Here-- Slate is very much a mainstream guy cologne. Black Walnut I liked better in the first 5 minutes (sort of like D&G) of tobacco, but it is waaay too much cedar for me now. It's sharp and the tobacco is gone. The Classic I actually liked, b/c I lurve grapefruit, but it didn't last long. The "W" is bergamot/muguet. I wrote" "ugh." The Alabaster (musk/floral) and Jade (pom/musk?) are both meh -- fine but smell like a million other things. The Rosewood is my only "?" -- the amber is redeeming it a bit, but at that pt I was so nauseated... reminds me a bit of the new Betsey Johnson, but I don't think that's gonna get your credit card out ;-)
March,
You can use any swear words you like here, expect the word POTL :-)
Lemmings dead and buried, thank you!
I feel guilty now. I mean ... they are exactly what you'd expect from Banana Republic, and from that perspective they are perfect. People who want to extend the brand by wearing their frags will be pleased, and the bottles are really pretty (the jade and Alabaster are cool, lumpy shapes). If you were bored with the frags at Victoria's Secret and wanted something to wear with your suit ... well, there you go. But they are all the sort of extremely "safe" frags that I simply cannot work up an interest in. BTW go look at Marlen, he has an interesting interview w/Chandler Burr. Chandler's always eschewing niche snobbery, but you're not going to get Dzing! from Estee Lauder, y'know?
Okay, screed over. Going to make myself a nice cuppa tea.
March,
If it smells good, I'd wear it. I mean, Wild Woods? But, the thing is, what we loosely call "niche", on the whole, does offer more intersting, more attractive scents.
Did I ever send you a sample of Galimard way back whenever? I think Marlena is quite similar, but Galimard seems better balanced to me...Love the idea of a scent named for Marlene - am also a huge fan.
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