Remember those samples I ordered a few weeks ago from A Perfume Organic? I wanted to share what exactly $22 in perfume looks like.

Very beautiful yes, but half-filled tiny vials that arrived several days later than they should have. Incorporating oils together is a tricky process (another reason why I’ll never be whipping up fragrance in my kitchen), and the blending process is as important as the notes themselves. These scents smell unblended and perhaps unfinished. You should also be aware also that these are pure oils and not a traditional perfume so expect a roller-ball applicator because spraying oil would lead to stains on clothing. Keep it on the skin only.

My take on each scent:

Green: I was so excited to use Green that I imagined it to be my next signature scent. It smells almost exclusively like Ylang Ylang with a slight sweetness behind it but I couldn’t pick up any notes of rose.

White Magik: Spearmint is listed as an ingredient but it should be listed as the only one. I was told that I smelled like chewing gum.

Perfumed Wine Rosé- This scent was a perfect blend of clove and campfire, really spiced and smokey.

Mejika- This one wasn’t too bad, it reminded me of a true chai tea, the bagged kind and not the syrup from Starbucks. I was hoping to smell more vanilla but the spicy smell might be covering it up.

Urban Organic- If there wasn’t a smokey element in this one, it would be pretty good, but whatever ‘Smoky Vetiver’ is needs to exit stage right. It’s a citrus blend that could be easily layered, but the smokey element crushes any light feel.

I still haven’t given up the dream for a more natural fragrance, but unfortunately this just isn’t a fit for me. If you like heavier scented perfumes that are certified USDA organic, check them out HERE. You might have better luck than I did.

I’m obsessed lately with blissmo, it’s a group buy site that emails you a daily deal (a’la Groupon, Living Social etc.) but with an eco-friendly vibe. (You can sign up to have the daily savers sent to you HERE.) Anyway, they had one a while back before I was signed up that I missed, but I’m still dying to try it. It’s from a company called A Perfume Organic founded by NYC-based Amanda Walker whose background in big cosmetics combined with a love for perfume and healthy lifestyle led her on a journey to formulate scents made with USDA certified botanicals made right here in the U.S.A.

Her scents are always free of acetone (yes, it’s in perfumes), pesticides, and other chemicals, but perhaps the best thing is that the perfumes are feminine and fresh – not at all the musky patchouli you might expect. Green is the name of their signature scent which is described as a juicy herbal, I’m excited to try that along with Urban Organic – a bourbon and basil laced citrus. Sounds yummy right?

They have free shipping, so I’m picking up this $22 sample kit so I can try all 5 scents.

***UPDATE*** See what I thought of my samples HERE

I receive a lot of fragrance samples, but I review very few. Your signature sent is something really personal and it’s difficult to convey the feeling that a fragrance brings through words on a screen. However, I had to tell you about Michael Kors Very Hollywood which I love for its all-out feminine, pink, sparkling, light-hearted sweetness. It’s unapologetically feminine right down to the packaging.

I knew I was a fan right away, but would it pass the ultimate test – my hubby? Although he isn’t particular in this arena, he lets me know when something knocks his socks off. Every singe time I’ve worn it he tells me I smell good, and not just ‘hey, you smell good’ either. It’s a kind of primal eye-opening attention getter, like I’ve slathered on pure pheromones and paraded through a frat party naked type of thing. It’s liquid man-magnet, a home run. This one might just be a keeper.

Michael Kors Very Hollywood