Sometimes, though, that rule flies out the window, like many others. Sometimes, I get confused - do I love something, or hate it? Then, I wonder: do all of my responses need to be so polarized? That is what generated this post, which could also have been called: "Mixed Feelings About Things that are Purple."
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| From top left, clockwise: Tom Ford Violet Blonde, Solstice Scents Solarium, Urban Decay Ransom, Bare Escentuals 1990's, Fyrinnae Mephisto, Dior Shadow, Butter London Branwen's Feathers. The background is a summer dress from H&M. |
For such a diminutive flower (shrinking violet, yes?), violets pack a bold and heady fragrance. Actually, I'm not even sure if violets really smell the same as violet perfume. (Does anyone know?) Purple can also be dark and brooding, a powerful color - associated with royalty, as well.
I decided to showcase a few "violets." I have to point out that these are all unique in that 1. they're purple, and I'm not much for purple, and 2. I have mixed feelings about all of them (except for Shadow! LOVE Shadow).
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| Urban Decay Ransom is the outline, Fyrinnae Mephisto is the inner bit, and BE 1990's in the petals. |
Tom Ford Violet Blonde is a femme fatale, and everything that I usually don't like in perfume - bold, punchy, powdery floral, with a benzoin finish. Yet somehow it works. I'm kind of timid with this one, like I keep expecting to reach a saturation point and suddenly hate it - but I think the verdict is yes. Probably won't purchase, but will enjoy the rest of my sample.
Solstice Scents Solarium is similar - I keep thinking that I will decide that I hate it. But I don't - at least, not yet. Smells something like Violet Blonde, but less forward. Creamier, softer, more complex.
Mephisto, 1990's and Ransom are eye products that rarely come out because, again, purple. But sometimes I need variety, and Mephisto is really beautiful - a lovely purple/red ghost. I find it hard to capture the shift, though, because I'm rubbish with Pixie Epoxy. 1990's is your run-of-the-mill dusty purple gray, and Ransom is a wanna-be purple liner. Wish it was brighter, but it can add a bit of sheen to a mostly neutral look.
BL Branwen's Feather is moody and not-quite-black, with faint silver specks. Very crow. Can't decide whether I love its subtlety or wish it was more. Dior Shadow is a dream-boat of warm purple with gold shimmer.
And that wraps up this indecision-filled post. Are there products that you can't make up your mind about?
