The new Glossier scents, Ourside, and BTSO Reviews
My skin suffered so yours doesn't have to.
Yes. Of course, I blind-bought the new Glossier fragrances, Doux and Rêve. I didn’t have the patience to smell them first. I am such a fan of You I rolled the dice, got caught up in the frenzy, and ordered these the day they went on sale. I like them and don’t regret it; I’ll probably decant a lot of these to give to people as I’m not sure I’ll wear them often. Of the two, I prefer Doux’s musky sandalwood. I had read that this was really similar to Santal 33, but I don’t get that. Sure, it’s woody and likable, but it’s sparklier and lighter. There’s something a little sweet about it; it’s a pretty and airy fragrance.
You’ve probably heard by now that Rêve is the more gourmand of the two. I get the almond and a little buttercream, but the dry down on me smells like pure coconut suntan lotion, which isn’t a bad thing. Sun-kissed skin is a lovely smell, and I could definitely see traveling with this one.
Unlike You, these do not last long on the skin. I had heard this, so I fully doused myself in Doux before I left the house. I applied a heavy spray to my skin, hair, and clothing, but this was so light I barely smelled it 10 minutes after applying. I added a couple of spritzes of Escapade Gourmande before I left the house, and sadly, that was all I could smell for the rest of the day. Rêve seems to have a little more staying power on my skin than Doux.
I like these! They’re good follow-ups/flankers to You, but I just wish they had the same lasting power. I don’t see them getting near the cult status of You, but they're really decent and I’m happy to have them in my collection.
I first heard about Ourside on
’s podcast, Perfume Room. As soon as the founder, Keta Burke-Williams started describing the jasmine-focused Nostalgia, I was dying to smell it. When I did, I was immediately smitten. Not long after, I bought a full bottle. I also got a discovery kit to smell and wear all three of their scents. Spoiler alert— all three scents are a hit.Nostalgia is my favorite of the three. But a prominent white floral will always get me, especially if it's jasmine. Nostalgia smells like a sticky summer day spent riding waves, lounging on the beach, and laughing until your stomach hurts. It’s packed with creamy, earthy jasmine, patchouli, amber, and violet leaf. Perfect for mid-July, but you can take this one straight into Fall.
Top: Mint, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Violet leaf, Mimosa
Mid: Vanilla, Ylang Ylang, Cedar
Bottom: Peru Balsam, Amber, Patchouli
Dusk is part sweet fig that dries down to a woodsy amber. This one is dewy dusk to me and is the next on my list to purchase. It smells like the best part of the day when your sun-soaked skin starts to get a slight chill and the dry grass grabs some moisture from the evening sky rolling in.
Top: Bergamot, Grapefruit, Fig, Berries
Mid: Bay, Cedarwood, Lily, Musk
Bottom: Patchouli, Frankincense, Vetiver, Amber
Finally, Moondust is a super fresh citrus floral (again with the jasmine!) that smells like you fell asleep on the beach under a full moon and woke up with moon dust gathering in your hair and tickling your nose. This one is a super bright morning after a drunken mystical night. There’s something sparkly about it, and it feels clean and fresh.
Top: Cedarwood, Grapefruit, Jasmine
Mid: Peppermint, Anise
Bottom: Vetiver, Juniper Berries, Palo Santo
André is getting increasingly into fragrance, and I am fully encouraging it. For his birthday in August, I got him this BornToStandOut (careful that website really shouts at you) discovery set at Ministry of Scent. BTSO is a Korean brand with bold packaging and names. We huffed these together, and our thoughts are below. A note about all BTSO fragrances— they are super sweet! If you like gourmands and strong scents that really announce themselves when you walk into a room, chances are you’ll like something in their collection.