Candles By Victoria Haul #3

Ok, so technically I bought these during the AUGUST 1st sale. Yes, August. But I still wanted to show you guys because it's been quite a while since my last CBV haul. I didn't get around to making a video for these so I'll do my best to be concise and short with my descriptions. I've also included a number rating. ALSO, CBV got a new website recently! I'll link my scents to their respective pages on her new site so you can see the official description as well as reviews from other people.

I chose to go with minis this time because they have become my favorite size to try out new scents. Affordable but a great throw and plenty of burns to allow me to form an opinion.
Left to right, top to bottom
Stress Relief - I bought this because it's the most often recommended for headaches. As the name implies, it's super relaxing. I love it and I'm definitely considering getting it in Bath and Body products as well. (4.5)
Rice Crispy Treats - I think this smells dead on for perfect rice crispy treats. It's sweet and has a hint of butter to it. (4)
Serendipity - This is my favorite of all the new scents I ordered this go round. It smells like crushed maraschino cherries, coconut and a touch of nuttiness. So basically the basis of every fruit based salad I had as a kid. (5)
Sweet Snow - This was the other scent everyone reccommends for headaches. I like but not as much as Stress Relief. I'll give it a shot for Christmas though because I think it will be really well suited for that. (3.5)
Emperor's Love - The product this is duping is one of my favorite products from that particular company. Victoria's scent smells perfectly like it. Dried fruits (raisins, currents, blackberry) and light florals. (3.5)
Marshmallow Banana Dream Cake - This was the only one I'm not too keen on. The banana and cake get lost behind an overwhelming powdery note. I'm hoping that they come out more when I burn it. (2)
Honey Spice Cake - Fall in a jar! Very spicy and warm with pumpkin in the background. It smells good enough to eat. (5)
Irish Cream - I'm not much of a drinker but one of my favorite liquours is Irish Cream and this smells exactly like it. Good strong coffee, some sweet creaminess and a touch of alcohol. It's something I'd have to be in the mood for but it's a really good cold weather scent. (4)
Bora Bora - I wasn't planning on getting this one but because the reviews were so great for it, I got it and I'm glad I did. It's just a really tropical, juicy fruit scent. I can't pull any specific fruits from this but I highly recommend giving it a shot. It's awesome! (4)

I also got a Cylinder Candle which is very similar in size to the Bath and Body Works 3 wick candles. This is the scent Bath Time With Pooh, which is currently my all time favorite scent from CBV. I'm actually burning the last of my mini jelly jar of it right now. 

I always try to include one of the specialty decorative candles, since they're what drew me to CBV in the first place. It being fall time I got one I've been lusting after forever, the Maple Butter Pumpkin Frap. My boyfriend was actually more excited if possible because he loved how seasonal and fall like it is. It smells strongly of pumpkin, cinnamon and butter with a touch of coffee in the background.

My free scent shot was Sunburst. It smells like Sunny D. Just a super strong, slightly sweetened orange juice scent. Not my favorite but not bad either. (2.5)

So that's it for my August CBV haul! I promise I'll try to not these get so far away from me next time! 

Fortune Cookie Soap Box Fall 2013 Haul and Review

I've said many times on this blog that I really wanted to do a subscription box again and I think I've finally found one that fits for me! This is the Fortune Cookie Soap Box for Fall. FCS is an indie bath and body company that puts out a box quarterly. The box is $20 but you get a $10 coupon. Each box contains all the new fragrances for that season and they usually put those scents up 2 to 3 weeks after the boxes are sent out so that you have time to pick and choose which scents you want to order.

Fortune Cookie Soap in Autumn Daze (full size) -  FCS says this scent has notes of apples, cardamom and pecans. I do get the apples and pecans but I don't know what cardamom smells like. I'm not a huge fan of this scent and I'm not sure if it's the cardamom or the soap that's not doing it for me.

Whipped Cream in "I Yam What I Yam" Said the Marshmallow (sample) - This smells exactly like what you would assume it would smell like, yams and marshmallows. In the container it has an odd sort of pungency but it goes away on the skin and just smells like sweet goodness. Bonus, I freaking love the formula of this. I'm not really a lotion person but I can't get over how much I love this one.

Bath Oil in <Insert Cookie Cutter Name Here> (sample) -  This smells like a lemon vanilla cookie. Not too much of either note and the citrus doesn't smell like cleaner. I like the scent ok, I'm just not a lemon scent person.

Personal Space in Pick of the Patch (sample) - Tis the season for pumpkin scents but this one is a bit different. Most pumpkin scents are a spicy cooked type of pumpkin and this one is more of a sweet fresh pumpkin. It's a great scent but I'm iffy on the product. Maybe I'm not spraying enough but the scent doesn't really spread out or linger. 

OCD Hand Sanitizer in Indian Summer (full size) - The scent description says notes of blueberry, woods and musk and that's so dead on. The musk is obviously the strongest note but the blueberry and woods hold their own. To me it's a manly scent. I like it, just not enough to want it in a body product. 

Milk Bath in You're Insecure, Donut What For #fall (sample) - If you're looking carefully you'll notice the label is upside down. That's because the bag came with a small hole in the bottom that quickly grew into a giant hole. The scent is delicious. If you've ever smelled Vanilla Bean Noel from Bath and Body Works (or CBV!), this is a slightly sweeter version of that. I can't tell if there is cinnamon in this or not but FCS says there is.

Bath Fizzy in Leeeaaf Piiiile!! (sample) - I love this scent! It's an apple and acorns scent that's just perfect for fall! The apple is juicy and fresh smelling and the acorns give it some depth and woodiness that almost makes it a bit perfumey. This was my immediate favorite of the bunch and it still is.

Wax Tart in Cranberry + Apple = FTW (sample) - Again, as the name implies, this is an apple and cranberry scent. It smells like Thanksgiving or Christmas. You probably already know that I'm not a wax melter so this product isn't going to get any love from me but I do quite enjoy the scent.

I did use my $10 off coupon and this is what I got! I chose two of the whipped creams in Leeeaaf Piiiile!! and You're Insecure, Donut What For. I also decided to try the Sugar Scrub and I got that in I Yam What I Yam. My free sample was Gin Gimlet bar soap. It smells like a men's lime scent but I like it. It does lean a bit towards kitchen cleaner but not enough to be offensive. I probably won't make another purchase before the winter box arrives but if I did I would buy something in Pick of the Patch or Cranberry + Apple = FTW. I also want to get a full size of the Milk Bath and try some more of their body products, like the body mists or the shower gel.

Thanks for sticking with me through this super long post! Has anyone else tried FCS? What products do I just have to try from them. If you haven't and want to get the next box, SIGN UP ASAP! They've warned on their FB page that it will sell out quickly! They do ship internationally!

September 2013 Favorites

Hey guys! Long time no see! I'm sorry about my extended absence. I'm back now, and I'm going to try to get back to a regular(ish) blogging schedule! I figured we could start with a monthly favorites!
Mary Kay Timewise Night Solution- My sister started selling Mary Kay products at the end of August. While I was skeptical of both the products and the selling strategy, I'm quite impressed with the Night Solution. It's touted as a super charged Neosporin type product for your face. I have noticed quite the improvement in my skins tone since I started using it. It heals blemishes really quickly and even did wonders for the post waxing blisters I get when I do my brows.
MAC Fix+ - I've had this little guy for a year now and I go through phases with it. Right now I absolutely love it as a setting spray. It really brings down any powdery-ness and makes my skin look soft and natural, even when I'm wearing a ton of makeup.
CBV's Caramelized Pralines- With fall being here, I decided to start busting out my candles again. Caramelized Pralines is a warm nutty scent that just screams cozy and fall to me. I've been burning it a lot and I just love it more each day.
Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - I've already reviewed this here so I won't chatter on too much about it. I've just been using this every time I do my makeup. I've especially been loving using Crave as a nice soft liner and I don't know if I'll ever be able to go back to pencil liners now.
ELF Hypershine Gloss in Flirt - I used up one of these glosses for my project pan but that definitely doesn't mean I don't enjoy them! It's not really that pigmented but that just means it can go over any lippie. I like the formula and it doesn't dry out my lips!

I'm glad to be back blogging! I've missed you guys! I start a temporary position with Ulta tomorrow and I'm super excited! If any one is interested, I'll be happy to write about the experience for you when I'm done.