Perfume Review: Jalaine Fragrances
September 17th, 2006
Jalaine (formerly Bagutta Life) is a line of perfume oils created by Jalaine Sommers, a New York perfumer. “Combining impeccable oils found throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Jalaine Sommers has developed a line of fragrances that are alcohol-free, allowing the full potency of each scent to be experienced for hours.” (Jalainefragrances.com). Can’t add much more to this - high quality oils that last for hours. I’ve tried every single one of them, and these are my favorite perfume oils besides Yosh oils. For those of you not familiar with the line or simply curious to hear more about it, here’s a brief overview of the scents (in no particular order) and an opportunity to win a sample pack (of all the ones reviewed below) - the usual way, please mention in your comments if you’d like to be included in the drawing.
Citrus Dream - orange, grapefruit, musk. A cheerful and uplifting blend of what mostly smells like orange peel and musk and just a hint of grapefruit juiciness. There’s a bit too much musk here for my taste but if you don’t mind it and enjoy citrus scents, it’s a must try.
Vanilla - one of my favorite vanillas. Smells like creamy vanilla ice-cream with musky undertones. It’s never cloying or boring, and it lasts and lasts. But don’t be fooled - while it is a gourmand vanilla, it’s not the type that makes you think you’ve just spread vanilla frosting all over yourself.
Ocean - lily of the valley and musks. What I like about this one is that it’s free from any typical ozonic/aquatic notes, in spite of the name. It just smells clean and refreshing like ocean air. At the same time, it could very well be my favorite lily of the valley scent - it possesses a certain purity and gentleness without being too much. I can see this as a perfect office scent - inoffensive and mild.
Patchouli - Tunisian patchouli, musks, hints of vanilla. An absolute masterpiece! If you’re not a fan of patchouli, you should give this a try. It’s so earthy and dirt-like, yet smooth and balanced, almost balsamic and resinous. If you’re a fan of patchouli, your collection will never be complete without this one. I adore it to pieces.
Gardenia - gardenia, white and Egyptian musks. The floral ignoramus that I am, I have no idea what real gardenia smells like but comparing it to other popular gardenia scents, i.e., Marc Jacobs or Chanel Gardenia, this scent seems to render it as a green and creamy flower. It possesses a slight decay note that makes it even more appealing.
Silk - white amber, vanilla, marine notes. This is one of my favorite your skin but better scents. There’s just enough amber, vanilla, and marine notes to make it very soft-spoken and polished without being ample or weighty that’s usually the case with these notes. It also has amazing sillage - probably the best sillage of all Jalaine oils.
Green Tea - extracts of two different varieties of Chinese green tea. Juicy and sparkly at first, almost like a carbonated lemon-green tea soda drink. Verdant and smooth as it dries down. A sophisticated green tea scent, no doubt. Very pleasant and very elegant.
Vetiver - I’ve already raved about Vetiver here. I’ll just add that there’s nothing like it out there. It’s absolutely mesmerizing!
Amber - Moroccan amber and hints of three different white musks. It starts out smelling a bit animalic and boozy and dries down to spicy and slightly soapy amber. It’s not powdery-sweet and resinous as most amber fragrances tend to be but its spicy soapiness makes it quite sultry and seductive.
Other Jalaine fragrances include Lotus, Honeysuckle, Cucumber, and Rainforest.
Jalaine oils are available at Aedes, Luckyscent, Your Cosmetics as well as directly from Jalaine Fragrances online. In Europe, they can be purchased at Aus Liebe zum Duft. Yes, they’re pricey but keep in mind you’re paying for high quality ingredients and excellent staying power (a couple drops last me a whole day).
Note: the drawing for the sample pack is now closed. I’ll announce the winner shortly.
Image source: www.jalainefragrances.com
Entry Filed under: Perfume Reviews
31 Comments Add your own
1. Alica | September 18th, 2006 at 1:12 am
Hi Ina, pls include me in the drawing. Many thanks
2. Julia F | September 18th, 2006 at 1:43 am
I would love to be included in this drawing as well. You made me very curious about these fragrances, especially the gardenia
3. Martika | September 18th, 2006 at 2:42 am
I would love to discover the Jalaine’s! So far, I’ve only tested Silk which I loved. Please include me in the drawing too!
4. Oscar | September 18th, 2006 at 4:34 am
Ooooh…That Amber-bottle must be the most beautiful bottle ever.
I would love to be in the drawing, me too!
5. shifts | September 18th, 2006 at 5:42 am
Please include me in the drawing as well. Haven’t really had any experiece with any perfume oils (Musc Ravageur and CB I Hate Perfume Narcissus are the exceptions).
6. Malena | September 18th, 2006 at 5:57 am
Dear Ina, How did you read my mind?!
I was thinking about the Jalaines this morning! I´ve never tried them on my skin - usually I´m not a fan of perfume oils, but I think you mentioned that you aren´t one, either - but I´ve always felt drawn to them. They are really pricey, that´s true, bt on the other hand, there are more pricey fragrances around - (just think about the JARs…
Please include me in the drawing :)!
7. chaya ruchama | September 18th, 2006 at 6:08 am
May I be added to the draw ?
I’ve been curious about these, but not sampled them, as yet…
Lovely review, as usual !
Kisses to you…
8. March | September 18th, 2006 at 6:09 am
They also have those beautiful bottles… fall always makes me think of oils. Yum.
9. Elle | September 18th, 2006 at 6:36 am
Love this line! Her Patchouli, Vetiver and Green Tea are my absolute favorites. She used to do a Lime when they were still BL that was also brilliant beyond words, but it appears to have been d/ced.
And those bottles are just stunning - the elegant simplicity is perfect. I also really appreciate the fact that her CS is so good - she definitely cares about what her customers want and appears to adore what she does.
10. Josey | September 18th, 2006 at 6:55 am
Please include me in the drawing!! The Amber, Vanilla, and Silk sound SCRUMPTIOUS! <3
11. Marina | September 18th, 2006 at 7:18 am
I only tried Citrus Dream (meh) and Patchouli (nice!), so please include me in the draw
12. Allie | September 18th, 2006 at 7:26 am
Don’t forget purchasing the refill bottle instead of the fancy glass one will save $$! Please include me in the drawing : )
13. annE | September 18th, 2006 at 7:30 am
I have yet to be won over by oils, but perhaps if I had more to sample, I just might be.
Please add me to your drawing, thanks! I must try and find the Patchouli to sample, at any rate, since it’s one of my favorite notes, especially for fall.
14. Judith | September 18th, 2006 at 8:08 am
I love these too; my favorites are (surprise, surprise) the same as Elle’s (well, the green tea was a surprise to ME; I wasn’t expecting to like it that much)! I also liked vanilla and silk, though not enough to pursue. I was lucky enough to win a beautiful bottle of the Patchouli at a discount price (relatively speaking) on the “Bay. My eyes are perpetually peeled for a vetiver!
15. IrisLA | September 18th, 2006 at 8:54 am
Hi, I’ve only tried Silk. Gorgeous. Please include me in your drawing. Thanks!
16. Patty | September 18th, 2006 at 9:28 am
Vetiver, Green Tea and Silk are just magnificent, and one of these days, I swear, I’m going to spring for a bottle or two.
17. greeneyes | September 18th, 2006 at 9:32 am
These sound like something I must try. Please include me in teh drawing. Thanks Ina.
18. jill | September 18th, 2006 at 10:04 am
I *love* oils! please enter me in the drawing, thank you!
19. Teri | September 18th, 2006 at 10:11 am
Please include my name in your drawing. These sound scrumptious!
20. dleep | September 18th, 2006 at 11:28 am
I would love to be added to your drawing. Thank you.
dp
21. violetnoir | September 18th, 2006 at 11:33 am
Dang, Ina, you make me want to run out and try all of these. But before I do, please enter me in the drawing for the sample pack.
I tried patchouli and green tea last year. I am not a patch fan, but I admit it was an amazingly wonderful patchouli!
Hugs!
22. nikki c | September 18th, 2006 at 11:33 am
wonderful review. hey– i took your advice and ordered a sample pack from aedes.com– i can hardly wait for its arrival later this week! please include me in your drawing!
23. Jenn | September 18th, 2006 at 11:40 am
The amber and patchouli sound gorgeous. Please enter me in your drawing.
24. Twibbet | September 18th, 2006 at 12:18 pm
I would love to try these! Especially Silk, Gardenia and Ocean - they sound right up my alley.
Please enter me in the drawing!
25. Kathy | September 18th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Please add me to your drawing - I’m always looking for the perfect vanilla.
26. kristin kolke | September 18th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
Love your blog- learning so much. Please enter me in the drawing- Thanks. .
27. Tom | September 18th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Wonderful reveiw- please add my name to the draw
28. emotenote | September 18th, 2006 at 9:10 pm
Weird, I’ve sampled and loved so many fragrances, and yet never a Jalaine, so please, sign me up!
29. Lucy | September 18th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
So great that you are offering this drawing, Ina — please include me if you will…
30. Ayala | September 19th, 2006 at 11:08 am
These I only had the chance to smell but not to try on at Aedes last month. Thanks for the detailed reviews for all! I would be delighted to be entered into the draw
Ayala
31. Jalaine - Silk « Sa&hellip | January 19th, 2008 at 11:11 am
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