Me and Mariah
I seriously laughed out loud when I read about the back-and-forth perfume beef between Sean Diddy Combs and Mariah Carey. In case you haven't heard, here's the silliness. Diddy declares: "I send out a challenge. I challenge all of my female counterparts that have fragrances, that my fragrance is better than theirs. I'm a man and I know how women should smell."
To which Mariah retorts: "I heard about this competition, and I wish Puff all the best with his new fragrance, but I think we're actually appealing to different types of women. M by Mariah Carey is about being unforgettable, not unforgivable. It's not about a ménage à trois or a one night stand, it's for the woman who wants the man to fall in love with her immediately, stay in love, and treat her like royalty."
My response? Oh, behave. First of all, Diddy's quip about knowing how women should smell? Just judging from the track record, I'm not sure that I'd want to smell like his kind of girl. (Um, is that an Unforgivable ad at the top of my site? Yes. Yes it is. So let the record show that I haven't actually smelled the stuff yet. And I stand by my reaction, Diddy's comment = no thanks, homie). Not that Mariah's not coming across any better.
Her "intentions" might be sweet on paper, but if really wanted to give that immediate impression, she should have filmed a less risque commercial - I caught it over at funny celeb blog A Hot Mess and it made me shake my head. It's too Skinemax-y for my liking. I'm halfway expecting to see Shannon Tweed pop up in the next scene. I get it, Mariah - you've lost weight, you're looking fabulous. But showing your bare butt whenever you can doesn't make you look like "the woman who wants the man to fall in love with her immediately, stay in love, and treat her like royalty." Just sayin'.
With a penchant for all things fancy and excessive - one needs only look at her infamous MTV Cribs for evidence of that - I had a sinking feeling that I wouldn't like Miss Carey's fragrance. But I'm happy to report, I love it! It's a very non-threatening, easy-to-wear scent that brings out your inner girly-girl.
M sprays on as a light floral, then deepens to fruitier, warmer, spicy Oriental-influenced notes that remain very warm on my skin, and blend well with my body chemistry. According to perfume blog Now Smell This, Mariah created it with perfumer Carlos Benaim, and it's described as a "floriental". Elizabeth Arden describes it like this: "A warm and inviting marshmallow is woven throughout the fragrance, evoking a sense of comfort. This indulgent accord captures Mariah's fondest childhood memories of being in the kitchen with her father.
The lush floral heart of the fragrance combines a feminine veil of Living Tahitian Tiare flower wrapped in the aura of wet Gardenia petals. This beautiful blend is reminiscent of the fragrant breezes of Hawaii and the Isle of Capri, Mariah's favorite getaway. The soul of the fragrance reveals a sexier dimension. Sheer amber, infused with spicy, woody accents of Moroccan incense forms a seductive accord that embodies Mariah's sensuality, beauty and glamour."
Ah. So marshmallow is the fruity scent I smell? It is a very sweet scent, with a hint of delicious spice. This is a fragrance that would be the perfect gift for an older teen, or anyone who's got a forever-young outlook on life. Like Mariah herself, it's womanly without being in-your-face grown and sexy - it's perfect for the sensualist whose favorite color might be purple, and who has an unabashed adoration for butterflies. Like me. And hey - like Mariah! I don't like to show my butt, but apparently we do have some things in common.
M is totally joining the Guilty Pleasures beauty product list, alongside JLo's Live. And I'm excited to try some of these other celebrity fragrances. I have especially high expectations for Gwen Stefani's latest, based on the cool bottle alone. (Afrobella)
|
