My Signature Scent: Moschino Cheap and Chic
I didn’t learn to appreciate perfume until I got a bottle of Paul Smith Rose at the Globe Modu launch last year. Prior to that, I actually kind of hated perfume – my hypersensitive nose would get itchy and stuffy whenever my mom wore too much, and I never really felt the need to wear any. I didn’t want my bottle of perfume to go to waste, so I made it a habit to spritz some on before heading out. My nose eventually stopped rejecting the perfume and grew to enjoy the subtle blend of flowers and fragrances on my skin. These days, I hardly ever leave the house without any perfume on.
As with many things in my life, I discovered my signature scent because I followed an impulse. My mom’s friend was selling bottles of perfume not available in Rustan’s and the name “Cheap and Chic” caught my eye. Any bottle of perfume that claims to be “cheap” is definitely worth a look! I quickly Googled the name (the friend only sent an e-mail and had no samples at hand) and fell madly in love with the bottle’s unusual silhouette. The first Moschino Cheap and Chic perfume was released in 1995 and made to look like Popeye’s leading lady, Olive Oyl. Four fragrances in the Cheap and Chic line have been released since then (L’eau Cheap and Chic, Light Clouds, Hippy Fizz, and I Love Love), but their bottles don’t look as elegant and streamlined as the original Cheap and Chic. Most people buy perfume because they tested it on themselves and liked how it smells, but I guess I’m crazy enough to buy a bottle of perfume based on the bottle’s design. That, and I wanted to know what a “cheap and chic” perfume would smell like. The description didn’t really help, and it’s too bad the Internet can’t translate fragrance molecules into 0s and 1s.
From Fragrantica:
This is a feminine and warm bouquet with dominating rose and violet notes. Top notes include the freshness of water flowers and Citrus. Heart note is composed of the sumptuous bouquet made of rose, jasmine, freesia, violet, and peony. The base includes the notes of cedar, musk, vanilla, orchid and grey amber. Cheap & Chic was launched in 1995.
Determined as I was to own a bottle of this perfume, I didn’t want to pay the P3,500 my mom’s friend was charging for it. With a little Google-fu I found a 100ml bottle selling for $26 on Amazon, which I bought and had shipped along with my Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows. Together with shipping, my bottle of Cheap and Chic cost just under P2,000 – not a bad price for perfume you can’t find locally!
As for its scent, I knew I loved it when I first opened the box and caught a whiff of the perfume. It’s part floral, part spicy, part musky. Not exactly “clean” or “light”, but it’s not overpowering either. The scent itself remind me of kisses – you know, those scented plastic beads we all played with in grade school, if you went to grade school in the 90’s. After several hours it becomes kind of musky and the morning after, I can still smell traces of it on my wrists. Because it’s on the heavy side and stays so long, I don’t feel right wearing it on hot and sticky afternoons. However, it’s perfect for evenings out. The perfume has mixed reviews on Fragrantica; some girls can’t live without it, while others think it’s too eccentric. I can’t promise that you’ll like it, but it’s definitely a scent that I feel very comfortable in. I love my Moschino Cheap and Chic perfume, and I will find ways to buy a second bottle (at a cheap price) when this one runs out.
What’s your signature scent?
I’ve always loved green tea. In college, there was this kiosk at Megamall where I would get my green tea body spray for cheap (150 pesos! No guilt when I would pile it on) and then there’s Elizabeth Arden’s Green Tea which I would use sparingly. It’s so…clean smelling.
I’m currently using the Paul Smith one we got, too, and Bath & Body’s Sea Island Cotton for ~normal~ days. I also use RL’s Lauren Style (LOL, that’s you). Then I have a bottle of Harajuku Lovers’s Love which is stupid cos the bottle itself is only made huge by the ~cute~ Harajuku topper (I’ll post a photo). I got it as a gift so it’s ok; it smells a lot like Paul Smith’s Rose!
Obvs, I don’t have a signature scent (anymore). I always smell like plain cardboard at the end of the day anyway =/
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Lauren Reply:
February 12th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Ooh you should take a picture of your Harajuku perfume! I love pretty perfume bottles.
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I personally love Moschino I Love Love and D&G Light Blue… But lately I’ve been wanting a bottle of Paris Hilton’s Heiress perfume after I had a chance to smell it when I went to the mall :-)
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Lauren Reply:
February 12th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Heiress smells surprisingly good! I think celebrity perfumes are a little bit tacky but I wouldn’t mind wearing that one. Did you buy your I Love Love in the Philippines?
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dyanN Reply:
February 13th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
No, it’s bought from the states by my Aunt… :-)
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I’ve been using 360° by Perry Ellis since 1996 or 1997. Hmm 13 to 14 years… I guess you can already consider that my signature scent. On the Perry Ellis website it costs $49, but I was able to buy a bottle for $19 in a Duane Reed drugstore in Manhattan (should have bought more).
When I run out of my Perry Ellis perfume (or when I’m trying to save it for special occasions only), I usually switch to my Raspberry colognes or Juniper Breeze colognes (which they stopped selling) from bath and body works.
At the moment, I’m looking for any perfume or cologne that smells like maraschino cherries.
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I’m like Helga in the sense that I keep changing perfumes. Though I am partial to a certain scent–not too floral.
Day colognes are either Midnight Pomegranate by Bath and Body Works, Summer Sea by Calgon or Clinique Happy by Clinique,
Night Colognes are Fantasy by Britney Spears or 5th Avenue by Elizabeth Arden.
Oh, but day to night colognes are Spiced Green Tea by Elizabeth Arden or Paul Smith Women by Paul Smith :D
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@Helga I had a bottle of that Elizabeth Arden and our maid stole it when she made escapo.
ANYWAY.
I won’t call it my signature scent but I like Ralph Lauren’s Glamorous. :) (My bottle’s lost somewhere)
I can’t wear perfume too much because I deal with kids; Some might be allergic. I like lotion though.
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Lauren Reply:
February 15th, 2010 at 2:37 am
Sorry to hear about your perfume. :( You work at a preschool? I didn’t realize they had rules about wearing perfume.
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I’m more a mixer. I like combining scents. For day time, I use either VS Endless love Body Mist or Bath & Body mist with whatever lotion I decide to put on. Davidoff’s Cool Water for Women is great to take along. It’s not too heady for the day, fresh smelling.
I just love the bath gel+lotion+perfume sets though…using all three makes the fragrance last longer. My top 3 for the box sets:
?Beautiful by Estee Lauder (Kahit sabi nila pang lola daw yan)
?Romance by Ralph Lauren
?China Blue by M&S
I could go on and on with this. I like perfume. Hahaha
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Lauren Reply:
February 15th, 2010 at 2:35 am
I have Ralph Lauren Romance too! Just the perfume though, not the box set. I actually got it as a present from my mom a while back and haven’t worn it in ages.
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My go-to everyday scent is Bath and Body Work’s White Tea and Ginger. I love that it doesn’t smell too light and have that interesting “kick” of ginger scent undertones.
I rarely use perfume on myself because I tend to get acidic. Although I’m currently using Bvlgari Blv (love how it’s powdery but doesn’t have that heavy, too sweet scent) and Ralph Lauren’s Torquise. I want to try Marc Jacob’s Daisy though :)
Have you tried shopping for perfumes in Japan? They’re almost half off! It’s crazy.
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Lauren Reply:
February 15th, 2010 at 2:36 am
I wanna try Daisy too but I want to own a bottle of Lola, just because it’s so pretty. I’ve never tried perfume shopping in Japan! Well, I’ve never been there. :P Stupid overpriced imported cosmetics in the Philippines.
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I’d have to say Ralph and Gap Heaven :)
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I switch between these three scents based on my mood and the occasion:
a. BBW Warm Vanilla Sugar (normal days when I’m out)
b. TBS White Musk EDT (when I feel angelic :P)
c. D&G Light Blue (evening parties; staying power FTW!)
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I would consider Kenzo Summer my signature scent. I love powdery scents, and Summer has a touch of almond that smells soooo good! Unfortunately, it’s a seasonal product, so I have to wait to make my next purchase.
In the meantime, I have been using Lanvin’s Eclat d’Arpege, which imo, smells gorgeous. It’s a very light, powdery floral.
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[...] few days ago, Lauren wrote about her new signature scent and I thought I’d follow suit even though I don’t exactly have one. I’ve never [...]