Sea Island Cotton

There are some fragrances that are on the market to make a statement; there are others that, in the opinion of many, are essentially non-fragrances, there to cater to the crowd that prefers to smell clean and inoffensive. I enjoy perfumes from both schools, but most days I want a scent that makes me feel comfortable, pretty, and put together, even if I am just wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt. Sea Island Cotton is one of those fragrances. Along with Moonlight Path, Sea Island Cotton has quickly become a daily, "just for me" scent. SIC is the ultimate calming scent, in my opinion. Yes, it does have that "clean laundry" vibe, which is actually what kept me from giving it a real shot for a long time. I can't imagine there are many people that don't enjoy the scent of good, clean laundry, but to wear a perfume that smells of laundry isn't always quite as appealing. The initial impression of Sea Island Cotton really does smell of clean laundry, but it doesn't necessarily stay that way. The citrus in the top notes blend beautifuly with the linen and flowers so that they aren't sharp or overly powerful - they give the fragrance a bright freshness. In the middle I think I detect a bit of the freesia and maybe a tiny touch of jasmine, still wrapped in that soft, clean, cottony linen. The final dry down is powdery and fresh, sweet without the candy and absolutely smooth. This is a different kind of "intoxicating" - it doesn't scream sex appeal or desire; instead, it breathes gentle comfort. It may sound corny, but it is so true. While powdery scents can be heavy and oppresive in summer heat SIC remains light enough to be refreshing even on hot summer days. In fact, I would say that this fragrance is ideal for those days. Overall, a gorgeous fragrance - it is not complex, doesn't require any effort to wear, doesn't feel the need to impress. I feel feminine, calm, and clean when wearing it. PS - love bludreamer's review of this fragrance!

This perfume has a funny story with me. Basically, when I was 12, my older cousin gave me a mini hand lotion I ritually would use on my hands every morning for about a year. It had a pleasant scent but I never cared about brands at that age, so once it was done, I didn't bother to buy more, so I couldn't find the fragrance for a while. This EDT was regifted to me by my mom many years later and it's exact same scent as the lotion, which I figure was from B&BW. I always talk about the packaging in my reviews, and the one that I have is a bit different than pictured. It's closer to the new bottles with the big, clear caps, but there's no picture on my bottle. It's simple and classy and overall, just fine, nothing too special. The fragrance, however, is very special. I've literally smelled nothing else like it. Sea Island Cotton smells just as the name suggests. There are some perfumes that literally take me to another place, and this one places me on a small, sandy beach, a white beach house behind me and a cool breeze wafting through fresh, clean, white cotton sheets to my left, the sun shining down overhead and the water reaching out to the horizon. If that doesn't describe this fragrance, I don't know what could. It's aquatic, it smells like fresh, clean cotton sheets, it's perfect for a summer day. My only gripe with this fragrance is that it doesn't last too long, but it's such a light fragrance, it's not too surprising. I still love it and just keep it in my purse if I go out. Overall, this is one of my signature scents. I recommend it to anyone who loves a fresh, clean fragrance that isn't citrusy or sickly. 10/10 from me, though I am biased. xx

This is actually cleaner and softer than CLEAN Men is. I added it to my WANT list tentatively after so many great reviews(BluDreamer7806 being the best!) but ever the sceptic I had to try it myself and when I did I was right up there with her... It starts out with a fresh breeze of pear and citruses(succulent blood orange stands out to me)touched with a slight hint of greens and flowers but this wind is only the messenger and it leaves in its wake the softest subtlest blend of florals I've ever smelled. The watery jasmine and cyclamen complement the dry orange blossom and sweet green muguet perfectly and the cotton flower note is reminiscient of laundy on the line warming in the sun, kissed with these scents. The drydown is very comforting with the clean white musk and the powder covering the delicate vanilla and sandalwood. How can they say this is for women when we men like to smell soft and clean sometimes too? Sillage: okay Longevity: quite good Overall: 3.75/5 I was always a Body Shop fan until this and Rainkissed Leaves completely changed my old opinion of B&BW. I USED to think that this is where people who couldn't afford "real" perfumes got their scents but no more. I'm a believer 100%, especially with the release of four new men's scents this year. They are worth checking out..

Okay, so it's a bit like the scents in current popular cleaners and air fresheners, but hey - I really love wearing it. Kasku's description, as well as the name, is right on - it smells like when I hung my clothes on the line when I lived in South Florida. The citrus (I can't pick out the pear) makes me feel uplifted, the cotton-clean-soapiness makes me feel clean and light (I don't get so much powder, like in Moonlight Path)...and just a little touch of sweet. The base notes are not overbearing, it's a good balance. Lasts well, but not so strong to make anyone at work complain. Parfait. Note: I realized that this reminds me of a perfume I used to love called Mandarin Vanilla by Shiara, especially after wearing it all day. Later update: Just got DK's Cashmere Mist, and this is REALLY similar. I see where B&BW got their inspiration!

I own the 2.5 ounce eau de toilette and i LOVE IT!! It's perfect to wear anytime of the day and blends well with a lot of my fresh fragrances. It's smells just like freshly washed clothes and who does not want to smell fresh. I usually wear it around the house after i shower when i don't plan on going anywhere. It has a very good silage and longevity, especially when you spray it on your clothes. The fragrance mist has good performance as well for those who don't want to pay $50+ for a limited edition bottle. It's a very inoffensive fragrance and could be worn anytime of the day,anytime of the year. Scent: 10/10 Performance: 9/10 Packaging: 8/10