Glow

I know there are already plenty of reviews about this, but I had to chime in with a bit of a cultural viewpoint. This is one of my all time favorite fragrances. I wear it so much that I keep buying more so that I won't ever run out. I think of it as my "california casual" fragrance because it's light and I usually wear it with my beachy Cali girl look, especially when it starts to heat up here in Los Angeles, which is a dry desert heat. Infact, I've tried almost all of her "Glow" scents and love them all! I was trying to figure out exactly what I love so much about this when it finally hit me. It's a cultural thing! I am of mixed latina heritage, but primarily from Mexico. I have had the privilege of traveling quite a bit throughout Mexico. Here in Los Angeles, there are quite a lot of Mexicanos as well. If there is one thing we Mexicanos love it's a fresh, clean smelling person. Almost every one I know uses Dove soap and Nivea lotion because of the clean smell. We also love Ariel laundry detergent and Suavitel fabric softener because of the fresh clean smells. The author Sandra Cisneros mentioned it in her book Caramelo, when she spoke of how her brother went to Mexico to study and came back with several "Mexican" habits, one of which was that particular clean smell. Fresh fruit is also a big part of our culture. I don't think I've ever gone a single day without some kind of fresh fruit; especially tropical fruit. Here in Los Angeles, we have fruit vendors, whereas in other parts of the country there are hot dog or nut vendors. So, I'm guessing that Jennifer Lopez just combined several of her loves into one signature scent. I think she captured it perfectly!! I don't know if it was intentional, but it certainly works! I absolutely love this one and I hope it will always be a part of my collection.

Update - OK I get it now.. I have been using it on a daily basis since march. This became my comfort scent, my favorite bed time scent, even my go to signature in the summer. This one was the only one I could tolerate in the high heat. And people seem to love it on me, just as I love it on myself. After shower I just douse myself in it and enjoy life. For this price point, I couldn't get a better clean smelling scent that is also powdery and feminine. I love it so much, I'm so happy I found this gem, and it gives me confidence that I smell different from other women. The bottle and naming concept is a little bit off in my opinion (especially with that cheap cap..they could have just add something more creative). But the scent is amazing, it is beautiful on my skin. All the notes appeal to me so much. I feel so calm, reserved and grown up when wearing it. It gives me so much comfort, enjoyment. I think it is a perfect everyday scent for people who doesn't want to bother anyone with there smell (like me), but still wants to have a nice scent. It has great projection and lasting power, soapy scent done in the right way. I tried it last night to wear it to bed and I woke up to the scent in the middle of the night, it was so powerful. I enjoyed it, but had to put my hands under the blanket to be able to sleep back 😄. I see people commenting it as oldish, others as teenage scent, so I guess everyone perceives it completely differently, and that is totally ok. And I don't even know anymore what vintage really means. For me it is a timeless beauty, I feel beautiful when wearing it. Although it is not sexy within the traditional terms of sexiness, I can see some people who would find it attractive. It's a clean smelling motherly hug for me.

I picked this up recently for a very reasonable price. I am a fan of the house of JLo for casual wear. Her fragrances are affordable, good quality, and perfect for daily reaches. Glow is no exception! I never, really purchased Glow for myself, nor did I really wear it. I have tried it once or twice years previous--but never desired to own a bottle. My Mother would wear Glow during the warmer months. It was an easy reach, and it smelled great spritzed on her. Today, I'm wearing Glow at work, then later to run errands. At first sprays, it is kind of an unimpressive turn off. Cloying at first. After an hour or so, this baby comes alive! As it dries down, the white flowers take center stage. Especially, the neroli, jasmine, and tuberose. The citrus begins to mingle with the flowers with time--creating a clean, crisp, feminine fragrance. Imagine a lady of class, dressed in an all white flowing sundress, beige sun hat, and beige strappy sandals--picking beautiful white flowers. As the breeze gently picks up--all you smell is JLo's Miami Glow. Isn't that great?! Lol The musk is subtly sexy as the sandalwood begins to come alive. Glow is perfect for outdoor activities, such as picnics, or most daytime activities. It lasts for hours and hours when sprayed on both the skin and clothing. Also, it encompasses you in one of the greatest scent bubbles ever. This was a very nice addition to my collection. I recommend purchasing Glow, if you enjoy soapy, white florals. I do not think this is a safe blind buy though--after all, it is a soapy, white floral, lol. Not everyone's jam! Plus, you must have patience until it dries down.

About a week ago, I was riding the metro and I caught a whiff of the most lovely powdery smell, like a freshly-dusted baby or slightly damp skin that's been washed squeaky-clean with a creamy bar soap. Whoever it was, they smelled divine, especially in the oppressive heat and humidity. I knew immediately I'd be chasing that high for a while. A couple days ago, I happened upon an extra-discounted bottle of JLo Glow in a Ross store and snapped it up. While not an exact match to the scent I experienced in the metro (which I'm still looking for), JLo Glow scratches a similar itch. This perfume smells a bit like sunscreen, a little soapy, and quite powdery. It's perfect for a hot, humid, sweaty summer. It does NOT smell like Dove bar soap, which I use daily, so whoever's been making this comparison maybe hasn't smelled Dove bar soap in a while. Smelling Glow directly from the bottle, it has a bit of a sour twinge, which I think is the grapefruit. This sour note made me really nervous, since my body tends to turn things sour already, but once on skin the sourness disappears. It does have a slight sharpness to it, but it reads as sunscreen. I smell like I'm at the pool, floating around the lazy river. The one downside is, I really don't see myself wearing this in remotely cool weather. I think it would have to be summer for me to pull this one out. But on the other hand, I can already see myself gravitating towards this gem every day for the next several months until the heat subsides and suddenly it's autumn again.

A shower can be a sacred ritual in softness, a space to turn off your mind and wash away the day's stressors, watching them swirl down the drain, perhaps alongside a tear or two, encapsulated in sparkling suds. While we might feel vulnerable, we are gently held by the cloth of a curtain or the translucent shower glass, which allows only the faint glow of the outside world into our vision. The heat of the water reminds us that we are alive, and as we scrub away at ourselves, we connect to our bodies; even if we do not express kindness to them outside of this time, we are forced to confront them here and give them the care they deserve. It can be unnerving, certainly, but it is necessary. When we leave this realm, we are greeted by the plush comfort of a fresh towel, silky pajamas, and fresh sheets, and, for now, at least, all is well. This perfume is the olfactory recreation of that experience and is an absolute joy to wear. Of course, there are those who would tell you that there is little point in buying a perfume that smells like you just stepped out of the shower, and I understand their qualms, but I cannot resist this gem. It is an essential comfort in my collection, and I prefer it to MMM Bubble Bath. Bubble Bath is for you if you are more interested in the...loose interpretation of soap to me, as in, you want it to smell like perfume still, but this is soap, pure Dove soap.