Perfume Diaries Bare Skin

This little gem was something I initially overlooked when it first came out because, "Nah, Leslie Blodgett? A perfume?" But one sniff of my wrist and I melted. You know that feeling, it's like a perfume coma or something. On my skin, it's the ideal balance of pepper, anise, and vanilla married in sweet accord. It is not too sweet, though, not cloying. Blodgett's idea behind the perfume--Mexico--is nothing my mind conjures when I smell it. It's not beachy at all on me. When I think beachy, I think Harajuku "G"(another fave of mine). The lasting power of Bare Skin on me is also very great--by the end of the day my skin still contains traces of it, like it doesn't want to let go of its embrace. My go-to, and so thrilled I found *two* boxes! Cost a lot, but hey, the feeling of exuding any amazing scent you love is priceless.

This reminded me so much of Azuree Soleil, with its quiet suntan-oil vibe, that I did a side-by-side comparison. At the start, Bare Skin is a little sweeter & more grassy. However, Bare Skin is pretty much gone in an hour, while AS is still going strong. I can still find AS on eBay, so I'd buy that instead.

I... I don't know what to say about this one. It's nothing fancy or outstanding. It would be perfect as an everyday scent, if you're into this type of scent. For me... well, it works with my chemistry, I just don't think I was feeling this one. Very.... very blah, very neutreal, very... bare.

Perfume Diaries BARE SKIN by Leslie Blodgett reminds me a bit of Les Senteurs Gourmandes TENDRE MADELEINE, except that BARE SKIN lacks the artificial butter residue which I detected in TENDRE MADELEINE. (Guilty as charged: obscurum per obscurius!) BARE SKIN is a light gourmand scent which does in fact offer a fairly good facsimile of the well-made madeleine: a beautiful little slightly spongy shell-shaped cake made with flour, eggs, butter, sugar, a little vanilla, and a touch of lemon zest. I do not detect the woodiness here at all. Rather the flour comes through as in L'Artisan Parfumeur BOIS FARINE only minus the wood and plus a touch of vanilla. BARE SKIN, a linear edp, really smells edible rather than floral, but without being overly sweet. The longevity is impressive, but this gentle gourmand stays close to the skin.

It is a real tragedy this fragrance is discontinued. Luckily it can be closely imitated if you layer Crystal Noir and Adam Levine for Women.. there is an initial hit of black pepper and then smooth buttery sandalwood with a hint of beachy coconut. A simple but comforting and inoffensive pretty scent. It definitely brings to mind warm, suntanned skin. Back when this came out it was my signature.. maybe it's just the nostalgia but this is one of those perfumes that evoke a certain feeling when you smell them. In this case it is a peaceful, beachy vibe.