Happy Boxing Day, cuties! I hope you’re recovering from your holiday festivities. El hub and I spent yesterday hanging out with my family; dysfunction was kept to a minimum, thank ye gods. Do you ever think your family, while adorable, is just plain weird? Well, you don’t know what weird is until your parents fire up the karaoke machine at midnight on Christmas Eve, get their drink on and start singing REALLY LOUDLY (and off key) to Abba’s Dancing Queen.
I guess I managed to score more nice points than naughty in the high court of Santa, ’cause he left your girl some kick-ass goodies, including this fantabulous Coco Mademoiselle fragrance gift set from Chanel.
I lose all self control when I see those interlocking C’s!
About the fragrance
In 2001, Coco Mademoiselle creator Jacques Polge envisioned the fragrance as something Coco would wear if she were turning 21 at the dawn of the 21st century. It’s a floral oriental with notes of bergamot (a sour citrus), orange, jasmine, rose and vetiver (like lemon grass). The gift set comes with a bottle of Coco Mademoiselle eau de parfum, Fresh Bath Gel, Fresh Body Lotion and a black carrying case accented with signature Chanel-tweed piping.
Oriental fragrances like Coco Madmoiselle and Guerlain’s Shalimar are rich and smell “perfume-y,” but Coco Madmoiselle is lighter and fresher than Shalimar. You won’t catch me rocking Coco Mademoiselle at the beach in July, though. Like most oriental perfumes, it’s a little heavy, so I would probably only wear it in winter.
Even though Coco Mademoiselle is in the oriental fragrance family, it doesn’t smell stuffy or old-lady at all. It’s youthful and sophisticated. You won’t smell like an old lady who lunches and totes small terrier dogs in Burberry outfits. You will smell like a confident young woman strutting down the street in a classic black suit.
Last night I used both the bath gel and the body lotion and then spritzed some eau de parfum just for fun. The bath gel is my least favorite product in the set. While it lathers nicely, it’s runny and not moisturizing enough for my dry winter skin. Even though it’s scented with Coco Mademoiselle, for some weird reason my basset hound-esque nose detects a strong synthetic, plastic scent that reminds me of new Tupperware. Bleh.
The Fresh Body Lotion, on the other hand, is another story. It smells fantastic! It has a fresher, more citrusy scent that complements the perfume.
If you have dry skin like I do, don’t count on using this lotion to moisturize. It’s watery and doesn’t moisturize well, so it’s not going to replace my Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream anytime soon. I like the smell and think it adds another layer of intensity to the perfume, but I don’t know if I’d buy it again.
The set’s crowning glory is the eau de parfum. I love, love, love it! The bottle is simple, yet classic. Wearing it makes me feel beautiful and sophisticated, like I’m walking down the streets of Paris in a beret, even though, really, I’m just walking across the street to Safeway to buy bananas. Not only does the eau de parfum smell amazing, but it also lasts a long time. Just one spritz in the morning, and I’m set for the entire day.
Where to get it
Unfortunately, the set is sold out on the Chanel site, but check out the Coco Mademoiselle Modern Interpretations set on the Nordstrom Web site. It’s a similar gift set (no black bag, though) for $105.
What lovely gifts did Santa bring you? I can’t wait to hear about ’em!
I’m hungry — it’s time to eat some Christmas leftovers! Turkey, cake, pancit (a Filipino noodle dish), here I come!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
That’s great, Karen, I luuuurve Coco Mademoiselle!!! I have a few deluxe samples of the lotion and I agree that it doesn’t moisturize well, but at night I like to layer a little over my go-to lotion (Jergen’s Shea Butter lotion, a surprisingly fabulous drugstore deal!) and scent my jammies with Chanel!
We had a very nice Christmas here, although not as entertaining as yours, I would pay to see my in-laws rockin’ out to Abba! 😀 The best gift came from my fabulous husband who gave me a gift certificate to the Bliss spa! Yay! I’ll be on the massage table by New Year!
I’m thinking to get a Chanel perfume. Gotta smell this Coco Mademoiselle. I’m soooooooooooooooo wanting the Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume so badly. It’s LOVE 🙂 LOL, Abba, what a classic 🙂 It’s much better than listening to your parents singing old time Chinese songs, ughh..
Hi Glosslizard,
What a thoughtful gift from your hubby! Which massage treatment will you get? Man, I gotta go back to that spa soon!
Yeah, I love drugstore lotions, too. I haven’t used Jergen’s in years though (last big bottle I had was Vaseline).
LOL, my bottle of Coco is just sitting right next to my computer keyboard. It’s like a little pet. 🙂
Hey Sandy,
I think you’ll like it, it’s to die for. Oh, and after the Abba duet my parents did dive into the Filipino songs … there was one song that was like, 20 minutes long. It had a Cha-Cha beat and long, sustained notes. I didn’t quite understand the lyrics (as most it if was off key) but there was a line about wanting to ask somebody to dance, LOL.
Coco is so lovley…this is a proper gift! I got monster feet slippers! Some nice gloves from the other half. A Nars Multiple in Maldives. Zelda for my nintendo Wii. Thermal Vests because its so c-c-c-old in England.
🙂
Happy Boxing Day KAren !! Hope you had a great Christmas day and even better year to look forward to.
Cheers,
Val
I’m going to get the Super Blissage and the Double Choc pedicure! Mmmmmm, chocolate!
I don’t like the regular Jergens, but the new shea butter stuff is wonderful! Very moisturizing and with a pretty, subtle vanilla-nutty kind of scent that doesn’t linger (the better to layer with!)
Great pet! Even if it has an accident, it’ll smell great! 😉
You lucky girl. This has got to be my favorite uber sexy perfume. I love love love it. I will be getting this for myself this week from Ulta. ENJOY!!
Coco Mademoiselle does smell really delish though all spray perfumes make me sneeze like hell. My question though is how’s that bag that came with it?
The best gift I got for X-mas is a $50 Gift Card to Bath and Body Works. I went there today and bought 3 handsoaps, Twisted Peppermint 3n1, Twisted Peppermint Lotion, Sassy Strawberry Lotion (I already have the 3n1). Plus I have money left over cuz all that loot was on sale!
BUT on Friday I’m going to get a Blackberry Curve 8310. Yeah I was good this year!!
Hi Rowena,
I’m am uber jealous of your Wii! Those things are hard to come by round these parts. Lemme know how you like Maldives. I’ve been jonesing for that Multiple for a few months now. So much makeup, so little time *sigh*
How cold is it round your way? It’s gonna get into the 30’s tonight in my ‘hood.
Thank you Val! Cheers to you *raises glass*. Here’s to a stellar 2008 🙂
Glosslizard, the strong scent of shea butter is one of my issues with it (or is it cocoa butter, hmmm?), so I like that the scent evaporates quickly. I’ll check out that lotion next time I hit Rite Aid. You know I can’t stay away from the drugstore 😉
And double choc pedicure, HOLLA.
Love Coco! It’s sophisticated and divine! Boy, you must have been really good!
I always ask for gift cards and every year the family comes through with pretty envelopes from Nordstrom and Sephora cards in the mirror compact (I have tons of those compacts if anyone’s interested) 😉
The boy did really good and got my some blingin’ hoop earrings – woo hoo!
Also, if you have any leftover pancit, I’d love to grub on that yummy dish!
hi.’love your blog.i use to start my mornings with a Big cup of coffee and a quick beauty blog reading.(yours is my favourite).me too i’m a fan of C.
this year my Santa was really good:i got two fragrance gift sets from Dior: j’adore and pure poison.yuppyyyyyyyy!!!
wish u Happy New Year!
Hi Babyu21,
Ohhh, I can’t wait for you to get this set at Ulta. It’s fabooo! Will you be picking up any other goodies? 😉
Hi Tania,
Sounds like lots of good loot at Bath & Body Works! I was just there a few days ago to buy a present for my brother’s girlfriend – I got her a Cherry Blossom gift set (that’s my new fave smell from that store). Have you ever tried their True Blue line? I use it more in the summer, but they have good beachy smelling lotions, perfumes and whatnot.
BTW, I have the Blackberry Pearl (aka my crackberry) and I love/hate it. I love that it gives me easy access to my email and I hate that it gives me easy access to my email. It feels like I can never get away from email! The only place I *never* take it is the gym or when I work out. Ahhh, and then I’m free!
OH, and Tania, the purse is cute. It’s a regular rectangular nylon cosmetics purse; no fancy quilting or anything. It does hold lots of stuff and has a nice Chanel logo in the corner 🙂
Ha! I love that you are down with the pacit, Nilla. I’ve eaten waaaaaay too much of it in the past two days. I’m like 2/3 pancit now. And woooty woot woot, ’tis always fun to get jewelry (especially cute jewelry) from your sweetheart. What a nice and thoughtful gift 🙂
Any big makeup plans for the giftcards?
Hi Steph,
Merry Christmas! Thanks for stopping by the blog and leaving a comment. Maybe you’ll be drinking your coffee as you read this, hmmm… 🙂
Fragrance gift sets are always the best, yah? I love J’Adore too, btw. It was my everyday work fragrance for years! I have a huge bottle that it’ll take me years to finish, which is fine with me, ’cause I love it.
Karen, I got samples of the Coco Mademoiselle perfume. I don’t quite like it though. I still prefer my Marc Jacobs Daisy which I will be getting 🙂
I went for a mini haul today, you should check it out 🙂
snap i got coco mml for Christmas too 🙂 but i got the edt twist and spray and the limited edition solid pure parfum in a gorgeous compact (im not sure if its available in the states) best gifts ever!!
I know what you mean about the body lotion the smell is amazing but the moisturising quality isnt the best, if they have it over there you have to try the luxury body cream, it comes in a big tub and is much richer! Also the hair perfume to it is lovely too!
God im such a Chanel bore!!
Ooohh also some inside info, a new bronzer is coming out this week which is AMAZING it is so pretty i want it just to sit on my dressing table, it even has Chanel in gold inprinted into the bronzer!
xxx
Sandy! I love that Pink Champagne EL lippie. Isn’t the case really pretty?
Even though you aren’t feeling the Coco (I suspect that it’s too heavy for some) I’m glad you got your Daisy perfume. A girl should always have a new scent for the new year. 🙂
Hi Holly,
That’s awesome! And you’ll never be a Chanel bore on this site, LOL! Happy Holidays 🙂
Karen, Do you have any recommendations for liquid foundation? I’m in need of one =/ I’m thinking Dior but I want to try something else. I trust you cause you’re the Makeup Goddess. Hehe..
Hello Karen!
You recommended this fragrance to me a few weeks back… I immediately went to the mall, and oh my Word!!! It’s divine.
Since I got Daisy for Christmas, I put this on my birthday wish list… just 3 months away… However, I’m not sure I can hold off that long. I keep “visiting” dear Mademoiselle every time I go to the mall. Ahh.
Christmas was a hit here in the Midwest. My hubby got me a beautiful jewelry box (I have long-ago out grown mine), Daisy perfume (which we spoke of already), a cookbook from the famous Chicago Berghoff’s restaurant that sadly is no more and some NIKE tops for my cozy days at home with the kiddo.
Right now, I’m just recovering from days and days of sugar binging.
Ooh, Holly!
That’s fabulous that you got the solid perfume compact! I wanted that soooo much, but it was only released for a super-short time in the states and all the hoarders bought it up so they can sell it on e-bay at a substantial mark-up! 🙁 I tried online and in stores and it was gone! Boo! I will have to experience it vicariously through you!
I too am never bored by your Chanel-sharing! 🙂
hey glosslizard,
Awww poor you i love it and it was such a nice surprise! I know what you mean though about it being hard to get hold of I think our counter now only has one left. I really want the pure parfum rollerball limited edition too now but really cant justify having both lol!
Does Chanel u.s. not carry the mademoiselle hair mist? I cant seem to see it on any of the websites. Its such a shame if not because its really lovely and doesnt damage your hair like the perfume does!
I also was given as a Christmas present from Chanel a bottle of the Chance Eau Fraiche which is lovely too, really light and citrus so i think im going to save that for summer!
xxx
Hi Karen,
I’m already having dreams of what I’m going to buy with my gift cards.. LOL. I think I want to check out the new Calvin Klein beauty line when it comes out in Sephora next month.
As for the Nordie’s cards, I could do anything with that. It could be shoes, it could be makeup, I just gotta see what needs to be adopted from the department store asap! But knowing me, those cards will bring Chanel home 🙂
Hi Sandy,
For liquid foundation, I like Laura Mercier Oil Free. It gives light to medium coverage and has a natural finish without looking sparkly OR heavy. I’ve also heard that Armani makes fantastic foundations – I just haven’t been able to get my hands on any of them because there are no counters in my hood, boo hoo!
If you try the Dior let me know what you think about it ;D
Hi Tuprnut,
Happy early birthday 🙂 Funny, before I got my Christmas gift I “visited” Coco Mademoiselle whenever I visited the mall, too. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one!
Sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas…hope it wasn’t too cold. BTW, my mom and dad gave me a crockpot, I haven’t used it yet but I can’t wait!
Hi Holly!
I’ve never seen or heard anything about a hair mist before, I guess we’re deprived of that too! I’m forming quite a shopping list for the next time I get to go overseas! LOL!
Chance Eau Fraiche is really pretty too, Karen brought that one to my attention!
You must have been extra good this year to get such goodies… I guess Santa noticed your goodwill in steering me toward the Teint Innocence compact which is now my Holy Grail foundation! Thanks! 🙂
I’m with Glosslizard, Holly! I never get tired of your Chanel sharing, either 😉
Nilla, I saw that line in the new issue of Allure. I am not overly psyched about it (I’m not the biggest fan of CK) but plan on checking it out. I’m sure you’ll find lots of stuff to “adopt” at Nordies! The possibilities … endless!
hey Glosslizard,
Yeah i was very lucky this year i do have the best job in the world working for Chanel lol this is the second free bottle of perfume ive had from them this year (the other was No5 which i tend to wear just for work)!
Awww im sooo glad you liked the foundation im still in love with it, i swear if they ever discontinue it my world will end! I even like the applicator spongue with it which is unusual!
I just cant wait for the spring collection samples to come into the store, im on the look out for a new skincare range i find the purity too drying and then Hydration too moisturising so im hopeing something new will come out thats just right for me!
If you do have dry skin though go in and get some samples of the hydration range its absolutely gorgeous, just a shame about my oily patches!
Does anyone have any reconmendations for a skin care system for pretty much normal/combination skin? I fear i may have to cross over to the dark side and use something other than Chanel 🙁
xxx
Hiya, Holly!
Yeah, I do love that foundation!
I have dry skin that has only recently developed some breakout-prone oiliness in the T-zone (whoopee), and since I’m in my 30’s now, I’ve been upping the ante on the anti-aging factor.
That said, I like Bliss’ “The Youth as we Know it” cream, which is unique in my experience in that it hydrates completely and for a long time without ever feeling too sticky or overly “dewy”. It also doesn’t seem to increase oiliness and is chock-full of skin-treats!
I also have liked Origins in the past (especially “Night-a-Mins” as a night cream) but I feel like it’s not a heavy enough hitter now that I’m not in my 20’s anymore! I’ve used Philosophy’s line and it’s ok, but doesn’t really ring my bell (with the exceptions of “Purity Made Simple” cleanser and the Microdelivery Peel, both of which rock!). I’ve also toyed with Caudalie (like very much) and Clinique (meh).
I hope that helps a little! Have you tried the Sublimage? I recently acquired some (thanks to my darling husband!) and it is truly swoon-worthy, but I hesitate to recommend it simply because it is soooooo expensive!
Hey Glosslizard,
When I am in NY i am actually staying at the W Hotel which has a Bliss spa in it so i was thinking of having a facial there so I will speak to the therapist about that cream thanks!
I absolutely agree the sublimage range is amazing (rediculously expensive but well worth it!) however as im only 21 it feels too rich for my skin, having said that i always take full advantage of the samples when they come in!
I used Clinique for years when i was a teenager and really liked it at the time but ive really noticed recently that my skin is much less oily and is actually quite dry in places, and tight after showers etc so its just too harsh for me now.
My manager tells me that the Chanel micro-dermabrasion program is beyond amazing and completely stops break outs etc, but at like 150 pounds (300 dollars) i dont think i will be trying it out any time soon!
xxx
I would love to find something I can layer with the Chanel Chance eua fraiche. Any ideas?
Ahh my family is so weird like that lol!
That perfume looks so pretty!
Lydias last blog post..What was your WORST purchase ever?
I had use a light mist from Shielo called the HYDRATE Refreshing Mist, and I love it because its so light and great for daily misting to get my hair straight and remove flyaways. Shielo Hair products has a great reputation, but I never heard of their mist?
So I decided to try it out. I am not disappointed. I find it gives my hair good color when I straighten it. And it is much lighter so hair does not feel greasy or goopy. Go ahead and mist away cause it smells great and perfect size to keep in your bag to freshen your hair throughout the day!