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Pinrose’s Pillowtalk Poet—a Dead Ringer for Dedcool’s Milk

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by Stephanie McCarthy Lighted candles in the bedroom by Taryn Elliott. Attribution link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/lighted-candles-in-the-bedroom-4099356 / It was a cold, rainy, and windy evening in February and I really didn’t want to be at my RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) class. ‘Why didn’t my parents just baptize me instead of letting me choose my religion?’ I silently wondered to myself. If they had done so, I wouldn’t be sitting here every Monday night since October of 2023. Then a total sense of calm washed over me and I allowed my mind to wander. I was at home, next to my fiancé, with my feet propped up in some fuzzy socks as we quietly and intently watched the British TV series, Endeavour . We were both fresh from our respective showers and smelling really good. Him, with his Old Spice Swagger deodorant and me, with my Nivea Q10 Gel-Cream with lotus flower extract. There was nowhere else I’d rather be…That’s precisely what Dedcool’s Milk smells like. Milk i
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My Favorite Cozy, Musky Scents and Dupes

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by Stephanie McCarthy Person in beige sweater holding a cup of warm beverage by Vlada Karpovich. Attribution link:  https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-in-beige-sweater-holding-a-cup-of-warm-beverage-9969149/ I purchased Bath & Body Works’ Sunrise Woods Body Wash online in October of 2023 and picked it up in the store at The Mall at Prince George’s. I’m crazy about this location. It’s actually my favorite Bath & Body Works in Maryland. It’s well-lit and the sales associates are very friendly, helpful, and attentive. They’re always quick to greet you with a smile and good eye contact. Moreover, they answer the phone very professionally. I’ll definitely be returning to sniff their testers and buy more great stuff.  Now, on to the scent. Sunrise Woods is basically a lighter and more feminine version of the brand’s old-school scent, Twilight Woods. Think of it as an eau de parfum, with the vanilla-like acorn scent being the creamy sandalwood note that Bath & Body Works lists
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My Favorite L’Occitane Body Washes

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by Stephanie McCarthy Title: L'Occitane en Provence Aventura Mall Author: Phillip Pessar: https://www.flickr.com/people/25955895@N03 Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/southbeachcars/53100088611/ License: CC BY 2.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ I have a confession to make: I love  L’Occitane ’s  products, especially their body washes. Lathering them up with warm water and a bath sponge is a great way to unwind from a stressful or lousy day. Here are the L’Occitane body washes that you won’t be able to live without in your shower. Terre de Lumiere Shower Gel , 8.4 fl. oz, $88.99 at etsy: Oh, my word. I ’m  in love with this. This is a candied almond-smelling floral. The scent also reminds me of that tasty thick and rich Cream of Wheat my mom used to make me that was drenched in maple syrup. The sweet smell is pleasant and present, but not overbearing. The shower gel is a gorgeous translucent color with shimmery gold flecks. L’Occitane aptly describes it as Go
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Bath & Body Works Shower Gels That Are Perfect for Spring

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by Stephanie McCarthy Young woman among the cherry blossoms by Taryn Elliott Attribution link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-standing-nearcherry-blossom-trees-4198572/ Bath & Body Works’ Pure Wonder is an exasperating scent to describe. Although there’s no cantaloupe in it, that’s mainly the sweet and fruity scent I get upon the first sniff. Because it’s on the lighter side, that may be one of the reasons why this scent is so frustrating to describe. The white winter-themed packaging with the multi-colored pastel glittery snow blossoms doesn’t change the fact that this scent is more on the subtle side and is more appropriate for spring. Thus, I find it very strange that it’s available right now. Although  rose̓ is listed in the scent description of this, I don’t get any of that here. That kind of a sparkling, fizzy, and carbonated note is more present in the brand’s Moonlit Martini and Winter Candy Apple scents. Moreover, I detect a happy and uplifting floral note in this th
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My Top 3 Miller Harris Perfumes

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by Stephanie McCarthy Young black woman spraying perfume on herself by Ron Lach. Attribution link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/young-woman-spraying-perfumes-onto-her-face-10544091/ If you’re a fan of Parfums de Marly’s scent, Delina, then you’ll love Miller Harris’ Scherzo. Like Delina, the rose in this is very heavy (You may want to avoid this scent if you’re under the weather. It’s very present.) and smells very sophisticated. There’s a tobacco-like note in it that rounds it out. It’s probably the oud. If I’m correct, and it is in fact the oud, then kudos to Miller Harris. They finally got the scent right. Bath & Body Works and Henri Bendel always got it wrong. Being that I’m a writer, I have a soft spot for the story behind the scent. Scherzo is inspired by an excerpt in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, Tender is the Night . Here is the purchasing information for the sample: Miller Harris Scherzo Eau de Parfum Sample , 2 ml, $5 at Miller Harris. Miller Harris Scherzo 2-ml sample a
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Body Scrubs That Will Turn Your Shower into a Tropical Oasis

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by Stephanie McCarthy Close-up of a woman using a body scrub by Greta Hoffman. Attribution link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-a-woman-using-a-body-scrub-9475391/ I really hate the winter. You have to put on all these layers of clothing just to walk a short distance outside to run errands. The hood of your coat refuses to stay on your head because the blustery wind is so unrelenting. Even though your snow boots have great traction, the snow is so slushy and slippery from icing over and not being sanded down enough that you almost slip multiple times and have to resort to shuffling as you cuss under your breath in frustration. To top it all off, your Seasonal Affective Disorder acts up from insufficient light due to the days being shorter. While I don’t have a cure for this mess, these are the body scrubs that you need in your shower to help conjure up memories of summer—a carefree, glorious, and innocent time that is full of possibilities and opportunities to read an
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My Favorite and Least Favorite Orange-Scented Body Washes

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by Stephanie McCarthy Close-up of fruits in bowl. Free to use (CC0) by Pixabay. Attribution link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-fruits-in-bowl-327098/ In the late summer/early fall of 2023, I purchased The Body Shop’s Spiced Orange Shower Gel. The sweet and syrupy orange smell made me think of the tasty Triaminic Cough and Cold Medicine that I was given as a kid when I didn’t feel well. It also reminded me of the fruity Arcor hard candies that you get at the doctor’s office with that yummy gooey center. The spicy part of the shower gel reminded me of that awesome cinnamony peppery smell that was in Bath & Body Works’ discontinued Chestnut & Clove scent. Finally, the aloe vera in the formulation of this body wash feels so pillowy soft on the skin that it actually gives Crabtree & Evelyn’s Pomegranate & Argan Oil Shower Gel a serious run for its money. I flew through this and was so sad when it was done. It’s a shame that it doesn’t come in a larger size. You
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