Hello Friends! In this post, I will be talking about my impressions of the Limited Edition Marc Jacobs Fragrances for S/S 2018, called " the Daisy Twinkle Collection". You would probably have seen them on my Instagram @teacupofmakeup where I do often talk about products or do short reviews on my Instastories. If you are not already following me, please do by clicking here.
[All photos you see below were taken and retouched by me, except for those that do not have my watermark, which were obtained from Marc Jacobs website.]
The three Fragrances I will be talking about in this post were gifted to me by Coty Inc's Australian PR team. i must thank them with much gratitude.
Quoting from the accompanying press release:
"Inspired by a shimmering oasis where the sun dazzles and water glistens, the daisy twinkle editions are a sparkling reinterpretation of the classic daisy trio: daisy, daisy eau so fresh, and daisy dream. Inspired by Marc Jacobs’ unique use of layering, colour, and his love of shine the flacons are reimagined in a soft violet hue that brings fashion to fragrance. Each bottle features touches of gold that evoke the feeling of an endless summer where sunshine makes everything twinkle."
Please note that I use the word "Fragrance" as a collective term to refer to Perfumes; Eau de parfum; Eau de Toilette and Eau de Colognes.
But First, A little bit about Marc Jacobs' Daisy Fragrances
Marc Jacobs has worked with quite a few perfumers. Marc Jacobs' "Daisy" was first launched in 2007. Its creator is Alberto Morillas (click here to see what other Fragrances created by him). It is available as an Eau de Toilette ("EDT"). Since its first release, Marc Jacobs then expanded on the "Daisy" fragrance by releasing different versions of it almost every year since 2007. Due to the enormous success of "Daisy", Marc Jacobs then released variations on the "Daisy" theme, by releasing "Daisy Eau So Fresh" (EDT in 2011) and "Daisy Dream" (EDT in 2014). Which like "Daisy"; Marc Jacobs then released versions of both each years since the originals were first released.
The packaging and marketing of the original "Daisy", "Daisy Eau So Fresh" and 'Daisy Dream" were distinctly different but yet carried the same subtle underlying melody. The various editions of each one had slight changes in their composition and packaging. As far as I am aware, Marc Jacobs' only first started releasing versions of the three Daisy-themed fragrances as a trio in 2016 with the "Blush" trio; followed by the ""Kiss" collection in 2017 and the "Twinkle" collection also in 2017. These versions shared the same colour and daisy motif in packaging only.
I would describe the "Daisy" Fragrances as iconic. They definitely stand out in terms of packaging design.
The Daisy Fragrances are generally released as EDTs with the exception of a few Eau de Parfums ("EDP") included in the collection. There are EDP versions of "Daisy"; "Daisy Eau So Fresh" and "Daisy Dream".
EDPs are generally a bit more pricey than EDTs because an EDP has more of the raw materials , i.e. the "essence" (approximately 8-15% concentration) and lasts longer (general consensus is around 3-5 hours) . An EDT has about 4-8% of the essence and is generally perceived to last 2-4 hours.
I do not really know why the versions are generally released as EDTs but I speculate that the reasons are: (1) to make them available to as many people as possible; and (2) perhaps echoing the personality of the Daisy Fragrances, which I consider to be "light, airy and effervescent", like the last refrains of a song or a distant memory of a beautiful dream. The Daisy Fragrances all have a "youthful" and "happy" feel to them.
I noted that all original Daisy Fragrances were created by Alberto Morillas (click here to see what other Fragrances he created) alone or in collaboration with Marc Jacobs and another perfumer. If you have read my "Fragrance Story: Method" chapter (click here to read it), my working hypothesis is that perfumes created by a perfumer seem to all have the same underlying indicators much like the way you can guess who the music composer of a piece of music might be, from its melodic structure.
Of course the style and vibe of the "Daisy" Fragrances is MARC JACOBS. Very on trend with a touch of grunge/punk/pop. For a really good description of Marc Jacobs' fashion style click here.
The original "Daisy" is described as:
"The Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette is fresh and feminine with notes of wild strawberry, velvety violet petals and finishes with a luminous blend of gardenia and jasmine. The white accords of birch and cedarwood add intensity. The bottle design features a luxurious block of weighted, clear glass topped with a playful scattering of daisies that appear to bloom from the rounded gold cap. Winner of the Fragrance Foundation's FiFi Awards for Women’s Luxe Fragrance of the Year and Women’s Prestige Best Packaging, 2008." (refer to Marc Jacobs' website)
This Fragrance was created by Alberto Morillas (click here to see what other Fragrances he created).
I do recall the original marketing campaign for "Daisy". Images of beautiful models playing in a field of daisies etc etc. The bottle design was most unique and conveyed the whimsical nature of the Fragrance. My overall impressions of this Fragrance is that it "looks" white" and feels "very light" almost like a soft kiss on the cheeks.
"Daisy" is generally described by perfumers and perfume enthusiasts as belonging to the "Floral Woody Musk" group. I agree with that.
The original "Daisy Eau So Fresh" EDT (2011) is described as:
"Daisy Eau So Fresh is a charming twist on our classic Daisy fragrance. Eau So Fresh is more fruity, bubbly, and more fun than our classic. Top Layer: Natural Raspberry, Grapefruit, Pear Mid Base: Violets, Wild Rose, Apple Blossom Dry Base: Musks, Cedarwood, Plum. (refer to Marc Jacobs' website)"
The original "Daisy Eau So Fresh" EDT was also created by Alberto Morillas (click here to see what other Fragrances he created). I note that as a side point that Daisy Eau So Fresh" is generally available in 75 ml as opposed to its sisters which normally come in 50 ml. The various reiterations of "Daisy Eau So Fresh" also all seem to come in 75 ml. They also always seem to be released as EDTs.
I love the play on the word "Eau". I guess it is obvious but the french word "Eau" means water and is pronounced as "Oh". So it is supposed to be "OH so fresh", announced with a cheerful smile, and ending with screaming with delight.
My overall impressions of the original Daisy Eau So Fresh EDT is that it is seems to be a simplified composition of the melody of "Daisy". It "looks" very green to me and "feels" like a touch of a cool metal spoon on the back of your hand on a warm day. I know, I am a bit odd.
"Daisy Eau So Fresh" is generally described by perfumers and perfume enthusiasts as belonging to the "Floral Fruity" group. I definitely agree as I smelled berries immediately.
The original "Daisy Dream" EDT (2014) is described as:
"The Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream is a fruity floral fragrance with a light and airy touch. Inspired by the boundless spirit of daisies and blue skies, Daisy Dream reflects Marc Jacobs’s irresistible mix of intricate details, elegance and femininity for a fresh interpretation of the iconic Daisy motif. The fragrance bursts with top notes of blackberry, grapefruit and pear. The heart notes are introduced with a bouquet of jasmine, lychee and blue wisteria. A medley of white woods, musks and coconut water reveal the base notes. The glass bottle is enveloped in a shawl of laced daisies and is topped with a silver cap and adorned with gold hues and accents of daisies." (refer to Marc Jacobs' website)
It does come in both EDTs and EDPs. It was created by Alberto Morillas in collaboration with Ann Gottlieb (to see what other Fragrances she created, click here) and Marc Jacobs. For me, I found the packaging to be most innovative. It is certainly a very stunning piece of art. I think the inclusion of coconut water in the base is fabulous in the sense that it makes it "feel'' more like dipping my hands into a cool stream of water. I also get an image of a bubble in my mind.
Out of the three "Daisy" Fragrances, this is the my least favourite one (I'm sorry!). I only like the packaging.
"Daisy Dream" is generally describe by perfumers and perfume enthusiasts as belong to the "Fruity Floral" group. I concur.
The Daisy Twinkle Collection: My Overall Impression
My overall impression of the collection based SOLELY on the packaging and choice of colours is that it does still feel quite youthful to me. Not quite the "I'm singing a happy tune" vibe of the original Daisy Fragrances. I felt that they are a bit more elegant and sophisticated in composition. I do like the lavender and gold. I think it will appeal to both young and more mature audiences. The image that pops up in my mind of the more colourful versions of "Daisy" and "Daisy Eau So Fresh" was that they were like Lego blocks. These look less like toys and more like cheerful ornaments.
In terms of impressions of the Fragrances, my first impressions of smelling the atomizer of each Fragrance was that they all had some kind of berry or fruit in them. They then all dipped into floral scents with a base of woods; musk and vanilla. They do smell a bit like bubblegum at first which I quite liked and found to be novel and whimsical and in keeping with the general feel of these fragrances.
The longevity of each Fragrance applied on skin differs, but all roughly around the 3 hour mark depending on where you applied it and how quickly your nose becomes desensitized to the Fragrances. They are only available as EDTs and this is roughly the standard longevity of EDTs.
However, to me, I felt that each one lingered in my nose and in the air of the three rooms in which I tested each one, for a longer length of time than they lasted on the skin. When worn, these three do not "announce" your arrival or departure from a room.
I am a very visual person and words are very suggestive to me. I have tried, in reviewing these three, to not be influenced by the packaging or names. There are studies that show that one's perception of scents can be affected by visual imagery. Hence, I did test them using my simple "blindfolded" method.
I tested them over a few days with rests in between and note that they all performed consistently. Fragrances can vary as they oxidise in the flacons (i.e. bottles). I did not, in testing them, find out how much they cost prior to typing up this review. I did this on purpose as I did not want to fall within that "expensive = good; cheap = bad" trap. I also note that I did not read the description of each one before testing them. Again, that was done on purpose for the reasons set out above.
Marc Jacobs Daisy EDT, twinkle edition RRPA$89
It is described in the accompanying press release as:
"An uplifting bouquet of floral and fruity notes, daisy twinkle opens with a juicy burst of wild berries mixed with hints of violet leaves. A bright and creamy white woods base creates a warm and sensual dry down."
Top (note): wild berries
Mid (note): violet flower
Base (base): white woods"
Yup, the first thing I smelled was that it definitely had some kind of berries in it. It smells fairly sweet at first. After about 30 minutes (average time for the "heart/mid note to emerge); it definitely smelled floral, also on the sweet side. I then smelt something reminiscent of the scent you get from the sap of a tree from a snapped off stem/leaf which then dried to a powdery finish.
It still echoes the Original "Daisy" but smells a lot less musky/oriental/spicy (refer to the above for the description of the Original).
To me, this Fragrance looked liked a young stem of my kumquat tree. It also gave me a "pop!" and "ding!" sensation that I feel when first biting down on a juicy grape - kind of like the popping sensation and trickling down my throat of its juices in my mouth.
This lasted on me for approximately 3-4 hours. I tend to spray Fragrances onto my belly and on the nape of my neck. I find scents to be too overwhelming to my nose if I apply them to the pulse points on my wrists or behind my ears.
It is generally accepted to belong to the "floral fruity" group (refer to Fragrantica.com).
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh, twinkle edition, RRPA$99
It is described in the accompanying press release as:
"Vibrant and unexpected, daisy eau so fresh twinkle radiates with its effervescent blend of succulent fruity and delicate floral notes. Sparkling raspberry intertwines with violet flower and wild rose blossoms at the heart, creating a blissful aroma. Crème de cassis rounds out the base for a sensual finish.
Top (note): sparkling raspberry
Mid (note): violet flower and wild rose blossoms
Base (note): crème de cassis"
My first impression of this Fragrance was that it smelled like watermelons and felt like watermelons. That crisp sweet watery feel and scent. This "feels" also like a light airy ball of cotton candy, once you hit that mid tone. The visual image that popped into my head with the top note was: "it looks like a puffy cloud at high noon on a clear day."
This is like a "lah-di-dah" frolicking in a field type of Fragrance. Also a "happy and cheerful" one. When I read the description of its base note in the press release, I did agree that its base is some kind of sweet berry liqueur. There is that lasting sticky sweet alcohol scent to it.
It is generally accepted to belong to the "floral fruity" group (refer to Fragrantica.com).
Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream, twinkle edition, RRPA$89
It is described in the press release as:
"Daisy dream twinkle is an airy blend of lush florals and juicy fruits. The fragrance opens with bursts of black cherry and fresh white floral that mingle together to evoke a sense of springtime freshness. At the base, whipped berry mousse creates a mouth-watering dry down that lingers on the skin.
Top: black cherry
Mid: fresh white florals
Base: whipped berry mousse"
My nose was immediately overwhelmed by a berry or dark plum scent. To me, after testing it several times, all I could smell was just berries, sweet ripe berries or dark plums like sugar plums. It did smell like there was a bit of vanilla in the mix. To me, I felt that it also dried down to a powdery finish. I'm sorry but the finish of this one sometimes smelled a bit like "old person sweet" (I always get the hibbie jibbies when I smell that "old person sweet" scent because I immediately see decaying flesh).
This Fragrance "looked" and "felt" like a bubble just leaving the bubble maker (you know those big ones used to make big bubbles at amusement parks or by street performers). It has that iridescent sheen to it.
It is generally accepted to belong to the "floral fruity" group (refer to Fragrantica.com).
Thank you for reading this!
If you have any thoughts or wish to know more about these Fragrances, please email me (makeupmanic88@gmail.com) or DM me on my Instagram account (@teacupofmakeup). Also, do subscribe to my website (just fill in your email address in the subscription box) to be alerted to new articles I publish on this little website of mine. I promise you won't get irritating emails from me!
