Whenever I see a product described as a cult favorite, I’m instantly skeptical. The pink and green Maybelline mascara is the worst thing I’ve put on my lashes. Rosebud salve in its pretty retro tin dries out my lips. Nars Orgasm blush is just OK. The exception for me is Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil from French skincare & cosmetics firm Nuxe, and it fully lives up to its “cult favorite” label. It’s a seaside vacation in a bottle. The oil leaves skin soft and shimmering, not at all greasy, and applying the golden liquid feels like a luxury spa treatment.
Besides the nourishing and moisturizing benefits, fans of Nuxe oil adore its frangipani and coconut perfume. It’s sophisticated and rich, a tangle of white petals and coconut flakes. I’ve always thought that it’s good enough to be in a perfume bottle, and a couple of years ago Nuxe decided to do just that. The company turned to the same perfumer who created the beloved Nuxe oil scent, Serge Majoullier, and asked him to blend Prodigieux, Le Parfum*.
The moment I spray on Le Parfum, I notice that the main difference between the oil and the perfume is the fresh layer. The fragrance opens up with tart citrus slices–orange, bergamot, mandarin, and also green orange blossom. It hits the high note before taking a sharp turn into the flowers. The frangipani, a tropical plant that smells like gardenia soaked in coconut and peach syrup, was the star in Dry Oil, and in Le Parfum, it’s joined by lemony magnolia and green rose.
The perfume plays with freshness for only a short while, and within 30 minutes, the flowers fade to a creamy blur, and your skin is steeped in vanilla, coconut and brown sugar. It’s sweet, although not edible enough to be gourmand. The milky sweetness persists until the perfume vanishes. Well, at least in theory, because Prodigieux le parfum has yet to disappear on it own; usually, it ends up being washed off in my evening shower.
As I compared the perfume and oil, I remembered a childhood fantasy of wanting to enjoy the buttercream, minus the cake layers. One time my mother finally relented and as she iced the cake, she set aside a generous serving of filling for me. I greedily gulped a big portion, reached for another one, but as a blob of rich cream dissolved in my mouth, I sat with a spoon frozen midair. Without the neutral backdrop of sponge cake, the cream tasted cloying and heavy. The look on my face must have told it all, because my mom was trying hard not to burst out laughing.
That’s how I feel about Prodigieux le parfum. It’s a fun, well-crafted tropical floral, and if you like fragrances like Kai, Guerlain Mahora and Kilian Love, it’s a great, affordable option. But its richness and sweetness are only for those who can eat frosting out of a can without wincing. The oil, on the other hand, is just perfect.
*Want to pronounce Prodigieux Le Parfum like a Parisian? Bela at Frag Name of the Day can help.
Extra: Sunshine Dreams : My Favorite Tropical Perfumes
Nuxe Prodigieux le parfum includes notes of bergamot, mandarin, gardenia, orange blossom, rose, vanilla, coconut milk, and woods. 50ml, 45 €. Available at pharmacies in Europe and directly at fr.nuxe.com.
96 Comments
The Blue Squid: Lovely review! The oil sounds like it would make a very nice summertime Christmas gift for someone like my sister, who loves stuff with that tropical odour. The shimmering version of the oil looks fun too.
Also, I am so pleased to find someone else who dislikes that pink and green Maybelline mascara. I am rather cheap when it comes to makeup, and I always feel compelled to use up what I have before buying more. But that mascara… It went straight in the bin after one use. Urgh. December 12, 2013 at 7:57am
Katie: Great Lash, in pink-green tube, clumped like there is no tomorrow and left my eyes itchy. Rocket Volume is better and non-irritating. December 12, 2013 at 9:02am
rosarita: On the Makepalley forum, Great Lash is universally hated and it’s always curious how it’s attained cult status. Must work for someone, I guess. I’d much rather have the Nuxe oil 🙂 December 12, 2013 at 9:33am
Victoria: I love MUA reviews and often consult them when I’m ready to try out a new product. 🙂 December 12, 2013 at 1:33pm
Victoria: I don’t understand how this mascara managed to earn such a cult status. It’s not just nothing special, it’s downright bad. I was more persistent than you, and I’ve used it 3 times until I decided that spider lashes with bits of black dust under my eyes is not my favorite look.
The oil is wonderful, and while it’s also tropical, it’s less sweet. December 12, 2013 at 12:54pm
natalya baranova: Great lash is an incredible mascara. I did not even know it was a cult favorite, I just discovered it on my own when I was going through tons of mascara trying to find the one that would work. I tried the expensive ones, for a time used definicils, but maybelinne is much better, not to mention cheaper. Was the tube you tried oldish, perhaps? It being dried out is the only explanation I have for your experience. It does dry out fairly quickly, but I use it up even faster. December 31, 2014 at 6:02pm
Michaela: Same here, I hate that mascara with a passion! I guess it’s all about being very cheap. For me the best mascara ever is Diorshow Blackout and onbsecond position, surprisingly, an Estee Lauder that makes even the shortest tiniest lashes to apear as long, perfect, silky ones. But the Maybelline in pink and green is just plain terrible and does nothing to my lashes except sticky clumps!
Victoria, do you think I might enjoy the Nuxe oil, ( the oil,not the perfume) IF I am not that much into frangipani? I am a bit scared by the connection with monoi oil since I have tested Songes Goutal and did not like it no matter how much I’ve tried! On me it smells of old baking soda, a musty odour I associate ith B.O. and sweat. Is Nuxe oil anything like Yves Rocher Monoi or Songes? I hate both…. December 13, 2013 at 2:39am
Victoria: If you don’t like the smell of monoi oil, I don’t think you’ll like Nuxe. It’s really a classical tiare/frangipani scent with a touch of coconut, vanilla and orange blossom. There are many other oils I mention in the link I posted to Katie, so your money is probably better spent elsewhere. December 13, 2013 at 8:38am
Michaela: I see, thanks a lot! I am into non-parabenic cosmetics and I was secretly hoping Nuxe might do the trick for me! December 13, 2013 at 9:43am
Victoria: The formula itself is great, but the scent is strong. If I were you, I would look for something else. December 14, 2013 at 9:18am
Geneviève: I so much agree with you for the mascara… It is so bad! I flakes, it’s also hard to apply, it’s not smooth and hard to wash. Like Michaela, Diorshow (classic or blackout) is my all-time favorite, but it’s shouldn’t be compare to the pink and green of Maybeline because it’s not the same price at all…
For the Nuxe prodigieux, I never heard of it before… I didn’t know it was a cult product! My culture in esthetic is bad it seems.
I should try it to make myself an idea! Thanks for the review. December 17, 2013 at 1:28am
Victoria: It’s just that I see it mentioned as a cult product in various magazines. Who knows if it really is! 🙂 December 17, 2013 at 11:39am
Jenna: Thanks for reviewing it. The perfume sounds like it would be too sweet for me. Have you tried the shimmer oil from Nuxe? December 12, 2013 at 8:21am
Victoria: I’ve used up half a bottle and gave the rest to my cousin. I think that it’s very good, but the shimmer made it less user-friendly. For instance, it left little streaks on white clothes. I much prefer dry shimmer powders that I can apply after I moisturize. December 12, 2013 at 12:55pm
maja: I do understand the hype but I find the smell of oil unbearable. I’ve had it for years (secretly hoping it will turn rancid) but, alas, it’s still very good. 🙂 It’s way too tropical and cloying. I should really pass my bottle to someone. The perfume could probably kill me, I suppose. 🙂 December 12, 2013 at 9:01am
Victoria: Then you would hate the perfume! It’s also tropical and sweet, but it’s more so. Maybe, another reason I didn’t care for perfume is because it lasts longer than the oil and never really dissipates.
Another perfume I imagine you’d hate is Guerlain’s Mahora. Talk about tropical fantasy overkill! But it’s still fun. December 12, 2013 at 12:59pm
OperaFan: Funny, for someone who generally dislike coconut (read – suntan oil) scented fragrances, I adore Mahora. Granted, the part I love most is probably the reason why most people dislike this perfume – the so-called, “loud, noisy” opening. 🙂 For me, it reads – perfumy.
Isn’t it amazing the longevity of these dry oils? I bought a 100ml bottle of Heuile Prodigieux that lasted 5 years and never got rancid. I currently have a bottle of AG Heure Exquise dry oil spray that’s probably close to if not over 10 yrs old and still smell true to the perfume. December 12, 2013 at 5:12pm
Victoria: I expected to like Prodigieux Le Parfum, because I enjoy the vibrancy of Mahora, but it’s all sweetness without the bubbles. Another coconut floral I used to like was Juste Un Reve by Parfums de Nicolai, but it has been discontinued. December 13, 2013 at 8:24am
OperaFan: It’s too bad about Juste Un Reve being disconued. I know I’m generalizing (and it’s been ages since I tried either), but I thought that Montale’s Intense Tiare and AG’s Songes fell into the same category – smooth coconuty/tropical florals without being overly bubbly or sweet? December 13, 2013 at 10:55am
Victoria: Yes, they do for me as well. I don’t know Montale’s that well, but Songes is one of my favorites. December 13, 2013 at 6:14pm
maja: I have never tried Mahora. 🙂 I think my sort of avversion to tropical flowers is due to the fact I have never been to a tropical place. Maybe a week or two somewhere exotic could make me love them 😉 December 15, 2013 at 4:25pm
Victoria: Yes, there is something to be said about the positive association, although my memories of tropical flowers in the tropics are always accompanied by the smells of decay and rotten fruit. 🙂 December 16, 2013 at 6:59am
Katie: I like the oil but not the smell. I overdid coconut lotion from Bath Body Works one summer and since then I run away from coconut. Do you know of a similar oil but unscented? December 12, 2013 at 9:03am
Bastet: Neutrogena makes a wonderful unscented body oil. December 12, 2013 at 9:36am
Victoria: I forgot about Neutrogena. Yes, it’s another favorite, and I bought a bottle on my last trip to US, since I find it here in Brussels. December 12, 2013 at 1:02pm
Victoria: L’Oreal makes an unscented dry oil, but I don’t remember its exact name. I had a thread on oils here, and while most on this list are scented, the comments give other suggestions:
https://boisdejasmin.com/2012/08/perfumed-body-oils-recommendations-from-french-marie-claire-from-sexy-to-couture.html December 12, 2013 at 1:01pm
Caroline: Really glad you reviewed this one–I enjoy beachy & coconutty occasionally, but this doesn’t sound like a must-own (sounds considerably sweeter than Bronze Goddess.) I wonder if there’s a fragrance-free dry oil that comes in a spray? December 12, 2013 at 9:42am
Victoria: I believe that Neutrogena Dry Oil comes in a spray (or maybe it used but not anymore). The bottle I bought recently is a splash, but I seem to remember a spray bottle at some point. Boots and No7 brand oils are also in a spray bottle, but I don’t remember if any of them are scented or not. December 12, 2013 at 1:05pm
Zazie: Cult products sometimes leave us wondering, don’t they?
😉
I’ve tested (and wondered at) many cult “duds” over the years, I guess it really boils down to personal taste and different expectations.
I would be curious to understand how the “cult” status builds up!
Nuxe oil, (and his cousin from caudalie) don’t work for me – I am a sucker for anything tropical smelling, but the scent of these dry oils really turns me off. Must be the only one in Europe!!!!
(However, the cultissime eau de beaute from caudalie really has me hooked!)t December 12, 2013 at 10:05am
Victoria: Do you use Eau de Beaute as a toner? I have a little bottle, and I like it, but I can’t figure out how to add it to my routine. I don’t tend to refresh my face in the middle of the day. December 12, 2013 at 1:07pm
Zazie: I guess I don’t use it as a toner either! 😉
I keep it on my nightstand and spray it on myself and my pillow before going to bed… My husband always asks for his share too!
I also use it as a pleasant and refreshing wake up splash in dreary grey mornings or on long flights… Or to make stuffy hotel rooms smell pleasant.
I’m addicted to smell and the fresh feeling really!
I think I use it like an old fashioned eau de cologne 😉 December 12, 2013 at 2:24pm
Victoria: Oh, great ideas here! I’ll try it as a linen spray then, since the scent is very comforting. I confess that so far I’ve been using it mostly as a light splash on days when I need a pick me up. My favorite toner is a simple rosewater-distilled water blend, and I don’t feel like changing it. December 12, 2013 at 3:32pm
Hannah: How is body oil used? Sometimes I rub olive oil onto my skin and then rinse it off. It has very good results but I have to scrub the tub so that the next person who showers doesn’t break their neck. December 12, 2013 at 10:09am
Lynley: Hannah, I apply the oil when I’m still wet from the shower and gently pat dry. Because it’s a dry oil it isn’t greasy and doesn’t need to be rinsed 🙂 December 12, 2013 at 10:21am
Victoria: I do the same thing as Lynley. I apply the oil after the shower, while my skin is still wet. I do it even with non-dry oils (ie, oils that don’t have silicones added) like plain coconut, apricot kernel or argan oils. With regular oils, you need to use very little, but as you massage them into wet skin, they will be absorbed.
You can also use dry oil on hair, rubbing into the ends or to give extra shine. If I’m wearing my hair up in a bun, I use a couple of drops oil to slick the hair in place. December 12, 2013 at 1:09pm
Hannah: So does this have silicones? Silicones tend to break my skin out. December 12, 2013 at 1:14pm
Victoria: I should have said, doesn’t contain silicones or other similar ingredients, because not all dry oils contain them. Nuxe doesn’t, as far as I know, and it’s one of the few that don’t include it. December 12, 2013 at 1:32pm
Austenfan: I love Nuxe body oil, and the Caudalie for that matter. It’s a real treat to put it on one’s skin.
I also love the pastry anecdote plus it makes for an excellent comparison (and I would have loved to have witnessed it). In Dutch there is a saying: That one’s eyes are bigger than one’s stomach.
I only sniffed the Nuxe parfum once, found it quite dense, and wasn’t tempted to buy. the oil I use fairly regularly, I am on my second bottle of it ; the first one was purchased spring 2012. December 12, 2013 at 10:29am
Victoria: In Russian, we say, “eyes would continue eating.” I still remember that icing episode, and it probably cured me out of craving for creamy pastries for good. December 12, 2013 at 1:14pm
behemot: Yes, same expression in Polish.
As for so called cult favorites, I hate the M pink tube mascara and rose hip balm. Nars Orgasm blush not only looks bad on my skn, but also irritates. Unfortunately, the same can be said of Nuxe oil, so I am not even going to sample the fragrance 🙁
I tolerate Lierac and Clarins body oils much better… December 12, 2013 at 2:55pm
Victoria: I love Clarins oil too, but at one point I read the ingredient label, I figured that I could just take my favorite oil (almond) and scent it myself with rosemary and geranium. This works really well, and if I feel extravagant, I add a little bit of rose too. I might make a new batch once I’m doing with my apricot kernel oil scented with sandalwood. December 12, 2013 at 3:31pm
Austenfan: Clarins used to have a dry oil in their Eau Dynamisante range. It’s lovely, very true to the fragrance and nice on the skin. I prefer it to the Eau the Toilette of the same range. December 12, 2013 at 3:42pm
Victoria: It sounds like a great product. By the way, Dior used to have a non-alcohol based Eau Svelte, and it was another treatment/perfume I loved. December 12, 2013 at 4:01pm
Austenfan: The Dynamisante dry oil is discontinued I think.
That Dior sounds good.
I actually have a bottle of Heure Exquise dry oil. Needless to say it is stunning. When I really want to pamper myself I put that on and wear the EDP. If my sillage is too strong, too bad. The world needs, on occasion to smell, great perfumes! December 13, 2013 at 4:04am
Victoria: What a great philosophy! Yes, occasionally, it’s not such a bad thing at all. Just the other day I was sitting on the train next to a woman who was redolent of Hermes 24 Faubourg, and it was the best train ride. December 13, 2013 at 8:42am
behemot: Great ideas! December 12, 2013 at 5:02pm
Hannah: I’m really not a cosmetics person but NARS is so intriguing to me for some reason. I think because my dream job is creative director so branding interests me. I looked up Francois Nars’ birthday because I thought for sure he’d be a Virgo (like Tom Ford and Karl Lagereld. He’s actually a Pisces, oop). I did the “ask a makeup artist” thing once giving them a detailed description of my face and style and what they sent me sounds so pretty (Apply Ponderosa Cream Eyeshadow to lid from lash to crease. Set with Abyssinia Matte Eyeshadow from lash to brow. Press the black violet in Brousse on the lid from lash to crease. Sweep the sable in Brousse into the crease. Line the lashes then smudge the pencil with Mekong Single Eyeshadow). They also told me I have a keen sense of style! The Brousse duo is my only non-nailpolish coveted makeup item. The Orgasm nailpolish is basically the opposite of what I like (I would like to have Kismet, though). December 12, 2013 at 4:25pm
Jani: I just added the “Fragrance Name of the Day” website to my browser task bar right next to “Bois de Jasmin.” What a great site! For the first time, I know how to pronounce my favorite perfumes, thanks to Bela. I don’t worship any human, but I’m close to it when it comes to Victoria. 🙂 December 12, 2013 at 11:46am
Victoria: I’m lucky to have all of you, Jani! 🙂 And very happy to hear that you like Bela’s site. It’s such a terrific resource, and I love her voice. I would love a recording of her reading some poetry or a story. What a treat it would be! December 12, 2013 at 1:17pm
Bela: Awww, how sweet of you, V! December 12, 2013 at 6:56pm
Victoria: Thank you again for making such a nice resource! December 13, 2013 at 8:33am
Bela: Thank you very much. I’m glad you’re finding it useful. 🙂 December 12, 2013 at 6:55pm
Jillie: Oh, how wonderful to see that other people didn’t care for the Maybelline mascara! I used to keep trying it, as I thought I must be at fault for not getting on with it, but finally gave up – I couldn’t take the smudging and flaking and the fact that it didn’t make my lashes look good, not to mention making my contact lenses smeary and my eyes water. It’s funny, isn’t it, how certain products gain cult status but don’t really deserve it? December 12, 2013 at 12:26pm
Hannah: Maybe it is the first mascara that a lot of girls buy and the distinctive tube has a lot of nostalgia attached to it?
Sometimes I see German blog entries about cupcakes (which they often confuse with muffins but I don’t want to talk about that) as a cult dessert and they make it seem like cupcakes are very haute in the US but they’re actually just popular because a lot of kids bring them to school on their birthday or adults bring them to office parties because it’s easier to share then a cake. So I think a lot of the time people just like things because they always used them and then people pick up on the fact that something is popular and assume it is because it’s great. December 12, 2013 at 12:59pm
Victoria: Oh, phew! I was worried I would be pelted with rotten tomatoes for not liking that darn mascara. It’s the only mascara that managed to smear my contacts as well as leave black dust on my glasses! That’s a feat in itself. December 12, 2013 at 1:18pm
Katy McReynolds: I use Rosebud salve on my hands just because I love the smell. A much better rose salve is the one from Salma Hayak’s Nuance line. I also love rose water and glycerin sprays. I do not have a single rose centric perfume. I had Gres Cabaret but my daughter loved it so much I gave it to her! Bad rose potpourri and candles put me off for years but I think I might be recovering. December 12, 2013 at 4:01pm
Victoria: I haven’t tried anything from Nuance, but a couple of other people recommended their rose salve to me. As for rosewater and glycerin sprays, they’re fantastic, especially if you have sensitive skin like I do. My husband laughs at how many bottles of rosewater I seem to go through each year. December 13, 2013 at 8:20am
Merlin: What! I can’t believe you don’t like the Maybelline pink/green mascara: it is my FAVOURITE!
LOL:) Never tried it – and don’t intend to – given my ridiculously sensitive eyes. But, regarding so called cult products I do find The Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream to be both unpleasant and quite useless too.
I have only recently come across that Rosebud balm and I love the scent and SO want to buy it. But, there are very mixed reviews – some calling it a miracle product and others an overpriced hoax:) December 12, 2013 at 4:51pm
Jillie: Oh, Merlin, fellow 8 Hour hater! Another product I persisted with thinking that I must be wrong, but which I finally ditched. The smell was nauseating, the colour alarming and I couldn’t help feeling that it was nothing more than good old Vaseline in disguise (and ten times more expensive).
And yet …. my niece informed me that she loves it and the smell!
So maybe there’s no accounting for taste. Or The Emperor’s New Clothes? December 13, 2013 at 2:47am
Merlin: Aside from no accounting for taste and the emperors new clothes there may be another explanation with some products –
I think it is likely that what works well for one person, in terms of moisturizer or balm, may not work for another. Some may have a reverse reaction to certain products, while for others it works like a ‘miracle’.
Arden’s 8 hour cream has so little charm it must actually work for at least some people to have achieved ‘cult status’??? December 13, 2013 at 4:30am
Victoria: Add me as another 8 Hour Cream hater. I’m sure that there are many people out there who love it, and it probably depends on one’s skin type. A friend who likes it used it during her track across Siberia, but I’m rarely experiencing such extreme conditions, which is probably for the best. 🙂 December 13, 2013 at 8:41am
Merlin: I guess I’m quite lazy cos a lip treatment has to be both pleasant to use and effective. I only use it on a regular basis if its both – otherwise I just don’t bother and endure dry lips instead!
As for the 8 hour – both ineffective and unpleasant…
(I also found the scent noxious!) December 13, 2013 at 5:35pm
Victoria: I’m exactly the same way when it comes to lip balm. Same goes for hand cream. I was reading an interview with a hand model, in which she confessed to moisturizing her hands 40 times a day. The very thought makes me exhausted, but then again, my hands aren’t likely to grace any ad. 🙂 December 13, 2013 at 6:13pm
Merlin: So that works out to rubbing cream on her hands every 20 minutes or so. Wow, thats dedication;) December 13, 2013 at 6:55pm
Victoria: She also mentioned many things she doesn’t do, like opening jars, washing dishes or cooking. There was also something about the danger of handling books, because of paper cuts. 🙂 December 14, 2013 at 9:21am
Merlin: Actually I read somewhere that paper is very drying to the hands. Lets see if my hands start looking better now that I have a kindle, lol! December 14, 2013 at 9:26am
Victoria: But Kindle doesn’t have that wonderful scent of paper, either new or old. And apparently I live dangerously! Just today I already opened a couple of jars, fried pancakes (and even turned them with my fingers on the hot skillet!), and now I’m settling down to read a book. My husband washed the dishes, so I suppose I was saved from destroying my hands further. 🙂 December 14, 2013 at 9:41am
Merlin: Please, BE CAREFUL! 😉 December 14, 2013 at 11:29am
Victoria: You had me there for a moment, and since I remembered our discussion about sensitive eyes a couple of weeks ago, I was puzzled. 🙂 December 13, 2013 at 8:21am
Merlin: lol!
I was reading your comments on a previous post about the YSL glossy-stain and am thinking of investing in one of these.
The best color on me though is Bobbi Brown’s Tawny Pink – which stays on quite well but is unfortunately a little drying.
In the YSL the Brun Cachemire (3) and Vinyl Rose (15) seem the best – but neither is perfect on me… December 13, 2013 at 5:41pm
Victoria: I should add that another reason I like Glossy Stains is that I can’t be bothered to reapply lipstick in the middle of the day. I really find it annoying for some reason. Stains last and even if I’m not careful and some color comes off, they fade evenly, without leaving a dreaded ring around the mouth. But I guess, the color selection is still limited. And also, they are best tried first, because some colors appear differently on the lips than they do in the tube. December 13, 2013 at 6:09pm
Merlin: Lipstick is something else I’m lazy with! One lipstick lasts me several years because I use it so infrequently:) My mother seems to need a new one every few weeks!
I don’t want to be continually conscious of my own appearance and continually touching it up – but that being said, I am kind of aware of it falling apart if I don’t, lol! December 13, 2013 at 6:50pm
Victoria: Agree with you again. That’s why a coat of mascara and one of my longer lasting lipsticks is my usual makeup look. It’s the one that’s least likely to fall apart and it needs no touch ups. December 14, 2013 at 9:25am
Merlin: In my image of you I don’t think you could be un-neat if you tried!
Straight hair, a history of ballet, and some other factors that don’t come straight to mind, translate into an effortless and near-perfect appearance:) December 14, 2013 at 9:33am
Victoria: I’m very flattered that someone has such a nice image of me. In reality, it’s far from perfect or even near-perfect, although I do try my best to keep the hair neat. That’s a ballet habit I can’t let go of, probably because back in the day the teachers would throw you out of class for having a messy bun. December 14, 2013 at 9:46am
Merlin: I’v stopped trying to get my hair to comply to anything. I live the way I want to, it lives the way it wants to, and we try not to interfere with each other’s freedoms…
It goes without saying that my feet refused to ever to go into first position – much to my mother’s disappointment:) December 14, 2013 at 11:33am
minette: i was laughing about the cult examples you mentioned – that maybelline great lash is singularly the WORST mascara on the planet! glob and flake hell! who on earth thinks it’s good? and the rosebud also dries out my lips! otoh, i love nars orgasm – in the tube. the creamy version is gorgeous and much easier to work with than the powder. don’t know the nuxe, but the oil sounds nice. December 12, 2013 at 5:12pm
Victoria: I like his cream blushes too, but the ones that look best on me are the cool toned ones. I guess, my main problem with Orgasm blush is that it’s too glittery, so it’s more of a highlighter than a blush on me. December 13, 2013 at 8:23am
annemariec: Ah yes, regarding your butter cream experience, the solution is to let the kids scrape out the bowl used to make the buttercream (or the icing, which is what I use). That way they only get a little bit and learn at their own pace that too much of a good thing is … not so good.
I like Nuxe oil a lot but it sounds like the parfum is not for me. A little bit of coconut goes a long way. I’m wearing Ysatis today and all it needs is a *smidge* of coconut to give the fragrance a relaxed, friendly feel and make it more wearable than, say, 24 Faubourg, which is similar but formal.
I also think I tolerate coconut more in body products than perfumes. I guess it all goes back to the 1970s and the use of coconut in tanning oils and sunscreens. December 12, 2013 at 5:50pm
Victoria: I agree with your take on Ysatis. The touch of creaminess adds so much to soften its drama. It’s like a well-tailored suit made in bright pink.
My mom also let me scrape out the bowl, and I remember with how much impatience I waited for it. 🙂 Another favorite sweet treat was the skimmings from jam, the foam that my grandmother removed to make sure her jam stays transparent. December 13, 2013 at 8:33am
Bela: I feel exactly the same about so-called cult products. I’m usually quite good at resisting hype, but I have been convinced by it a few times – and regretted it more often than not. However, like you, V, I love Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse.
I tried Le Parfum a while ago and found it disappointingly cloying. December 12, 2013 at 7:33pm
Victoria: The Arden 8-Hour cream comes to mind, especially after Jillie and Merlin mentioned it. I couldn’t believe that I wasted money on something so unexciting in all respects. The scent was the worst part. December 13, 2013 at 8:35am
Carla: I agree about maybelline mascara and Nars blush. And whenever I love something and want to buy another it is discontinued, it seems. This has happened to me with makeup, perfume, shoes! December 12, 2013 at 8:45pm
Victoria: Gosh, that’s a familiar story. With books, it’s even more common than with makeup for me. December 13, 2013 at 8:36am
Mer: Hahaha, your cream anecdote is brilliant!
“But its richness and sweetness are only for those who can eat frosting out of a can without wincing.”
This sums up my dislike of sweet gourmands perfectly, just thinking about eating frosting on its own makes me wince.
I guess I won’t be poking this fragance with a ten foot pole 😉 December 13, 2013 at 7:35am
Victoria: I’m usually not a fan of big gourmands either, but there are days when I go for a few drops of Angel or Coco Mademoiselle, and they work perfectly. It happens once in a blue moon, and even then, I can only manage a tiny amount. I like gourmands on others, though. December 13, 2013 at 8:44am
Gohr: How glad I am that you made a review of one of my current favourite perfumes. I think it’s a lovely perfume. December 17, 2013 at 11:09am
Victoria: Yes, it’s definitely well-done, even if too sweet for my tastes. December 17, 2013 at 11:43am
Annette Reynolds: I added this comment under another post, but thought I’d add it here too:
I realize this is an old post, but I’m just now reading it and couldn’t help adding my own tropical favorite. Have you tried Elemis SpaHome Frangipani Monoi Body Oil? Oh, it is HEAVENLY.
I was introduced to it on a cruise in 2012, and although I hated the cruise experience, the Elemis oil was the one good thing to come from it.
They also make a creamy body wash of the same fragrance, and it’s also magnificent. January 24, 2014 at 2:34pm
Victoria: I haven’t tried it, but it sounds wonderful. Thank you for recommending it.
Alba Botanica makes a great body wash called Midnight Tuberose, and it’s a dead ringer for L’Artisan’s La Chasse Aux Papillons. January 24, 2014 at 2:52pm
Annette Reynolds: Thanks, Victoria. Will see if I can find some to sniff! Have a lovely weekend. January 24, 2014 at 4:22pm
Annette Reynolds: Meant to put this in my last reply: Beauty.com has a terrific deal on the Elemis products I mentioned. Here’s a link: http://www.beauty.com/products/prod.asp?pid=506630&catid=298688&trxp1=298688&trxp2=506630&trxp3=2&trxp4=1 January 24, 2014 at 4:30pm
Victoria: Thank you very much! January 24, 2014 at 5:44pm
irene greenfield: nuxe prodigieux is a summer fragrance which will remind me of my cruise to sorrento this may 2015 my alltime favorite was myster by rochas obsoletxe now irene January 17, 2015 at 11:29am
Sandra: How is the resistance of the Nuxe oil?
Could it replace perfume ( applied few drops on the neck area etc)?
I really love the monoi and frangipani scent January 19, 2015 at 8:47am
Julie DeMelo: Thank you, Victoria, great review! I agree it is fun. 🙂
I purchased this perfume last year around the holidays. They also have a nice skincare line too.
For a spring/summer treat and spa treatment at home, I love the Nuxe dry oil mixed with an unscented lotion by Shea Moisture. I just showered with “warm sand” scented soap made by a local company (in small batches) here in RI. Shore Soap Co… a few sprays of Prodigieux and I’m tropical for the day without a sunburn! April 5, 2017 at 11:59am