Bourgiepedia: Black Friday - Parfum vs Toilette

Though the most frightening Black Friday is behind us, more holiday shopping is ahead of us,and many folks are strategizing to get the best deals for their loved ones. Many department stores will be having special promotions on fragrances. Some people find it offensive to receive gifts for personal hygiene, but if you know someone's favorite fragrance, or what types of frgrances they typically like, it can be a very thoughtful gift.

When selecting the perfect fragrances, here are some of the basics you will need to know:

Eau de Toilette vs Eau de Parfume

According to Merriam-Webster online, eau de toilette is defined as, "a perfumed liquid containing a lower percentage of fragrant oils than is contained in ordinary perfume or eau de parfum -- called also toilet water," while eau de parfum is defined as, "a perfumed liquid containing a percentage of fragrant oils that is lower than that in perfume but greater than that in eau de toilette." (Yahoo! gives a slightly longer explanation here.)

If you want to get more bang for your buck, you definitely want to purchase the eau de parfume. Because it has a higher concentration of  fragrant oils, you don't have to use as much, and the fragrance will last longer. My personal opinion is that it truly smells better than the eau de toilette version as well. Keep in mind that, no matter how expensive the fragrance, if you put too much on, you will cheapen the smell. (Those Axe commercials can be pretty misleading.)

My current favorite is Love by Chloé.

Now, if you want to get really fancy, you can try an actual perfume.

Fragrances Can be Expensive, But Most Department Stores Carry Gift (or Value) Sets!


For a quality designer fragrance, you can pay upwards of $85 for a 1.7oz bottle of eau de parfum. One trick I've found is purchasing a gift set. If you don't need the big 2.5oz+ fragrance (and if you use more than one fragrance a season/don't drown yourself in perfume, who does?), purchase the gift set. They usually come with the 1.7oz of the eau de parfum (which lasts longer than the toilette, remember), a travel size bottle (for your car/purse/desk), and either lotion or body wash (9/10 lotion). I rarely use the body wash/lotion that comes with it (the lotion is usually too runny, and the body wash usually doesn't produce a good lather), and I'm less motivated to do so because it's usually just a bonus item. I've found that the best places to purchase these gift sets are at the major department stores (Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, etc). Nordstrom in particular has experts in the fragrance department who can help you pick out a fragrance that fits the taste of the person you're buying the gift for (e.g. if they like rosy fragrances, something sweet yet subtle, citrus smells) so that you don't completely miss the mark. If you're trying to decide between several fragrances, you're going to want to read my next point.

Use the Coffee Beans! They are your best friends in the fragrance department!
Just like ginger helps cleanse your palate when eating sushi, sniffing coffee beans helps reset your sniffer. Taking a nice whiff of coffee beans will give you a better idea of the true smell of the fragrance. Remember, also, not to sniff the fragrance as soon as you smell it. You want to give it a little bit of time to let the smell settle.

A few extra pointers

• If you are purchasing the fragrance for yourself, remember not to rub your wrists together after you spray it. You will destroy the chemistry of the fragrance, leading it to smell differently than it was intended. 
• Different strokes for different folks: Remember that not everyone has the same preference when it comes to fragrance. Just because you love every Juicy fragrance, doesn't mean your sister is going to love it too. 
• Your body is ever-changing, so don't expect to be in love with one fragrance your entire life! This works for some people, but most of us retire fragrances as our body chemistry changes. Think about which fragrances you liked as a child. Now think of which fragrances you like now. Notice the difference?
• You'll notice there was not an in-depth discussion of men's cologne in this post. The reality is, it's much easier to shop men's colognes than a woman's perfume. If you have any questions or need advice on a cologne for a family member or significant other, comment on this post! 

HAPPY HOLIDAY SHOPPING!

A newer spin on a classic fragrance.
 I'm on the hunt for a good deal on this one!
(COCO Mademoiselle by Chanel)

Get Your Bourgie Up

Did you know that people actually review fragrances? I have read quite a few New York Times reviews of fragrances, and they have way more information than I think anyone would ever need to know about a fragrance; nevertheless, I appreciate the art!

Read some NY Times fragrance reviews here. 


FULL DISCLOSURE: YOUR FRIENDS OVER HERE AT BOURGIE SATURDAY WERE NOT PAID BY ANY OF THE BRANDS MENTIONED IN THIS POST. WHILE WE WISH WE COULD HAVE BEEN GIFTED FREE DESIGNER FRAGRANCES, WE WEREN'T!

Official Bourgie Saturday #2 - High Tea in Annapolis

High Tea at Reynolds Tavern, Annapolis


For our second Official Bourgie Saturday, The Bourgie Saturday Team headed out to Annapolis, Maryland for a high tea. 

From BourgiepediaHigh tea: High tea is typically served in the late afternoon - typically around 4 p.m. Often served are savories (small sandwiches), scones (yum), and pastries. Read about the history of the afternoon tea and the Duchess of Bedford here. 

Location, Location, Location


Reynolds Tavern is a delightful bed and breakfast/tea house/gift shop/pub located in Church Circle in beautiful Historic Downtown Annapolis. When you walk into the historic building, you are greeted by a delightful staff, and feel that you're in a different time period. The dining room is located to the left, and the hallway is filled English antiques and photographs. 


The dining room is beautiful! It is very cozy, which means it is not ideal for large parties or groups with small children. It is a truly intimate setting, which is great for tea. 


Tea

Miss CeeCee had the prettiest tea at the table. She ordered a pot of blooming tea, which really came to life at our table. It was almost too pretty to drink! (It was also delicious.) Everyone else's teas paled in comparison to this lovely blooming tea. (Read more about blooming teas here)


Normally, when visiting a tea house, one would order... well, tea. Having visited Reynolds Tavern before, I had taken advantage of their Afternoon Tea Selections; however, we were HUNGRY!


Eats


For an appetizer, Miss CeeCee ordered the crab dip, which she kindly shared with the table. If you're ever in Maryland - especially Annapolis - you must try crabs! Nobody does crabs the way we do crabs in Maryland, and Annapolis is the Mecca of Crab. The crab dip was delicious, and at $9 was a good amount of food for the price. 

The best appetizer at Reynolds Tavern has to be their cream of crab soup. Order a bowl because a cup just won't be enough of this delicious soup! Sometimes the server will offer it, and sometimes you have have to ask, but make sure you get a splash of sherry in soup. It definitely brings out all of the flavors of the soup, and adds an extra dose of bourgie to your meal. 

Side note: Sometimes I pick up some of their soup during my lunch breaks in the winter. It is so warm and delicious, and helps take your mind away from your work day for just a few minutes. 

Those who like sweet appetizers will love their sweet potato fries. They are a very generous serving, and are very sweet. Share these with a group of friends when you come and have your first Bourgie Saturday.


For our meals, three of us ordered the jumbo lump crab cake. Crab cakes can be hit or miss: some places make heavily breaded crab cakes which should really just be called jumbo cakes since they're missing lumps of crab, while other places mostly season the crab meat and form it into a cake (the proper way). Reynolds Tavern definitely knows how to make a jumbo lump crab cake. I ordered spinach and mashed garlic red potatoes to accompany my crab cake. Perfection! The spinach wasn't too salty, and the potatoes really complemented the crab cake. 


Triston wasn't too fond of the turkey reuben, but I can't exactly explain why. If I ever find out, I'll edit this post. (It has become a Bourgie Saturday tradition for Miss CeeCee, Jean, and I to love our meals, and for Triston to hate his. He's always the anomaly!) 


Bourgie Fashion


We really bourgie'd it up for RT. We looked chic and bourgie - but never flashy!

• Alexis was representing Ann Taylor with one of their black virgin wool sheath dresses,  a light pink blazer, and added a leopard scarf for the drive in. Every bourgie lady should own a sheath dress!
• Miss CeeCee added a twist to a modern tea outfit by wearing a soft peach cardigan over a white colored shirt, and khaki-colored pants instead of a skirt (it was cold!). 
• Jean went with the H&M/Top Shop/Urban Outfitters trifecta for this Official Bourgie Saturday outing. Pair a blazer with a skirt/shirt combo and you've got a chic, bourgie look for all seasons.
• Triston - Every self-respecting bourgie man needs an argyle sweater in his arsenal. Throw an argyle sweater over a white collared shirt, and you have instantly gone bourgie! 

Get Your Bourgie Up


Craving tea after reading this article? If you want to try some interesting teas, head to your local Teavana. You can buy all kinds of tea accessories in their stores, sample teas mixed by the staff, or even order iced tea to go. Think of them as the Starbucks of Tea. (Their prices are similar as well.)