If the changing seasons hasn't reminded you that Mother's Day is right around the corner, the veritable explosion of fragrance-related advertisements and promotions everywhere you turn is probably a dead giveaway. I mean, I get it. Perfumes are the epitome of special occasion gifting. They're luxurious, they're beautiful, and they're often the last thing a busy mom may feel justified in treating herself to. And while there are no shortage of enticing options to chose from in your local department store, why not pay your mom a little extra homage by buying from a brand that goes the extra mile instead?
DefineMe Fragrance is a brand that I have seriously grown to love and respect this year with everything they stand for. Not only are all of their products vegan and cruelty-free, but they also have a mission to empower young women through their DefineMe Dollar Program. While some fragrance brands are all about status and sexuality, DefineMe preaches self-love, girl power, and positive affirmations. Knowing that my mom has taught me a lot about what it means to be a woman as well as what it means to be a respectful, loving human, I find it way more fitting to gift her something from a brand that gets behind those ideals than one that doesn't. So, if you're curious to learn more about DefineMe and what they have to offer, keep on reading!
DefineMe Fragrance currently has six different scent varieties to choose from, each inspired by a specific girl persona. They even have a super adorable fragrance quiz you can take to help you figure out which IT girl is your best match. All of the scents are designed to either be worn alone, or layered together to create your perfect custom scent. In this respect, DefineMe's scents are a little more simple and straightforward. I find the scent descriptions on the website to be pretty true to what you get, with each having 3 to 4 primary notes.
If you're still feeling a bit uncertain about the right fragrance to invest in, you can always pick up a Fragrance Oil Sampler Kit ($21) and give all six of them a whirl. This also gives you the opportunity to play with scent layering and figuring out your favorite combinations! Paired with a gift card, this would also be an awesome "choose your favorite" gift to give.
As a general fan of more gourmand scents, I've been a particular fan of Sofia Isabel, which leans very sweet but with a bit of softness to it. Payton is probably a close second for me, which has a spicy, sexy, yet feminine vibe that would be perfect for an evening out.
If you or your mom is a traditional perfume lover, you'll probably be most interested in DefineMe's Fragrance Mists. Each 1.7 oz bottle retails for $68, which I would say is very comparable to high end fragrances you'd find at Sephora or a department store. However, unlike many luxury fragrances, DefineMe's perfumes are made with a base of coconut oil, use fragrance oil blends that are simple, clean, and US made, and are free of parabens and other synthetic chemicals.
Until I went to do more research for this post I never realized how difficult it is to look up the ingredients of most popular perfumes. They're basically nowhere to be found on the internet. In my own personal collection, the only brand with ingredients listed on the bottle was Jo Malone, and there were several more unpronouncable words than one would prefer to see. This leads me to believe one thing - most fragrance brands would rather you NOT know what's in their formulas, and if they don't have to share them on their retail sites, they aren't going to. Take that as you will, but I appreciate DefineMe's transparency and desire to put cleaner ingredients into their products.
On top of the quality formulas, DefineMe also delivers on packaging. Their bottle designs are girly, yet simple and chic, and would look beautiful on any vanity. If you'd like something a little more purse-friendly, or aren't ready to take the plunge and pick up a full-sized mist, you can also opt for a travel spray instead. Each On-the-Go mist retails for $27 and contains 9 ml (0.3 oz) of product.
DefineMe also offers Fragrance Oils that can be worn alone or layered with your favorite spray for extra lasting power. Each oil retails for $39 and contains 9 ml (0.3 oz) of product. If you're curious as to why the oil is so much more expensive than the travel spray despite the fact that they're the same size, it really comes down to potency. These oil rollerballs will go a long way, and have more concentrated doses of fragrance than a mist. You just dab a little of the oil to your pulse points and you're good to go.
One of the cool newer additions to the DefineMe line is their Hair Fragrance Mist. Formulated with aloe and Provitamin B-5 these mists are less drying and damaging to the hair than perfume is on its own. Each hair mist retails for $38 and contains 2.0 oz of product. Whether you want to really amp up your experience or give your second day hair a serious refresh, this is a fun one to add to your collection!
If it isn't already overly apparent, I think DefineMe is doing some great things - both ethically and quality-wise - with their products. I can't imagine not liking at least one of their scents, and have really enjoyed the process of blending and layering them together. Speaking of which, if you need a starting point, DefineMe has already curated some cool sets with some of their favorite combinations! If you've already tried DefineMe's products before, I'd love to hear which IT girl has your heart. Let us know in the comments below!
If you're interested in treating yourself or someone else to some DefineMe goodness, you can save 10% and get a free deluxe sample when you use the code BLUSHINGBIRDIE at checkout! Orders over $75 always ship free within the US. Happy shopping, beautiful!
Which DefineMe Fragrance is speaking to you?
