fragrance notes: the body shop love etc. eau de parfum

I was ready to pass off The Body Shop's Love Etc. as just another flaky, fruity/floral girly scent. (Chalk it up to the tween-esque, heart-covered box). But when I found out the fragrance was created by none other than Dominique Ropion, the renowned perfumer behind Givenchy Very Irresistible, Burberry the Beat, and a roster of fragrances for Frederic Malle, I knew I was in for something special. And it is. Call me addicted, if you will. This perfume is a bit deceiving because you might think that, being called "Love" it would be rom-com-ish and a bit boring, like a bouquet of carnations for Valentine's Day. But Love Etc. is more like a bouquet of orchids, as it's pretty yet sexy, feminine yet sophisticated and sparkling but warm. The main notes of the scent are jasmine and vanilla, an ingredient which is actually also derived from a flower, the vanilla orchid. On their own, these notes can be heady at times and too sweet at others, but Love Etc. also combines pear, neroli and bergamot at the top, heliotrope, lily of the valley in the middle, and creamy musk and sandalwood at the base, creating a beautifully sensuous mix. Love Etc. is uplifting and it just puts me in a good mood when I wear it. And the bottle? It's simply feminine and pretty with a chic gold cap. I also adore the Love Etc. Body Lotion, an intensely moisturizing, and very fragrant way to experience Love Etc. Layering it with the Eau de Parfum gives the scent immense staying power, too. What's more, this scent is the first ever to use community-traded alcohol based on organically-grown sugar cane from Ecuador. Just another reason to love this scent.