Beautycounter Clean Eau de Parfum Review: I’m excited to share all about these fine, industry-disrupting EWG-verified fragrances.
Photos by Cramer Photo
Beautycounter’s new fragrance line launches today! See all fragrances and sizes here! And you take the perfume quiz here.
I have loved perfumes all my life.
I’m a smell girl. Wait, no no no… not a smelly girl, I mean I am smell gal. I love love scents, from laundry detergent to perfume.
When I took it upon myself to educate myself about using safer products on my body and in our home, a key element was avoiding fragrances. In fact, I have a whole blog post about fragrance and why I shy away from most fragrances in products.
I was quite upset to learn that all the divine smells I love – from my shampoo and body wash to the laundry soap left on warm clothes – may actually not be so healthy for you.
But when you know better, you can do better.
The Fragrance Loophole
So now that you have a general understanding of the “fragrance window” and the secrets behind so many scents, I’m excited to share that Beautycounter has entered the conversation with industry disruptors pure eau de parfum it’s been over 10 years in the making!!
Beautycounter Clean Eau de Parfum Review
I’ll start with my personal review before we get into the technical reasons why these are great perfumes to buy. Because if you don’t like the smell, you’re not going to wear the perfume no matter how awesome the brand is.
I first tried Beautycounter fragrances with last year’s holiday collection. Sun Spill and Miles away they were good, but I just knew that neither would be my signature scent. Beautycounter then announced three new fragrances: Second skin, Hyper Roseand Pacific Dreams. I took the following perfume wheel as part of our tutorial and did some research based on previous perfumes I’ve loved: I knew Floral Amber was my favorite type of perfume. I couldn’t wait to try the new fragrances and I was sure I would like at least one long enough to wear regularly.
Let’s Talk Scents
What are top, middle and base notes?
A perfume consists of a complex mixture of multiple layers of scents called “notes”. Together, they create a unique profile.
- Top Notes: These are the “first impression” notes you smell first. The top notes have an impact and evaporate quickly.
- Middle notes: These are the “heart” of the perfume. Middle notes add character and help connect top and base notes.
- Base notes: These are the richest notes. The base notes complete the fragrance and keep the longest lasting.
My favorite perfumes, in order
As it turns out, I was right! Floral Amber is my favorite category. And Second Skin is my absolute favorite!
Second Skin – floral amber
Layers of sweet citrus peek through a crisp and elegant blend of white jasmine, silky vanilla cream and cool, fine muguet infused with comforting notes of buttery sandalwood.
- Top: Bergamot, Pink Grapefruit, Blood Orange, Lemon
- Middle: White Jasmine, Rose, Cinnamon Leaf, Lily of the Valley
- Base: Vanilla Cream, Sandalwood, Musk, Amber
Notes Kath: Second Skin reminds me of my all time favorite fragrance (Joan Vass Amethyst) and others say it is similar to Coco Mademoiselle. It’s definitely not a super strong scent and there isn’t much musk. I find it very wearable and now it’s my signature scent that I put on every day when I get ready.
Hyper Rose – soft floral
Juicy apple blossom, sweet gardenia and spicy cassis cut through a blooming, full-bodied bouquet of Turkish rose, wrapped in cashmere wood for a warm and sultry softness.
- Top notes: Bergamot, Cassis
- Middle Notes: Absolute Turkish Rose, Gardenia, Apple Blossom
- Base notes: Cedarwood, cashmere wood
Kath’s notes: Hyper Rose is the sweetest of all. It’s floral but not overtly ‘pink’. I’m always a bit tired of it smelling too “strong” rose (forlackofabetterword) and this is sweet and balanced with a hint of rose. It reminds me so much of Rose 31 by Le Labo.
Pacific Dreams – aquatic citrus
A sparkling blend of lemon and bergamot brings a warm and sunny sweetness to the salty aromas of the marine accord highlighted by fresh Egyptian jasmine, crisp musk and ground cedar wood.
- Top notes: sparkling lemon, bergamot, lavender
- Middle notes: orange blossom, jasmine, sea accord
- Base notes: Cedar, vetiver, crisp musk
Notes by Kath: Pacific Dreams reminds me so much of D&G Light Blue! It’s VERY “watery” and cool, the most musky, and what I’d say is perfect for a date or party. You will be noticed wearing this perfume! I really like it when it’s a little worn in, like if I put on a sweatshirt I had the day before. Some men really like that too!
Sun Spill – citrus floral
Bright, refreshing notes of grapefruit and sweet neroli shine through a rich blend of rich jasmine, velvety rose and spicy coriander, combined with grassy vetiver for a fresh-cut finish.
- Top notes: Grapefruit, Neroli
- Middle notes: rose petals, jasmine, coriander
- Base notes: Vetiver, Cedar
Kath Notes: Sun Spill is the fruity scent of the lot and literally smells like sunshine in a bottle. I like it, but I really miss that “amber” profile on it. But if you don’t like ambers, this would be a great choice! It has been compared to Chanel Chance and Clinque Happy.
Miles away – woody green
Notes of lemon and Italian bergamot are balanced in a warm and woody blend of sandalwood, cedar and juniper, infused with fresh jasmine and soothing chamomile.
- Top notes: Lemon, Bergamot
- Middle notes: chamomile, jasmine, juniper berry
- Base notes: Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Vetiver
Kath’s notes: Miles away is very woody and probably the most masculine of the bunch. If you like cool, woody scents – this is for you! It has been compared to Santal 31 by Le Labo. It’s a little too strong for me, but I like it mixed with other fragrances.
Why did Beautycounter make these fragrances?
Beautycounter created these fragrance formulas in hopes of inspiring conventional brands to follow suit, including safer ingredient selection, rigorous safety testing, and full ingredient transparency. They are confident that they have the purest formula on the market due to the prohibition of over 2,800 ingredients and a proactive approach to safety screening.
The work Beautycounter and the Brand Advocates community are doing to disrupt the cosmetics industry is employee. Beautycounter claims to confidently formulate pure eau de parfums that perform and meet their strict safety standards, and then provide you with transparency of said ingredients in accordance with their commitment to full ingredient disclosure. Learn all about what makes these perfumes unique here.
Safety, transparency and performance are key pillars in the creation of Beautycounter fragrances.
Security: Hundreds of chemicals can be used to make a single fragrance, some of which are linked to hormone disruption, cancer, and skin allergies (among other effects). Beautycounter goes beyond pure, testing every ingredient against 23 human health and environmental endpoints.
Transparency: “Fragrance” or “perfume” are terms you’ll find on the ingredient lists of many cosmetic products—an unfortunate and unnecessary industry practice that can hide hundreds of ingredients. For Beautycounter, transparency equals trust, so you’ll find every ingredient used to make up Beautycounter products on the packaging and on the website. As a reminder, just because an ingredient list is long—or even if you can’t pronounce some of the ingredients—doesn’t mean the formula is unsafe. It just means there’s more being revealed so you know exactly what you’re putting in your body.
Implementation: Beautycounter perfumes were made in collaboration with a leading fine perfume house and leading international perfumers. They worked closely together to create high performance fragrances that smell of luxury.
What is eau de parfum?
Beautycounter fragrances it is eau de parfum. Perfumes are classified by type and longevity. Eau de parfums have an oil concentration of 15%-40% and usually last 4-6 hours. Most high-end fine fragrances on the market (ie Dior, Chanel and Marc Jacobs) are all considered fragrances.
What does it mean to be EWG Verified?
Beautycounter’s fragrance formulations are EWG Verified, giving them a valuable third-party seal of approval. You can learn more about the EWG’s rating system here.
Are these perfumes safe for sensitive skin?
Yes, they have been tested and are safe for sensitive skin. However, if you have sensitive skin, do a patch test for potential irritation on the back of your neck or inside of your wrist, waiting 24 hours before full application.
Why are ingredient lists so long?
Beautycounter fragrances disclose all the ingredients used in each formula. Beautycounter tested and evaluated over 300 natural and synthetic ingredients during the development of eau de parfums of which only about 20% were allowed without any restrictions. Some other ingredients were restricted to address potential skin irritation and environmental effects.
Beautycounter continues to push for advocacy reform to close the fragrance loophole and is proud to have helped pass a law in California that requires some of the most toxic fragrance ingredients to be listed in the state, an important step forward in transparency.
How much do Beautycounter perfumes cost?
All five fragrances come in a full size bottle and a rollerball (which are perfect for travel).
By choosing to buy these fragrances, you’re supporting a brand that prioritizes safety, sustainability and transparency. You are sending a message to the beauty industry that clean beauty is not just a niche market, but a standard that should be accessible to all. Strongly Agree!
Take the perfume quiz!
If you are not sure which fragrance is for you, take the perfume quiz to find out. I would highly recommend the purchase the discovery set so you can try them all on and then buy your favorites in full size and travel. I had to have all three new fragrances!
Which fragrance are you most excited to try!?
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