Jang Hyun Hong Editorial for W Korea
For the busy woman multitasking is essential, especially in summer when we want to be low maintenance. One of the best ideas I’ve come across this season is the triple threat Ex Animo, a line of hair perfumes that also conditions and adds shine. Factor in that the brand has partnered with non-profit Daughters of Cambodia to aid victims of sex trafficking and you have a scented beauty product you can really feel good about.
Nanette De La Pena and Suzanne DeWitt Founders of Ex Animo (Photo: Self.com)
Ex Animo was created by sisters Nanette De La Pena and Suzanne DeWitt in collaboration with Darryl Do of Delbia Do, who was inspired by the scents from the flowers he encountered on family visits to Hawaii. (To read the CaFleureBon Profile in American Perfumery featuring Darryl Do, click here.) The three scents in the line have been formulated with nourishing essential oils, especially developed to treat hair with vitamin E and aloe, and these scents can also be used as body fragrances. Best when applied to dry, styled hair, they spray in a fine mist and freshen hair between washes, as well as neutralize unwanted odors like cigarette smoke. They are a great scent solution in situations where standard fragrances are problematic, such as at the beach, picnics, or when you want to smell lovely and give your EDPs a rest.
Daphne Groenveld in Vogue Japan 2012 via ftape.com/Ex Animo O’Me
O’Me, is a modern fruity floral and opens with notes of lily, orchid and honeysuckle. Heart notes of bourbon vanilla, bergamot, and blood orange add a youthful vibe, and base marine notes mixed with musk keep it feeling fresh and breezy. O’Me is sweet yet sophisticated, and reminds me of a young woman in the first bloom of her beauty dressed up for a glamorous event. Although my days as a sweet young thing are long past, O’me is the most “me”, and it has become my go-to fragrance on busy summer days.
Ex Animo O’Delish/Marie Antoinette by Natalia Ciobanu
O’Delish is a sheer gourmand, with notes of vanilla, orchid and sugared pomegranate bringing to mind a tray of colorful petit fours brought to appease Marie Antoinette. A hint of creamy coconut adds a sexy tropical aura to the mix, that loosen up the stays on this fragrance and add a touch of sensuality. If you love gourmand perfumes but find them heavy in the Summer, you will enjoy O’Delish; and my husband and kids really did comment "gee your hair smells terrific".
Ex Animo O’Hana/Marisa Berenson by Henry Clarke via Pleasurephoto
O’Hana has a retro hippie girl feel, with top notes of jasmine and ylang ylang intertwining with honeysuckle like a daisy chain. While honeysuckle is one of my "no-no" notes, fans of the flower should definitely check O'Hana out, as it smells pure and natural.
At $65 for 1.7 oz bottles, the Ex Animo fragrances are outright bargains– longevity is excellent, sillage is notable, and compliments are plentiful when I wear any one of them. They are not complicated but smell blended and yes like perfume. As for their effect on hair, the fact that they gave my coarse, unruly mop noticeable shine means they’ve earned a spot in my suitcase for my upcoming vacation.
Disclosure: Review based upon products provided by Ex Animo Fragrance
—Nancy Knows, Deputy Editor and Beauty Editor
Ex Animo Hair/Personal fragrance
Thanks to Ex Animo Fragrances, we have a reader’s choice of 1.7 oz of Ex Animo O’Me, O’Delish or O’Hana for one USA reader. Please leave a comment with your choice and why you chose it by August 5, 2014.
We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize wil be just spilled perfume