Even though I am a naturals-lovin’ gal, I am perfume lover at heart, so when The Body Shop PR people contacted me regarding their new product launch, Love Etc., I was duly intrigued. The creator of the Eau de Parfum, Dominique Ropion, is very well-known for composing many perfumes such as Carnal Flower and Une Fleur de Cassie from the highly regarded Frederic Malle line-up. He’s also the nose behind the iconic Ralph Lauren Safari and Givenchy Amarige and the more recent mainstream hits, Givenchy Very Irresistible, Calvin Klein Euphoria and Armani Code.
While the Body Shop does use petroleum ingredients and parabens in their products, (the Love Etc. line is no exception) thankfully the green side of me was also piqued when I learned that Love Etc. features alcohol made from Ecuadorian organic sugar cane that is fairly traded and organically sourced through The Body Shop’s Community Trade program. You might be wondering, as I was, what this means exactly. Consorcio Argoartesanal Dulce Organico (CADO), a rural cooperative in Cotopaxi, Ecuador with over 150 families in membership, was formed to promote environmental sustainability and biodiversity. The Body Shop provides these organic sugar cane farmers a fair income and one hopes, a better outlook for them and their families’ futures. The outlook already appears to be more beautiful for the land, as according to The Body Shop’s press kit, the CADO farms are now blessed with orchid plants that did not grow when pesticides were in use. The Love Etc. line also includes a body wash and lotion, each containing Community Trade organic babassu oil and Community Trade organic honey from Coppalj in Brazil and African forest beekeepers respectively.
The scent itself is supposed to capture “the exuberance of love, happiness, fulfillment and goodness…help women unleash their feel-good factor”. Certainly no perfume can do all that, but with a marketing campaign filled with smiles, hearts, fair trade ingredients, and Dominique Ropion at the helm, I know I’m feeling pretty good.
Upon first smell, it would be easy to dismiss Love Etc. as just another fruity floral. The first hit packs the all too ubiquitous pink grapefruit-esque note which had me suspended in a moment of disappointment. Golden pear then delivered me from my despair and took me into the well-mixed cocktail zone. Not too sweet; just the perfect balance of fruit and booze. Neroli and bergamot are also listed alongside pear as topnotes (pink grapefruit is not) but even after three wearings, those two never made much of a statement. The fruitiness of the pear lasted about an hour, which was pleasant, but I can’t claim to be partial to fruity perfumes. So I was delighted after about an hour, when Love Etc. took on a warm beeswax-coated floral quality that had me captivated.
Jasmine, heliotrope and lily of the valley are the floral notes in Love Etc., yet none of them proclaimed themselves as the alpha flower. The jasmine was not indolic, the heliotrope was not almondy, and the lily of valley did not smell of, well…lily of the valley. Love Etc. simply has a pretty white floral blend that is not heady or forceful. This backdrop allows for the perfect foundation of honeyed warmth in its heart and the creaminess of vanilla that is strewn throughout. As for the drydown, it gets even better when sandalwood comes into play, and it lasts hours upon hours. (This longevity is one thing I am not used to since I wear naturals the majority of the time). Indeed, it’s been well over 24 hours since I sprayed it, and I’m still relishing in my Love Etc. which has dried down to a gorgeous woody-vanillic-floral that I think most women would enjoy.
In addition, the Body Wash and Body Lotion have excellent staying power, but are slightly different versions of the fragrance. I found the Body Lotion to be heavier on the pink grapefruit accord and the Body Wash to have more sandalwood. And I can’t help myself, I’ve got to make a pitch to The Body Shop peeps…I really hope that someday soon The Body Shop will release a line that is free of petroleum products, synthetic ingredients, and parabens.
So now for the really fun part! The GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment and you will automatically be entered to win a Love Etc. giftset from The Body Shop. This includes the EdP, Body Wash and Body Lotion, and will be sent to the winner directly from The Body Shop. Also, I will send the set I received for review to another lucky reader, as long as you don’t mind that a little bit of product will be gone from each of the bottles. (If you do not want to be entered in the giveaway for my set, you can specify this in your comment). US citizens only for this giveaway per The Body Shop request and also for me as the shipping would be a lot to send the three bottles overseas. You have until Sunday October 25th at 9pm PST to enter. Good Luck! Winners have been chosen!
Love Etc. Launches Monday October 19th and is available at The Body Shop’s retail stores.
Posted by ~Trish
Disclosure: Samples from the company’s PR agency were provided for this review. The opinons in this review are my own. I was not financially compensated for this review or any other.
thefloraesthetic.com 
Well, it’s lucky I can’t receive the giveaway…
They won’t like my comments anyway 🙂
What a shame- the Body Shop could have done something truly wonderful, and delivered a proper natural perfume to perfume and nature lovers.
But apparently not.
They’ve snowed us with the theme, the marketing, the big name creator, the lovely story of the alcohol source – and unfortunately most customers will likely believe that the perfume is naturally derived and free of an ingedient list which looks like a science experiment.
For all that, you’d expect it to be a better than average perfume!
Margi Macdonald
Brisbane – Australia
Margi,
This reply is not in defense of The Body Shop, but they have never been in the business of making natural perfumes, so I don’t think people are expecting that from them. They have been using Fair Trade ingredients for many, many years, so this is not a snow job, but rather a continuation of their business model.
Hopefully one day The Body Shop will put out a line that is 100% all-natural, but I don’t think they are trying to mislead anyone with Love Etc. Savvy customers need to read all ingredient lists to see what they are putting on their body and make decisions for themselves. For example, not all Jason or Alba products that you find at Whole Foods are 100% natural.
Scent Hive readers come in all stripes and enjoy all different perfumes and beauty products. We’re all here to learn and enjoy!
~Trish
“The exuberance of love . . . ” How can I resist? I’ve always considered perfume to be little poems in a bottle. I believe perfume sparks the imagination and touches the romantic in all of us. Perfume can impart the delicious intricacies nature offers us in concentrated form, making us feel more alive. . .
Sigh.
Boy, did I go on (blush)! Yes, I’d like to be entered!
You are definitely entered! Thanks for commenting and good luck 🙂
~T
Here’s your comment..all the way up here! Such a lovely sentiment. Thank you so much for stopping by 🙂
~T
Giveaway comment! (dont’ care if I get the “used” one)
Great Leo! I’ll enter you in both 🙂
Good luck!
~T
I’d like to be entered in the giveaway! Don’t care to get the “used” set either.
CT,
I’m assuming that means you want to be entered in both? Am happy to do so 🙂
~T
Totally digging the new perfume love etc. I received the sample from a Bodyshop store and have been rubbing it all over me ever since. I am totally in love with this smell and i think this one will be my signature scent 🙂 Totally entering both the giveaways.
Jane,
So glad you are enjoying your sample. It’s really pretty and wearable for most occasions don’t you think?
~T
Woody vanilla floral – this has my name written all over it. I recently smelled the scent strip of this in a magazine and was pleasantly surprised. Cannot wait to get my mitts on the real deal and test it out on my skin!
Renee,
Best of luck and I hope you do get your mitts on this somehow!!
~T
D. Ropion and that looks like Lily Allen in the ad—I love both, and sure wouldn’t mind a slightly less than full set of this! It sounds like quite a cheerful scent for heading into the dreary season.
V,
You’re right! It does look like Lily Allen 🙂 It is cheerful and a little sexy too upon the drydown 😉
Good luck and thanks for coming by,
T
The fruity floral category isn’t my favorite type either, though I do have some I love, but I have to say you made it sound really nice! I’d certainly be thrilled to have the used set also!
M,
The decision is….is it worth the wait to get past the fruit and into the smooth honey, vanilla and woods? I’d love to get your opinion!
So best of luck, and let me know what you think if you don’t win and get a chance to try it 🙂
~T
I have a hard time finding “natural” bodycare/skincare/fragrance lines that I actually like. They’re usually too expensive, or don’t work well enough for my liking. Fragrances, in general, are even more difficult for me to find because my nose can only take so much….umm…potency or even LACK of potency. This one, however…or perhaps just the way you described it (even though it still might not be natural enough) sounds wonderfully luscious. Either you’re really good with descriptives (duh! You DO have a blog! haha) or I’m just thirsting for an actually good scent for ME. I’ve sniffed some Dominique Ropion’s scents on other people and I even owned Very Irresistible in college….so I know how skillful this perfumer is. Love etc. sounds like another hit, so it would be interesting to see what everone thinks of it.
I actually HOPE you DO decide to push for a more natural line of products at the Body Shop. I wish more people would do that…and not just at that particular store either. Thanks for another wonderfully written article! I’ve been so busy with everything going on in my own life that I can’t seem to keep up with yours! *lol* But it’s always nice to drop by to see what else I can learn from here. =) Cheers!
Oh, and I would love to be added your contest too! I almost forgot to ask! =P
C,
I too am very curious to hear other bloggers’ and reviewers’ opinions on Love Etc. I wonder if it will be a hit?
I really, really hope TBS does an all-natural line at some point. It’s right in step with their business model, and seems to be a “natural” progression for them 🙂
I’ll ask the PR gal if they have ever considered it.
And of course you’re entered, a comment does the trick!
~T
…and I forgot to mention…I actually thought it was Christina Ricci in the add!
Thanks for the review! This is my first time hearing of this scent and you make it sound quite nice! I’d love to be entered in both giveaways, if that’s ok! 😀
Katie,
It most certainly is! Love your etsy site…sweet jewelry 🙂
~T
Sweet! Please enter me in both! =D
Will do!
~T
I just stumbled upon your blog, and hey! There’s a giveaway, so here’s my comment for entry.
Yay,
Tanisha
Tanisha,
So glad you found Scent Hive! Good luck and hope to see you around 🙂
~Trish
Great description! Please enter me for both giveaways. Thanx!
Cindy,
Thanks so much 🙂
Will enter you for both!
~T
If it smells like booze, I’m in. Hey Trish!
You got it Patrick! Probably not the kind of drinks you’re used to, but hey you nevah know! 🙂
~T
I’d love to try this, used or not.
Thank you!
Great Lauren, thanks for reading.
Best,
T
It’s truely nice to see some efforts made where they can be. That’s a start!
It’s true, and there’s a whole spectrum of readers here. In addition, there’s something to be learned from what TBS is doing for CADO.
~T
Enter me! 🙂 Free-is-free, and i love body shop things 🙂 hopefully the new scent will be a win!
Anna,
I’ll enter you!
~T
sounds good, I’m in (even for useds!)
Right on Amanda! You’re entered 🙂
~T
Please enter me for both!! Thank you so much! I love The Body Shop!!
Will do Laura! Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
~T
Hi Trish,
As always your descriptions make me wanna try the scents!! Love,etc sounds kinda unique. Please add me to the list. Thanks!
Grace
Thanks Grace 🙂
Will definitely enter you in the drawing. If you don’t win and find yourself at the local mall, give it a sniff and let me know what you think!
~T
I love your articles and reviews Trish! so fun to read. I’ll have to find some good cock pot recipes 😉 I’d love to be entered into any current drawings! Thanks!-Dawn
Dawn,
You are entered!
My current crock-pot fave is corn-potato chowder with some chopped cauliflower thrown in. Just add a bag of frozen corn, about 5-6 chopped new potatoes, a cup of chicken or veggie broth, 1/2 cup (or so) of milk, some more water to get the consistency you like and then a half head of chopped cauliflower. Salt to taste, cook on low for 6 hours. Then I use a hand blender to puree until I get the texture I want. So easy!!
~T
This is so nice! Please enter me in the drawings. Thanks
Will do maitreyi1978 🙂
Best of luck and thanks for coming by the hive!
~T
nice! please enter me in the the drawing. thanks!!!
JBE
You got it J! Good luck 🙂
~T
I like fruity scents, would love to try it. Thanks for entering me in the drawing.
Jules,
I’m sure you’ll love this one then!
Good luck 🙂
~T
I am sure I would be smitten with this scent and I love that it lasts
for hours!! I would be more than happy with either set-
used or not!!
Thanks for the chance!!
xuxa6593{at}gmail{dot}com
Xuxa,
Wonderful! You are welcome and I’ll be sure to enter you for both 🙂
Cheers,
~T
I’m a big fan of fragrances that aren’t heady or forceful
so throw my name in the hat for both, please! Thanks!!
Berta,
This one is neither, so maybe it’s got your name on it?
Best of luck,
~T
I would love to be entered~ I’m on such a Heliotrope kick right now (Etro Heliotrope = LOVE) and this perfume sounds lovely 🙂
Thanks for running the contest ♥
Stef,
Since you are loving heliotrope, I’d be so curious if it jumps out at you more than it did me. Regardless, Love Etc. is a very pretty floral that you just might enjoy!
Good luck,
~T
I certainly need to unleash my feel good factor as I’ve been down in the dumps lately; so maybe
if I’m lucky & win, this scent will make me feel fantastic!
Tina,
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve not been feeling well, sometimes a good perfume can help turn things around!
I wish you the best of luck in all things (including the giveaway) and thanks for stopping by.
All the best,
~Trish