Miranda Lambert Perfume – A Review Of Both

While today is Valentine's Day, my fiancé, David, gave me my gift earlier this week.  When I got home from work on Monday, he'd been shopping and got me some Miranda Lambert perfume. Not just one though, he got me both of her perfumes.

For those of you that know me, you know I'm a big Miranda Lambert fan.  So when I saw her perfume at Boot Barn in Augusta, I had to try it out. There were two different perfumes to choose from: Velvet Rodeo and Idyllwind. Initially, they only had one in stock when I first discovered it on one of my first visits to Boot Barn. I tested it out, and I liked it.

On another visit to Boot Barn, they had both versions of the Miranda Lambert perfume. At that point, I tried out the other, and liked it too.  I told David once I used up the perfume I had at home, I'd probably get one of Miranda's.

Now let me just tell you... I'm not one to wear perfume frequently.  The bottle of perfume I have at home I have probably had for over ten years.  On that note... does perfume expire?  Because I might just need to toss it, if so. But it does still smell good. Either way, I decided that I needed to start using my perfume more.  You know, because I really wanted the Miranda Lambert perfume, but couldn't bring myself to buy it when I had so much left at home.

On Monday, when David gave me both perfumes, I immediately opened them up to smell them again.  And when it comes to which smells best?  That's a tough one.  They both smell really good.  But of course, perfume is interesting... because it can smell differently on than it does in the bottle. But not only that, it can smell differently on different people.  I've heard it has something to do with our body chemistry... but I have no idea!

So up first, let's talk about Idyllwind.

First of all, I love the photo on the box. And the name of course, Idyllwind, is Miranda's lifestyle brand.  On the Idyllwind website they say the brand is for "all the confident, adventurous, perfectly imperfect badass women." I have to say, I like that description!

As for the scent, on the box it says the fragrance is a combination of some of Miranda's favorite things: "Georgia's sweet peach blossoms, southern magnolias, and musky golden sandalwood that remind me of the piney woods of east Texas." I also love that the box mentions how music connects people on a spiritual level, and how scents can often do the same.

I tried this one out yesterday. When I went to tell David I was leaving for work, he told me I smelled good.  And I agree.  I really like Idyllwind. It does have a slightly sweet scent to it, but it isn't too sweet.  I like a balance of sweet and musky, without being too floral scented either!

And next, today's perfume of choice: Velvet Rodeo.

Again, love the photo on the packaging.  And the colors!  This is a larger bottle than Idyllwind (3.4 fluid ounces versus 1.7 fluid ounces). It's only slightly more than the Idyllwind too, around $10 difference, I think.

One of the first things I loved about this one was the bottle itself. The color, of course, but also how fancy it looks!  I can't say I've ever had such a fancy looking bottle of perfume.

According to the box on this one, the scent was inspired by Miranda's song "Actin' Up." It's described as "the perfect storm of rich jasmine, spicy violet iris, and vanilla suede."  Miranda says it was made for "all you strong-spirited, take no prisoners, queen of hearts. Saddle up and go get em girls..."

This scent is maybe a bit more floral, but not over powering.  There's still a great balance of floral and sweet, I assume due to the vanilla balancing it out.  Again, I lean more toward sweet scents than floral.  I guess because I associate more floral scents with the older generations, although I don't remember my grandmothers wearing perfume.  Maybe I'm just thinking of those sweet old ladies at church when I was growing up.

Out of these two, it's a really close race. They both smell amazing, and thankfully mix well with my body chemistry I guess. Of course, I've only tried them each once... but if I had to choose today, I'd say Idyllwind is my first choice. But it's a tough, close race.

Maybe once I wear them each a few more times I'll settle on a favorite for sure.  But for now, I'll just keep switching them up and enjoying these amazing fragrances!

For more from the Kicks Wake Up Krew, click here.

Have you ever tried a fragrance and thought to yourself, "Wow, this smells awful?" Then you wonder why and how anyone would ever enjoy that smell. Just like our sense of taste, smells are based on preference. For example, your friend may like the smell of corpse flowers (the worst-smelling flower in the world) and burnt hair while you like the smell of roses and bonfires. 

"Most people assume we all like the smell of roses and hate the smell of skunk... with the exception of irritating odors, smell is something we come to know from personal and cultural experiences." noted lead researcher Rachel Herz, PhD, in a 2005 Brown University study.

Alan R Hirsch, the founder and neurological director of the Smell and Taste Treatment & Research Foundation, explained to NPR that “the factors that influence our sense of smell are actually a combination of cultural, genetic, and environmental factors.”

There are certain smells that almost everyone loves. From the new car smell (which may not be good for you) and freshly baked bread to Sharpies and gasoline. People enjoy a variety of aromas and find some more pleasant than others. The scents we smell can change our moods and emotions. Sometimes, it can even bring us back to long-forgotten events and memories.

Here are 10 unusual smells most people enjoy.

It could be due to its association with nail salons. It's where many people find a moment of relaxation.

Should you thank their hair care routine for this? Or maybe you’re a fan of their pheromones? Let's just call it a chemically compatible match.

Some people enjoy the smell of recycled rubber, glue, and a slight hint of petroleum.

It's probably not because it can make you high. It may have more to do with nostalgia. Sharpies and markers tend to smell like childhood to some people.

It makes sense that some people like the smell of chlorine. Most people are reminded of memories by the pool. Or maybe an abundance of laundry.

It may be something with the smell combination of fresh paper and book adhesive, mixed with the excitement of getting a new book.

Do you ever catch a whiff of yourself and actually don't mind it? Maybe, it's because it's your own scent. Some studies show that we've adapted to like our own odors, to help us maintain proper hygiene.

It has that "cold" smell that’s similar to when the AC blows in the car.

Some people like it because it "smells like the country.” The smell is supposedly associated with fresh air and fields of farmland.

Someone loved this scent so much that they created a crowdfunding site for a candle that "always smells like it's not actually burning while it’s burning." They described the smell as a "warm, smoky aroma."