I'm not really a perfume connoisseur nor am I the type to experiment with my scent every so often…read more I'd like to think I've found my signature scent (or scents because I have three favorites) already. But I like perfume. I like that every interestingly designed bottle is a gateway to a whole different world, a world made up of all these different notes - patchouli! Vetiver! Tuscan leather! Basil! Art of Scent ushers you into these wonderful, wonderful worlds. It feels like you've stepped into Willy Wonka's swanky-fied factory but instead of chocolates, you get scents! Scents of all kinds, brands and combinations, laid out in an enticing way that even the most anti-perfume person will somehow want to spritz on everything on display!

L'Occitane en Provence is one of my most favourite aromatherapy perfumeries. They create wonderful…read morenatural scents that stay for a long time and are not overpowering at all. All their items are organic and the manufacturing process follows a strict rule of never conducting animal testing and of always preserving the natural resources used for their products. They also make vegetable-based soaps and lotions. All with the same subtle yet lasting natural scents. All of their perfumes are in gorgeous glass bottles of varying sizes and sets, making them the perfect gift item. Classy yet not exorbitant. The shop is tiny but it's well-kept and feels comfortable. I would definitely recommend their citrus-based scents as well as their verbena and rosemary varieties.

I love this shop as it reeks of sophistication and of French perfumes and body lotions. Ugh. Pure…read morebliss. I first came to know of this brand when a tita of mine gave me one of their hand creams for Christmas and as I proceeded to make fun of the plain packaging, my mom schools me on my ignorance and informs me of the possible price range of the product I was holding. I proceed to use it very sparingly now that I was aware of its value. I gave my mom their pink roses body lotion for Christmas and she loved it. It smells amazing. This is perfect for indulging and treating yourself or for giving to someone special. They definitely won't accuse you of being cheap.

Good perfume and scents are hard to find. With designer brands and top names getting in on the…read moretrend of providing glamorous fragrances and aromas, it's really quite confusing to the nose on where to get a good deal (and here's a tip; you may want to bring coffee beans when hunting for scents, as these would neutralize the smell of one before you go to the next one, because if not, your nose would be confused by the third sample). However, this nose knows that Zen Zest is a place where you can buy cheaper scents at bargain prices that are not too shabby in regards to how they smell. With a wide selection of different mixes for both men and women, you wouldn't have a hard time finding the deal that is suited for you. And having a range of bottle deals that go for 2 or 3 bottles at the price of 100 PHP, you'd be able to maintain a scent in each bag (or each pocket) for a very long time. So why not give Zen Zest a try? You don't always have to go big to please your nose or anyone whom you want to impress.

You can spot a Lush store from far away--just follow your nose! The collection of soaps, bath…read moreproducts and other fragrances that they carry makes up for a potent, heady aura that radiates the moment you get within a block. I used to avoid Lush stores like a plague because the olfactory stimulation just overwhelms me; then somebody gave me a bottle of Snowfairy bath gel for Christmas and before I knew it, I was deep inside the store, smelling everything and asking the sales attendant to cut me pieces of almost every soap block I could lay me hands on. Lush prides itself on no preservatives, more wholesome bath products --- which explains the price. They do have some winners like the Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and a blue lavender hair and body wash which I often gift to friends who have bleached their hair because the blue tones are really great for toning down that annoying brassiness. I also like their shampoo bars though I've stopped using them since processing my hair just made it too dry for anything for specialized shampoo and conditioner.

I absolutely LOVE Lush stores, their products and their advocacy! Guaranteed 100% vegetarian and…read moreall natural, Lush prides itself with using only the best ingredients mother nature has to offer. And they don't test on animals! Huge plus points to Lush for that! Their stores are always visually appealing. I think everyone can distinguish their store even if they're a few feet away because of the distinct smell that each Lush store has! I personally love the smell of Lush stores but I know a few people who are not a fan. Their products, albeit pricey, are really of good quality. I LOVE their soaps, the scents are so delicious it's good enough to eat! I've always wanted to try their face products though but I'm scared that I might react differently from it, and unfortunately, the stores we have here doesn't give out samples which is weird because I have a cousin who works for Lush in the US and they're very generous with that one. I still can't commit to a full sized product but for now, I'll enjoy my hand crafted soaps.

My wife is very particular when it comes to how our small apartment smells. She likes everything…read moresmelling sweet, fresh, and fruity. We had tried several air freshening products and methods, including burning incense and essential oils. Sadly, she was never satisfied with everything that we had tried. That's before she discovered Fruits & Passion in BGC. Our search for the perfect scent finally stopped at this store. Although, we have been passing by this shop before, we really didn't pay much attention to it because it looked like it only sells lotions, perfumes, and other beauty products. The only reason my wife ventured inside the store was to check out their discounted items on sale. It's true that majority of the products that they sell are related to beauty and hygiene, but there's also a section for home essentials like cleaning materials and air fresheners. My wife finally found the scent she was looking for at the Cucina and Ambiance section of Fruits & Passion. She fell in love with the Sanguinelli Orange and Fennel room spray. And even if the spray was expensive and not on sale, I didn't think twice about buying it. Finally, everything's right in the world again.

Criselda's sells a lot of perfumes and scents…read more Coming from the escalator in Shoppesville, you'll spot this shop right away. It's filled from floor to ceiling with different perfumes, colored bottles and some bins of vitamins. To save time and also so that you don't buy out the entire store, know before hand what perfume you want to buy. Better if you know the name, know how the bottle looks like and are kind of familiar with the scent. Don't be afraid to ask for a discount especially if you're buying a lot of perfume. The last time I bought perfume from this shop, Miss Guada helped me choose. I hope she's still there. Ask for her just in case.

By far my favorite Lush branch! All of their stores smell wonderfully inviting, kind of like, "Yes,…read morebuy all our stuff! We smell good enough to eat!" I just prefer this one because it's the biggest and has the most natural light. Lush is a local company that specializes in handmade, all natural beauty products. They have soaps in every shape, color, size, and scent, with some tailored specifically to soothe aching muscles or gently cleanse sensitive skin. Their shampoo bars are a great alternative to traditional shampoo that always leaves waste in the form of plastic bottles. And I can't talk about Lush without praising their cosmetics! The lip tints come in beautiful shades and feel amazing, and they have a bunch of alluring solid perfume scents, ranging from bold and musky to light and fresh. Their products are a little bit expensive, but soooooo worth the outstanding quality and ingredients. Plus they can even giftwrap items in fun, recyclable packaging! *swoons* I'm so in love.

LOVE this branch because they often have stock of the popular items I can't get a hold off OR when…read morethey don't have the item/s I want, they ACTUALLY contact you to update you not like the others that pretend or forget, huhu. There's only 2 sales ladies but they do their job well and they're very accommodating and nice. Not a lot of people go here too so you don't have to worry about long lines or having tug-of-wars with other customers, haha. Big fan of Lush's advocacy on being eco and animal friendly and using all natural, organic ingredients. Their products are pretty rad too. I have sensitive, oily skin and I regularly use their "Coalface" (charcoal soap), "Herbalism" (herb facial wash), and Mask of Magnaminty (deep cleansing mask). LOVE! They are a permanent part of my skincare routine. Their bath bombs are the bomb quite frankly and they sell some makeup as well. I love their color essentials/supplement which acts like a BB cream. Decent coverage and great for your skin. Makes my skin soft and supple and my skin can actually breathe. Tip! Buy them during sale season so you get 2 for one price (buy 1 take 1).

If there's one thing I noticed about this store is that the distinct smell you will experience! You…read moreknow there's a Lush Store because you can strongly smell soap! The smell is so strong I could smell Lush from half a mile (I think)! And of course, when you enter the store expect to smell the different scents. My favorite purchase here is the soap that is used for the hair. You see, I have such oily hair and so when I discovered the Shampoo Bar - it's literally a bar of soap that is a substitute for shampoo. I always get the Jumping Juniper which helps control the oiliness of my hair. It's this purple circular bar of soap which gets a lot of soap suds! It's amazing how it helped my hair a lot. Aside from it being amazing, it smells good also! I love how there's lavender and lemon oil so your hair is assured to smell good! Aside from Lush selling soap bars, it also sells liquid body care such as body washes and conditioners! Don't be overwhelmed with the stock of soap they have in the store - just ask help from the saleslady.