My current bottle of TokyoMilk Dark : 62 Tainted Love is so empty I can’t even get a satisfying whiff of the warm vanilla-scented air from inside the bottle anymore, and I am trying to decide whether to hunt for something new for fall, or go ahead and repurchase this delicious tried and true. Chances are high that I will go the easy route since I adore this scent, and choosing a new fragrance would mean heading downtown for a sniff day, which in the past has resulted in a) not finding anything I remotely like, and b) running around town for the rest of the day smelling something like a fragrance dump bucket.

Of course it was the brilliant packaging design of TokyoMilk Dark that lured me in one day when I was browsing through one of my favorite shops*. The rich and creamy consistency of their shea butter and almond oil handcreme was just what I need for my cuticle challenges, and I couldn’t get enough of the dark vanilla with a hint of sandalwood scent (the orchid and white tea are very subtle elements, it’s definitely more vanilla than floral). I went for the hand creme, then came right back for the perfume a couple of days later and have worn it most days since. So what would you do: tried and true or something new? (….or both, I’m leaning toward both).

// Bonus Photo Tip //

When I was styling the peach crostini shots, I wanted to be able to reposition the spoon full of marscarpone on a whim without having to worry about possible food smudges on my fabric backdrop. My solution was to put down waxed paper on top of the fabric backdrop. I’d rather put down a clean sheet of waxed paper if there’s an unwanted smear here or there than adjust the fabric to hide a flaw, or clone it out in Photoshop later. When Tristan wanted to style this shot with a dollop of hand creme, I brought out my trusty waxed paper, & what do you know, it added a subtle muted sheen while softening the bright white of the foam core we were using for our backdrop. We both admired the effect, so of course we had to share it with you!
*Note to Seattle folks: Lucca in Ballard carries TokyoMilk Dark, and who doesn’t want an excuse to stop by Lucca?

TokyoMilk Dark : 62 Tainted Love | Eau de Parfum

TokyoMilk Dark : 62 Tainted Love | Handcreme

P.S. That cool script font we used in the title is a new release from Angie Makes and can be found here!