OH FINALLY! I CAN REVIEW....WINTER 1!!!!

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Gosh, it felt like I had to be REAL certain that this is all considered Winter 1 because of how stretched out these releases actually were, but I'm finally able to get a break and finally review these new scents that kick off the season! So let's jump in and get through theeeem!!!

• Touch of Gold (Bright Blackberries, Golden Orange Blossom, Decadent Tonka) - As the core scent released for Winter 1, Touch of Gold is placed in the same family as stuff the last few years like Pure Wonder, Luminous, and Platinum with this being kind of a VERY perfumey scent. While the blackberry note has been wearing me down during the year, this one doesn't fully smell like a blackberry note, if anything I get mostly a powdery, sweet floral scent. Though this does last a while on me, a good 6-7 hours worth of it. I do like it, but I still LOVE Luminous more as the late autumnal, early wintery scent.

• Mrs. Claus' Cocktail (Sparkling Cranberry, Pomegranate Juice, Frosted Citrus Twist) - Same time that Touch of Gold came, we got a Winter preview release with a set (with this, Cozy Vanilla Bourbon, and Gingerbread Latte and another with just Winter Candy Apple & Vanilla Bean Noel). Though of the previews, this was the only "new" scent brought out as I think this was a wallflower and a 3-wick last year, but new this year for body care. To be honest, it's kind of boring scent for me since it kind of just is Triple Berry Martini again and maybe a little of Iced Raspberry Bellini and Bright Christmas Morning (which the latter also came back in Winter 1). Yeah, this was kind of just blah and totally forgettable for me.

• Cereal Milk Soft Serve (Soft Ice Cream, Golden Cornflakes, Frosted Sugar) - Alright! We're here back with more Milk Bar scents as this was the big release for Winter 1 for sure. I would say this was the big one of the four and seeing people get excited made me excited for some real good gourmands to come out. Though when I got this scent, I kind of shook my head because it smelled a LOT like Merry Cookie/Christmas Cookies, though there is a slight lactonic beat and caramelized scent profile to it on drydown. I do like it though, but I don't get the full hype of it...

• Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Cookie (Toasted Pretzel, Cinnamon Dusting, Sugared Vanilla) - I think the scent in the collection that wowed me of the four is probably going to this one as it's such a nice, warm scent profile to it mixed with the heavy cinnamon sugar scent going on. Not sure if I get a specific pretzel scent to be exact and definitely does not smell like the older Cinnamon Donut Swirl (which was that scent that never got a FFM). It's a pretty good cinnamon scent for sure!

• Peppermint Bark Truffle (Peppermint Chocolate Cake, Crushed Candy Cane, White Chocolate) - Peppermint Bark Truffle is surprisingly decent to me. I actually do get the first two scent notes first and foremost as it smells dark and gooey and a bit minty (not a place where I smell the white chocolate funny enough). I've been seeing people curious if this is maybe a repackage of the old Christmas Cocoa and Mint and....nope it definitely does not smell like that scent as the older scent has a sweeter smell, and the mint was more up-front and the product was literally Andes candy in a FFM. This one is darker and richer with the chocolate where the mint plays a more supportive role.

• Raspberry Holiday Pie Bar (Sugar Cookie, Raspberry Jelly, Toasted Almonds) - Though the last of the Milk Bar scents, I was very excited for this one as I LOVE Raspberry Jam Donut and was expecting this to be close and such, but uh...this is heavier on the raspberry and sweetness rather than the gourmand elements. I still like it regardless and after a while, it reminds me of a slightly more gourmand version of Raspberry Chiffon, but still mostly for the raspberry scent...

• Moonlit Goddess (French Lavender, Pear Blossom, Golden Vanilla) - I am so over the lavender + vanilla releases these last 2 or 3 years as they just don't change enough for me to really give a damn. Since this was the lone "new" scent for another set (this scent debuted last year in some other forms) though considering how I feel about this scent, it just doesn't do anything that previous scents like Lavender Luxe, Lavender, etc., etc. Like the pear blossom does nothing new for the combo (maybe a smidge sweeter, but not enough to really make it pop out). I hope B&BW chills out with the lavender scents for a while...

• Infinite Radiance (Sweet Mandarin, Opulent Muguet, Sensual Amberwood) - Only one new Everyday Luxury scent? Strange to me, but yeah we get Infinite Radiance which is supposed to be a dupe for Parfums de Marly's Valaya...and eh? It definitely smells perfume-y first and foremost like with Touch of Gold. Though this kind of is forgetful for me as well. I get the mandarin note for sure and a warm woody background, but the muguet (or Lily-of-the-Valley as it's more known as) is lost on me. Maybe there's a slight floral note to it, but it's kind of light of a scent for me.

• Holly Jolly Lollipop (Sugared Plum, Candy Coated Cherry, Winter Musk) - Though the last of Winter 1's release schedule was the minis collection which brought in 3 new scents through the 5. Honesty, I was worried that this was going to be a repackage of Rainbow Swirl Candy (from 2022) which smelled like Fruity Sherbet Scoop (released in the same year). At least I can full-on say that HJL does NOT smell like those. If anything, it kind of reminds me of a slightly deeper Firecracker Pop and that's because of the prominence of the cherry note in the scent. Though the plum note makes the scent a bit deeper though which does make it different at least. It's nice, but if you think cherry is too medicinal, this might be for you...

• Warm Butter Cookie (Gooey Sugar Cookie, Whipped Buttercream, Powdered Sugar) - Jeeze, ANOTHER cookie scent? I had definitely begun to worry whether B&BW are just being a little too repetitive with scents this year. Though, I will say that this actually doesn't smell like Christmas Cookies/Merry Cookie/Cereal Milk Soft Serve. Though instead it kind of reminds me a LOT of Milk Bar Birthday Cake but less sugary sweet but still has a cakey-like vibe to it (strange...). Also less of the play-doh scent, it's just nice I would argue to say.

• Cinnamon Spice Delight (Cinnamon Sugar Cookie, Brown Butter, Gingerbread Crumbs) - Shocked to see this scent also be a thing since we already have Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Cookie in existence. Though taking a sniff of this one, these two do NOT smell alike to me. I'm not sure what it is exactly that makes it smell so different since I don't exactly get a gingerbread-y note and the brown butter is odd of a choice. I also feared this might've been Iced Cinnamon Rolls, but I'm glad this isn't the case either. Is it weird to say that I KIND of believe this has more of a Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Cookie scent than the actual scent??? LMAO

Fav to Least Fav

• Cinnamon Spice Delight
• Peppermint Bark Truffle
• Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Cookie
• Touch of Gold
• Raspberry Holiday Pie Bar
• Holly Jolly Lollipop
• Warm Butter Cookie
• Cereal Milk Soft Serve
• Infinite Radiance
• Mrs. Claus' Cocktail
• Moonlit Goddess

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So whew...let's talk about Winter 1

It really began with the release of Touch of Gold which is the core scent of the Winter season and it's decent, better than Platinum for me.

Then we have what I think is an online exclusive set that was a part of the Winter Preview that includes the returning scents Cozy Vanilla Bourbon & Gingerbread Latte and the new Mrs. Claus' Cocktail. Interesting choice to bring back Gingerbread Latte (which we haven't seen since 2020).

Then we had Winter Candy Apple and Vanilla Bean Noel also part of the early Winter preview and when the actual Winter 1 happened they were joined by Twisted Peppermint and Bright Christmas Morning...and that's that...yeah this was the Christmas Traditions set which we always see every year so no new scents is not surprising to me.

Then we get into the bulk of Winter 1's release which kicks off with the crazy Milk Bar collaboration that had started back in Fall 3 (with Milk Bar Birthday Cake) but now adding four more scents (there's a 5th one, but it only came out as lip care). Honestly, it's a decent collection of gourmands, but I think they could've been done better as well as some scents were kind of similar to other scents in B&BW's catalog. At least they're gourmand?

Then there's another collection that's kind of another set of returnees with Strawberry Snowflakes, Magic in the Air, Snowflakes & Cashmere, the newish scent, Moonlit Goddess and the online exclusive Frosted Coconut Snowball as well and while yeah I'm not too enthusiastic and the new scent is just another blah Lavender + Vanilla scent...this might as well be a second Christmas Traditions set.

Did I forget to mention ONE new Everyday Luxury scent? Yeah, this one feels randomly released and should've been grouped with the Autumn Everyday Luxury scents that came out because it smells not Wintry to me and kind of more like a Spring-time ish scent.

Throw in a new look for Japanese Cherry Blossom which is eh.

Then a week later, the minis collection dropped which brought back Strawberry Pound Cake and Snowy Peach Berry and the new Warm Butter Cookie, Holly Jolly Lollipop, and Cinnamon Spice Delight and it's a solid surprise and kind of fills in some gaps with new and the new scents were interesting to me.

Winter 1 was pretty stacked with new stuff, more than I remember the last few years, but most of it is returning scents and some of the new smell like past scents as well. I don't know, some scents are great, but some I just probably won't remember.