Pacifica Solid Perfumes

One look at Pacifica Solid Perfumes and I was hooked. That's right – hooked without even a sniff. Sometimes cute packaging has that power, and in this case all it took was a gorgeous little box, an enticing little pot and the promise of great fragrance to sell me.

Pacifica is a fantastic company that specializes in pampering body products. What really makes them stand out is the impressive selection of unique fragrances – scents I'm quite confident can't really be found elsewhere, at least not with this level of potency and trueness.

Among the products Pacifica offers are body soaps, spray and solid perfumes, candles, gift sets and body butters. Best of all, the company places a strong emphasis on responsible practices and ethical standards. All products are formulated with sustainable raw materials, and are great for folks with sensitive skin because they're paraben- and propylene glycol-free.

I've never been a huge fragrance fanatic – I have one or two scents that I rotate from season to season, but in general I'm fairly sensitive to most scents so I tend to avoid purchasing them in abundance. In short, I stick with what I am confident works well with my chemistry.

Despite this, I was drawn to Pacifica's line of solid perfumes almost the moment I laid eyes on them. Petite little tins packaged in the most adorable, artistic boxes, the perfumes are available in over 20 beautiful scents. Though it was tempting to grab all of them and begin a lovely little collection (and add some color to my dresser while I'm at it), I resisted and instead grabbed just a few to get started.

• Hawaiian Ruby Guava is as delectable as it sounds. The bright, invigorating scent of guava is tempered by a subtle base note of coconut and further sweetened by a hint of pomelo. The result is a fun, light fragrance that's perfect to wear all summer long.

• Mexican Cocoa is a rich, indulgent scent that is almost irresistible. Though I've never been crazy about chocolate scented body products, this one grabbed me immediately with its blend of bitter almond, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. It's the ideal choice for a cozy winter's night by the fire or a blustery fall evening.

• Spanish Amber was something of a surprise to me; I wasn't sure I'd like it just based on its curious blend of rosy geranium, sandalwood, bergamot and elemi. Nevertheless, its enticing and somewhat heady aroma pleasantly surprised me. It wasn't my favorite of the bunch by any stretch, but it's a wearable fragrance that resounds beautifully with the cooler months of the year.

• Vanilla Vera Cruz easily stands out as the best of the bunch among those I tried. With its perfect ratio of Mexican vanilla bourbon to dry vanilla bean (plus a hint of spicy orchid flower to round it out), it's nearly the perfect vanilla perfume. Sweet and sophisticated, it's a great year-round scent.

Solid perfumes take me back to my childhood, when I'd dig through my mother's fragrance stash from the 1970s and '80s and have a field day. For that reason I have a certain fondness for this type of formula – it's easy and quick to apply, and it's so petite it can fit anywhere, unlike traditional perfume bottles.

Pacifica solid perfumes contain organic soy wax, organic coconut wax and a blend of natural and essential oils. The fragrance feels smooth to the touch, and application couldn't be easier – simply massage it into the pulse points or anywhere you'd like a touch of light fragrance.

The most important quality of any fragrance is staying power. While the scents themselves are absolutely perfect, their longevity leaves something to be desired. I experienced varying degrees of staying time from scent to scent – for example, Hawaiian Ruby Guava appeared to fade quickly, but Spanish Amber packed a punch and stuck around for a while. Mexican Cocoa and Vanilla Vera Cruz fell somewhere in the middle; both were noticeable after an hour of application, but did fade considerably as time passed.

For nine dollars a pop, these little fragrances are worth a test. As mentioned, longevity may be a concern, but in general solid perfumes tend to be less long lasting than spray perfumes (and perhaps even less than a basic eau du toilette).

That said, some tend to be more reliable than others. The fragrances are wonderful and definitely worth a try if you see something that sounds intriguing. I recommend them for casual moments and quick touch-ups – you can't go wrong with something so cute and petite. For major events, though, stick with your sophisticated, classic fragrances.

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