Hey Everyone!
You may or may not know this, but I absolutely love Illamasqua. I love cosmetic companies that are innovative and bold, ones that completely stand out and don’t exactly fit the “norm”. I bought my first Illamasqua polishes about a year ago at a Sephora in Times Square. That was the first time I actually saw Illamasqua in person, ever since then I’ve loved everything about the brand. Unfortunately I don’t have any access to Illamasqua where I live, except for online. Which sucks because online gets kind of expensive and its just not the same as seeing makeup in person. ANYWAYS! I have for you my first non polish related post today.
May I introduce to you Illamasqua Freak.
(Yes that is me holding the bottle…j/k my hair could never do that)
Now, why am I posting about a fragrance when my blog is clearly called “Lacquer Me Silly” ?? First, I eventually want to branch out a little more and occasionally post about other beauty products since I’ve always been in love with all cosmetics, not just nail polish … but polish is a bit more practical (financially) to blog about. Lastly, Freak was given to me as a gift by the amazing…AMAZING… Julian Kynaston, the founder of Illamasqua. How awesome is that? So freaking awesome that of course I had to share it with someone…anyone who would listen really 
The powers of social media are just simply great sometimes. This kind gesture just solidifies what I already thought of Illamasqua, an amazing brand with equally amazing people behind it.
I’m so excited about this perfume. It is Illamasqua’s first fragrance and hopefully not the last. I’ve admired its amazing design since it was released that I wouldn’t even really care if I didn’t like the scent…the bottle and packaging is just so gorgeous and unique.
It comes in a sturdy box with a see through window that looks onto a snail on the side of the bottle and a full moon in the background. The top lifts off from the base for easy opening.
The back of the box has some writing which pretty much states what Freak is:
Incase you can’t make it out here is the short promo Illamasqua put out for the release:
Once you lift the top off, you have the bottle sitting comfortably in a nice sturdy base.
As you take it out of the base you can see a corner of the bottle is “cut off” so it sits on an angle. I absolutely love this about the design.
About the Scent:
“…Freak is a concoction of dangerously exotic unconventional flowers that Illamasqua has unashamedly blended together to celebrate the night.”
TOP NOTES
Black Davana, Opium Flower and Belladonna bewitch the senses into uncontrollable lust and passion.
HEART NOTES
Poison Hemlock, Datura and Queen of the Night blossom, caress and kiss.
BASE NOTES
Aromas of Frankincense, Oud and Myrrh, addictively mesmerises and captures the senses.
Freak is a unisex fragrance and once I smelled it I can totally see why. It is very heavy and musky at first, but once it settled it became a bit more floral but still kept that dark muskiness just not as heavy. I wouldn’t recommend this as a spring or summer scent, definitely a fall/winter or night time scent. Even though I said I’d love this fragrance just for the bottle, I luckily really like the scent as well. I love heavier darker scents for the winter so I will be wearing this frequently when the season comes around.
I give Freak two polished thumbs up for myself, if you prefer soft floral or fruity scents I wouldn’t recommend this for you. But if you like something bolder and different I would say give Freak a try.
Freak can be purchased through Illamasqua directly or Sephora.com (not sold in stores)
Now if only Illamasqua PR would put Lacquer Me Silly on their special blogger buddy list … *hint hint* *wink wink* *NUDGE* 
* This product was sent to me as a gift, not for review, but I decided to review it anyways. All opinions are honest and my own.
20 comments
Skip to comment form ↓
drinkcitra
May 14, 2012 at 10:24 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oooh I love the bottle shape! The packaging of it looks exquisite! I’ve been seeing a few blog posts about scents lately and I really wish there was a way to share scents online!
drinkcitra recently posted..OPI New York Ballet collection swatches
Frosso
May 14, 2012 at 11:05 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I know! As I was writing this I was thinking how fragrance is probably the hardest thing to review. You can’t smell it and not everyone smells scents the same anyways. But at least I can show off the awesome bottle
Artemis
May 15, 2012 at 12:51 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I would never buy a fragrance without getting a sample to try beforehand but this sounds like my kind of thing. I like musky scents like Boyfriend and Tom Ford Black Orchid. I’ll definitely check it out if it comes to sephora stores.
How cool that you got this as a gift?! Awesome!
Artemis recently posted..I Have No Willpower
Frosso
May 15, 2012 at 10:16 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Very cool
I’ve never smelt Tom Ford Black Orchid…but the name Black Orchid sounds like something I’d love.
ahhhdri
May 15, 2012 at 1:14 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
ahhh, in love with the bottle, especially the snail! Next time I go to Sephora, I’ll check this out.
ahhhdri recently posted..NOTD: Soo Nails and and Avocado Milkshakes
Frosso
May 15, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
haha I love the snail too, he’s an excellent addition to the gorgeous bottle
My Nail Polish Online
May 15, 2012 at 2:24 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh, I love Illamasqua too! I actually got a sample of Freak when I bought some nailpolishes in january! At first, I loved the perfume, but after wearing it for a day, there was a note in the perfume that I couldn’t stand! That is such a pitty, because I so wanted to love this perfume!!
My Nail Polish Online recently posted..Gradient Nails
Frosso
May 15, 2012 at 10:13 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hmmm I didn’t get that at all, I kept sniffing and sniffing throughout the day and still liked it. Its always interesting how scents kinda change a little on different people…or it could all just be in our heads (or noses)
Nicole
May 15, 2012 at 4:09 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Is Illamasqua the same as Llamasqua or am I stupid and have the names wrong somehow….? I’m confused- blonde moment!!
Also- I LOVE that bottle!!! I would want that perfume just for the bottle as well. That is sooo awesome that they sent that to you for free!! How did you work that out!?? However it happened- GOOD FOR YOU! 
Nicole recently posted..Diagonal and Dots Neon on Neon Nails
Frosso
May 15, 2012 at 10:11 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
lol I have no idea what Llamasqua is…maybe its the same thing and you read it as an L not an I ? Crazy blondes…
Very surprising and extremely kind gesture!
When I followed Julian Kynaston on twitter I happened to be his 1000 follower so he DM’d me and tada!!
Swatch And Learn
May 15, 2012 at 8:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Illamasqua is such a cool company, and they score major points for going the extra mile. I appreciate their personal touch.
As for the fragrance, I think the bottle is really unique, and the little snail going up the side is something that you really don’t see anywhere else.
I’m an Illamasqua fan!
Swatch And Learn recently posted..Essie Aruba Blue Swatches & Review
Frosso
May 16, 2012 at 12:19 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
They really are great for the extra little things they do, it makes a huge difference in setting them apart from other brands. Its even more amazing that they’ve only been around for such a short time and I think they outshine a lot of other brands. I just hope every time I walk into a Sephora I’ll find a nice big Illamasqua display, but the closest I’ve gotten is the small selection they’ve added to their polish bar. Until then I’ll have to admire most Illamasqua from afar.
Eileen
May 16, 2012 at 12:05 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
i love illamasqua! i have one of their polishes, and another one on the way. just wish they weren’t so pricey so i could pick up more
Eileen recently posted..Gren Forrest
Frosso
May 16, 2012 at 12:14 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I agree
the prices usually make it an every now and then purchase for me. Not something I can afford on a regular basis especially since you have to factor shipping into it most of the time.
Ashley
May 16, 2012 at 8:37 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve never tried Illamasqua because I only have access online, and like you said, it just isn’t the same as buying in person. But I would love to try the brand. I’ve heard so many good things about it! I wish I could smell this through the computer, lol!
Frosso
May 16, 2012 at 6:34 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Lol I know fragrance is one of those things that no matter how well it’s described you still need to smell it. You’d think some one like Steve Jobs (RIP) would have figured out a scratch and sniff app by now
Candy
May 16, 2012 at 5:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This bottle is so COOL! But I worry that the reservoir straw thing is pointing the wrong way in the bottle, so it would be a struggle to get all of the product. Do you think that will be a problem? I guess it doesn’t matter, since you hold the bottle upright to spray it.
Candy recently posted..A Non-Nail Update
Frosso
May 16, 2012 at 6:29 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thats a good point, I didn’t even think about that. The straw looks as though it reaches to the far corner so I’m sure if I tip it when I’m really low I’ll be able to reach it. I’ve had that problem before with other bottles where the straw wasn’t long enough once I got low or it just stopped pumping, its veeeery frustrating.
Lauren Christie Mary
May 19, 2012 at 11:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Everything about this sounds perfect! I have to smell this! This was insanely crazy nice of Julian!!!
Frosso
May 20, 2012 at 12:28 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You’re always welcomed to sniff me!