For those who missed the memo, August 1 is National Girlfriends Day. This is a special day to share the love with those special girls and women who have touched our lives in a huge way and to acknowledge how much they mean to us. Girlfriends are your BFFs, the women you can always depend on and include gal pals, mothers, sisters, daughters and just about any female on the planet.  They are the ones you call to share exciting news at any hour, those who lend a shoulder to cry on, those you can bounce ideas off of as well as those you just love to hang out with.

Girlfriends always show up for us. They are our strongest allies through thick and thin and always forgive our transgressions. A girlfriend is never judgmental and never, ever repeats anything confidential. You know she will always have your back and vice versa.

The best thing about Girlfriends Day is that there is no need for mushy Hallmark cards or expensive gifts. The greatest gift is your friendship and she gets that.

On the other hand, if you feel the urge to splurge for your bestie, perfume or essential oils are always great gifts. If she has a signature scent that is always a safe bet because you know she’ll love it.

If you want to surprise her with something new and potentially love-worthy, here are a few suggestions:

• Mark Jacobs Cucumber – Light, refreshing, breezy and clean, this is best-suited to the gal who’s easygoing and lighthearted. Inspired by the original Mark Jacobs Splash collections, Cucumber is one of four favorites that capture the mood of summer. Notes are cucumber, lotus leaf, bamboo, lily-of-the-valley, freesia and musk. Perfect for someone who doesn’t normally wear perfume. A 3.4 oz. bottle is around $40 on Amazon, $62 at Sephora.
• Atelier Cologne Bergamote Soleil – An effervescent and sunny fragrance, it has notes of bergamot, jasmine, lavender, vetiver, oak moss and white amber. Although it’s classified as a floral, this is best for someone who prefers unisex perfumes. Like all Atelier Cologne perfumes it tells a story of powerful emotions: ” They drove all night taking turns. He spotted it instantly, driving along the line of bergamot trees leading up to the villa. The table was already set for lunch. He wasn’t surprised to see them. It was as if they had always been together. This moment was a blessing and a reminder of so many treasured years.” Around $70 for 1.1 oz. bottle on Amazon and Sephora.

• Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium – A newer rendition of the 1977 classic Opium,  it contains notes of coffee, pink pepper, orange blossom, pear, jasmine, cedar, vanilla and musk. The YSL website description: “With a glam rock aesthetic, this addictive gourmand floral entices with notes of black coffee for a shot of adrenaline, white florals to instantly seduce, and vanilla for sweetness and sensuality”. Could see this best worn by a vixen who enjoys attention. Around $80 for a 1.6 oz. bottle on Amazon, $90 at Sephora.
  

I hope all girlfriends worldwide are expressing their love and gratitude to each other today and every day. Life is always better with our girlfriends in it. Whether we have one or many, girlfriends make our lives fuller and richer!

Until next time,