Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Unboxing Jimmy Choo's New Fragrance, Flash



When the original Jimmy Choo fragrance was launched a couple of years back, it caused quite a stir in the fragrance world. While it was a hit with many of my fellow bloggers and friends, I didn't fall in love with the scent myself, though I did love the bottle.

Out this month exclusively at Nordstom (for less than $100!) is Jimmy Choo's new fragrance, Flash — a fruity-yet-floral scent with top notes of pink pepper and strawberry; heart notes of tuberose, jasmine, and white lily; and base notes of heliotrope and white woods that smells as delicious as it does luxurious. This is a less sweet, more floral concoction. The bottle is designed to emulate paparazzi flashbulbs, and the box is equally as glitzy. I love the box, but the bottle itself is not as nicely made as I expected, or as good quality as the first Jimmy Choo fragrance.

Woody base notes make it a little more sophisticated, but for me, the strong floral heart is just too much. When it comes to staying power (like the first Jimmy Choo fragrance) this is great, but  in my case I'd prefer if it wasn't!

A glitter-filled booklet that accompanied our perfume says the scent is "about the cool rush of excitement and the sense of power a woman feels when dressed in a pair of sexy shoes" . Perhaps with a rich man, among fields of strawberries." (In other words, it's the smell of fancy and yummy colliding.)

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Use Of Allergy Inducing Fragrance Ingredients So Common, Says One Study


Once again, science and research gets in the way of going crazy on fragrance, what a buzzkill!

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) say that fragrance ingredients commonly used in shampoos and skin creams may trigger eczema. As they have learned more people suffer allergic reaction to common fragrance sound in a number of cosmetic and personal care products.

Although the estimated percentage of the population suffering from allergy appears low, the fact that this fragrance ingredients appears in the vast majority of beauty products does make it significant. They also advise against buying large packs of soups and shower cream, and replace the top after using a bottle.

More

Prince Settles Out Of Court With Perfume Maker



Prince and Vivendi SA have settled a lawsuit filed by a perfume and cosmetics manufacturer who accused the musician and his then-label (Universal Music Group) of breaching a contract to promote two products.

According to Bloomberg, Revelations Perfume and Cosmetics, a company based in Pennsylvania, sued the musician and UMG in New York State Supreme Court in November 2008, seeking minimum $100,000 in damages.

The suit claimed Prince didn't follow through on contracts to help market perfumes using his name, likeness and the name of his 2006 album 3121. A judge subsequently ordered the musician to pay nearly $4 million in April 2012 to the company for losses, but denying the company punitive and lost-profit damages.

The Hollywood Reporter stated problems arose immediately after the deal was signed, with Prince refusing to do any promotional work or interviews related to the product. The musician argued that one day after the licensing deal was signed between Revelations and Universal Music he told the perfume company he wouldn't give interviews for the launch party nor provide photographs to accompany the press release.

Court filings dated on March 27 said both sides had agreed to withdraw the suit and its appeal. The company's lawyer told Bloomberg the case had been settled but refused to reveal the terms.

Prince is mounting a West Coast trek that begins in Vancouver on April 15 before concluding in Denver on May 13. From there he'll head to Europe, playing at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in July with dates in Sweden and Denmark slated for August.

source

Friday, April 26, 2013

The Former President: Perfume, Florwers and A Scarf



Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will hold a simple celebration of her 66th birthday today while under detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City, her husband said yesterday.

Former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo said his wife did not ask him for money for food to be served for her birthday gathering of family and friends.

He surmised most of the food would be brought by relatives and friends.

“She did not ask for any budget for the food,” he said, adding he expects all their children – Mikey, Luli Arroyo-Bernas, and re-electionist Camarines Sur Rep. Dato – and their grandchildren to be with them.

Arroyo disclosed that a couple of days ago he bought a scarf and perfume as birthday gifts for his wife, “and of course flowers.”

“My birthday wish for her is that (the courts) dismiss all the charges against her. This is all persecution. I wish that (the courts) would decide fairly and justly, based on evidence and not on pressure or enticements from Malacañang,” he said.

“I hope they release her because she’s ailing,” Arroyo added.

The birthday celebration has reportedly been approved by VMMC director Dr. Nona Legaspi and the Police Security Protection Group. – with Reinir Padua

source

Thursday, April 25, 2013

No.14 Rossetto by Prada Feels Familiar




My first impression of No.14 Rossetto by Prada is that it feels familiar; but I can't quite put my finger on what it recalls for me exactly. The principal motif of the fragrance inspiration is meant to be the scent of lipstick. My representations however hover between the sticky, lush raspberry heart of a French Pierrot Lollipop and the smell of hair lacquer. More precisely still, I'm brought back to a scene from my childhood in Paris, and even more precisely to a bathroom you accessed by going down a short flight of steps. It was my best friend's bathroom and her mother was a devotee and regular user of Elnett Hair Spray whose smell permeated the atmosphere of that room...

The fragrance's distinctive feature at first is that it feels warm and enveloping like a maternal hug and a familiar childhood memory. The composition projects incredible atmospheric warmth. You could imagine a hair dryer blowing nearby.

Little by little, it becomes more of a rose perfume but with unconventional metallic accents and smells of a blusher. The perfume feels both like a cosmetic odor and a woody rose. There are hints of well-used makeup pans, finely sifted face powder, perhaps even a remembrance of Coty airspun face powder, only with raspberry.

The sense of the familiar is present throughout although it remains elusive, moving - as in a moving target - but always, always warm, and I would add, always maternal. It feels as if you were snuggling inside the nook of the neck of your mother and inhaling all the beautiful smells associated with her beauty routine. This is not just a flat, literalist copy of a retro lipstick smell, it is the recapturing of a precious moment - we can imagine at bedtime - of a mother kissing her child and offering her or him at the same time the olfactory and body-warmth mark of her feminine presence. The composition then becomes moving in its capacity to stir half-forgotten emotions in you.

This is a very delicate, minimalist perfume. Accompagnying the rose-violet accord are nuances of wintergreen, cypress, and ambergris, which combined, exercise their pull on you. Wintergreen evokes Christmas. Ambergris has this once upon a time well-known milky-maternal facet - like sandalwood - which can make it be a very emotive note {See Ambre Gris by Balmain for some descriptions of the smell}. The rose and the vanilla here evoke somehow, strawberry and vanilla swirl ice-cream bought at the Jardin du Luxembourg for me, albeit very chicly and dicreetly.

As the fragrance "roars" more on the skin after reapplying it more generously, I am reminded of the ambergris concerto that is contained within Zibeline by Weil, a fur perfume of yesteryear, but also recall Ambre et Diamant Noir by Ambregris, a modern old-school perfume exclusively sold at the Ritz Hotel today.

Finally I understand better the charm of this perfume: Rossetto is to some extent a lipstick-y perfume, but more importantly it showcases a mythical material of perfumery, ambergris, recapturing its magnificent, classical personality and its incredible power of seduction, maternal and otherwise. If you wanted to smell the perfume of a mother who is still capable of seduction, this is it.

When you come to think of it, it might be a great perfume to have nearby to remind you from time to time that you never need to retire as a seductress, nor does your mother, or your wife, yet still remain a mother. Ambergris was such a smell, once much more common. Here perfumer Daniela Andrier has recaptured its retro-nostalgic, nurturing-motherly and seductive-erotic impact, all at once.

Hedge Funds Are Dumping Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc.



Thieves steal so much from this store, but the hedge funds are keeping away from the Ulta Beauty company, they seem to think it's a bad investment.

In the eyes of most market participants, hedge funds are assumed to be unimportant, outdated financial vehicles of yesteryear. While there are greater than 8000 funds with their doors open at present, we at Insider Monkey look at the crème de la crème of this club, close to 450 funds. It is estimated that this group controls most of the hedge fund industry's total asset base, and by tracking their highest performing picks, we have formulated a few investment strategies that have historically beaten the broader indices. Our small-cap hedge fund strategy outstripped the S&P 500 index by 18 percentage points per year for a decade in our back tests, and since we've began to sharing our picks with our subscribers at the end of August 2012, we have outclassed the S&P 500 index by 25 percentage points in 6.5 mont

At year's end, a total of 26 of the hedge funds we track were long in this stock, a change of -7% from one quarter earlier. With the smart money's capital changing hands, there exists an "upper tier" of key hedge fund managers who were increasing their holdings significantly.

Source

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Prince and Vivendi SA (VIV) settled The Perfume lawsuit




Prince and Vivendi SA (VIV) settled a lawsuit filed by a Pennsylvania manufacturer in 2008 accusing the singer and Universal Music Group of breaking a contract over the marketing of two perfumes, a lawyer for the plaintiffs said.

Revelations Perfume and Cosmetics, based in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, sued the musician, whose full name is Prince Rogers Nelson, and Universal Music in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan in November 2008, seeking at least $100,000 in damages. The company accused Prince of reneging on agreements to help market perfumes using his name and likeness and the name of his 2006 album “3121.”

A judge in April ordered Prince to pay $3.95 million for Revelations’ out-of-pocket losses, while denying the company’s request for punitive and lost-profit damages. The judge found there was no evidence that Prince and co-defendant Paisley Park Enterprises acted with malicious intent. Prince appealed the ruling the following month.

The parties have agreed to withdraw the suit and the appeal, according to court filings dated March 27. David E. Landau, an attorney with Duane Morris LLP in Philadelphia representing Revelations Perfume, confirmed in a phone interview that the case was settled. He declined to disclose the terms of the settlement.

David Donahue, an attorney with Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu Pc in New York representing Universal Music, declined to comment on the settlement. C. Kawezya Burris, an attorney with Kaye Scholer LLP in New York representing Prince, didn’t immediately return a voice-mail message seeking comment.

The case is Revelations Perfume and Cosmetics Inc. v. Prince Rogers Nelson, 603350/2008, New York State Supreme Court (Manhattan).

source

Perfume jewelry will have you looking, smelling great


MANHATTAN (PIX11) — When it comes to beauty, so many women love a 2-in-1 product but I bet you never thought your jewelry could double as your perfume!

The idea of fragrance jewelry was created by Lisa Hoffman, wife of actor Dustin Hoffman, who founded Lisa Hoffman Beauty.

“She has come up with a revolutionary way to put fragrance in the jewelry.  Each piece of the jewelry has a charm and within the charm there are tiny fragrance beads.  There’s necklaces, earrings, bracelets and they are worn on the pulse points so that you really smell fragrance where you naturally spray your fragrance – on your ears, neck, wrist,” said Heather Braasch ofBehrman PR, who represents the brand.

There are several scents to choose from:  French Clary Sage, Japanese Agarwood and Tuscan Fig, to name a few.  All of the beads are made of a sustainable woodflower and the jars, though seemingly small, last as long as a bottle of perfume.

“The actual fragrance doesn’t touch your skin.  So, women and men who have allergies to fragrance can actually have a product they can wear now,” said Braasch.

Dr. Clifford Bassett of Allergy and Asthma Center of NY says Lisa Hoffman Beauty is a good alternative for people who cannot wear perfume or scented oils on their skin.  “Nearly 30 million Americans have a skin allergy to fragrances.”  However, he says, even more Americans are irritated by fragrances, even though they may not be technically allergic.

“It depends on the person’s individual sensitivity to fragrances,” Dr. Bassett said, adding that just the scent of a fragrance could bother someone.

The cost of jewelry by Lisa Hoffman Beauty starts at $65.

Her most expensive line, in collaboration with designer Tom Binns, starts at $200.




source

Saturday, April 20, 2013

60 Seconds With Georgia May Jagger




When we spilled to a friend that we'd just interviewed the gorgeous Georgia May Jagger, our green-with-jealousy bud immediately blurted: "I want her teeth!" GMJ is one of our ultimate girl crushes, and for good reason. The daughter of Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall, the stunning 19-year-old has been establishing a modeling career all her own, with notable campaigns with Rimmel London, Hudson Jeans, and, most recently, as the face of Just Cavalli For Her fragrance. We sat down for a Skype sesh with the model and got the details on the campaign, her beauty routine, and the most important style lesson that she's picked up along the way.

What was your first impression of the fragrance? 
"It's very floral and fresh and feminine and sexy. I think you could definitely wear it every day. It works perfectly with the Cavalli brand, and I think it's very young and cool, so it's perfect."



So, those awesome teeth of yours — they're really becoming your iconic look! 
"Yeah, it's really funny, because I never thought about it that much. I almost got braces when I was younger. But I just decided that I didn't want to go through my teenage years wearing braces, and I'd rather just have my teeth and embrace it. I believe that being different is beautiful."


entire post 

Friday, April 19, 2013

Fragrance Brand Inspired by Photographs to Debut at Bergdorf



Fragrance brand Olfactive Studio is looking to make its U.S. debut this year, and it will do so at one of New York City's best spots for beauty:Bergdorf Goodman. The line can currently be found in over 25 countries, but Bergdorf and other speciality retailers will be its very first introduction to the states.

One thing that separates Olfactive Studio from other perfume companies is where it draws inspiration for its scents, which would be photographs, galleries, and art shows. WWDexplains: "Each scent in the line, which [founder Céline] Verleure refers to as a 'perfumer's proof,' is inspired by a photograph and meant to interpret the overall emotional imprint left by the art." Verleure's plan is to launch one new scent a year, and the fifth, called "Flashback," "interprets a photo by French media artist Laurent Segretier."

So how much is a high-brow bottle like this going to cost you? The article adds that a 3.4 oz. bottle is $195, and the smaller 1.7 oz. bottle is $145. Each comes with a postcard of the piece of art that inspired it.

· Olfactive Studio [Official Site]

Minks, Perfume And Beastly Beauty In ‘Shocked’



Beauty can be a beast. That’s one message from Shocked, Patricia Volk’s smart, fascinating book about her complex relationship with her beautiful, elegantly attired, hypercritical mother.

Volk’s delightful first memoir, Stuffed, which focused on her eccentric family of New York restaurateurs, was published just a year after the death, in 2000, of her 80-year-old father, Cecil Sussman Volk, longtime proprietor of Morgen’s West Restaurant but also a sculptor, inventor, and motorcycle enthusiast. Although more than six years have passed since Audrey Morgen Volk’s death, her daughter refrains from revealing her mother’s age: “There’s enough in this book that violates her confidence already.”

To facilitate the tricky business of capturing both her mother’s beauty and less lovely side, Volk turns to a surprising foil: Shocking Life, the 1954 memoir by avant-garde couturier Elsa Schiaparelli. This was one of many books young Patty snatched from the pile that commandeered her mother’s attention every afternoon when she returned from hostessing at the family restaurant, Morgen’s. “I want to know what is in those books that is better than spending time with me,” Volk writes. What I want to know is what Audrey Volk got out of the voracious reading that left her daughter feeling neglected — perhaps some mental stimulation otherwise lacking in her life?

For complete story.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

About Time! New Natural Perfume, Posso, Released by Osmia Organics


Goodbye chemicals and allergies...


Osmia Organics announces the release of its natural perfume entitled Posso, which translates to "I can" in Italian. The company's founder, Dr. Sarah Villafranco, initially developed the blend as an antidote to the feelings of insecurity that can plague us all occasionally. Frankincense has been used for ages as a meditation aid, serving to deepen the breath and connect one with the deeper self.

Violet leaf absolute is useful in overcoming fear and shyness, while Melissa can balance and uplift the spirit. Grounding Sandalwood essential oil is the other critical ingredient, calming the busy mind and paving the way for clarity and courage to take their places.

The combination of these therapeutic oils, in addition to bolstering determination, turned out to be cohesive and complex, making it suitable as a scent, which many aromatherapy blends are not. The blend has been so popular among Osmia customers that it is being released as a natural perfume. Posso is made in a base of steam-fractionated coconut oil and organic, golden jojoba oil.

The essential oils and extracts are then added, and the oil is allowed to "percolate" for 3 weeks prior to bottling. (Essential oils, CO2 extracts, and absolutes are explained in this article on Osmia's website.) The perfume comes packaged in a roller bottle with a screw top, allowing customers to carry it in their purses without concern for leakage.

For more information about Posso, or natural perfumes in general, please visit

Guerlain Launchs a new Aqua Allegoria



Guerlain have launched a new Aqua Allegoria this spring of 2013 baptized Nerolia Bianca. Founded in 1999, as a collection of fresh eaux, it has seen a number of additions over the years so far retaining four in the permanent lineup: Pamplelune, Herba Fresca, Mandarine Basilic and Lys Soleia. The new jus, which pays homage to the bitter orange tree, was composed by in-house perfumer Thierry Wasser...

It might be of interest to note that in the past Jean-Paul Guerlain had composed a neroli perfume entitled Flora Nerolia for this collection for which he had a particular liking, but which was discontinued.

Wasser explained, "In Aqua Allegoria I can guess at the world of a perfumer-gardener, of a collector of smells, of a nature which is disciplined with artistry and a lot of respect, of seasonal life. I would also add the words poetry and liberty. A liberty of tone and position, a liberty of genre and style. To be freely worn, and which was freely composed..."

The composition features all of the different materials that are derived from the orange tree, which is nicknamed "the pig of perfumery" as it can be used in such a versatile fashion.

Perfume notes include bitter orange, orange blossom, neroli, petit grain, peppermint, ylang, white musks, white amber, and cedar wood.

Nerolia Bianca was reportedly conceived so as to feel as fresh as an Eau de Cologne, as intense as an eau de parfum, yet as mysterious as a skin scent.

Intriguing, right, and technically promising, isn't it?

Price is 72€ for 125 ml.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Top 5 Men Perfumes You Should Try


  • 1. Jean Paul Gautier LE MALE

    First launched in 1995, Le Male has since been the centre of a lot of publicity and commentary. Men (and women) can’t seem to get enough of this intoxicating and liberal scent. The ingredients list is long and complex: mint, bergamot, lavender, orange blossom, cinnamon, vanilla, and sandalwood. All these blend seamlessly to give a masculine and seductive aroma.
  • 2. Davidoff Cool Water

    Most men are using or at one point in their lives have used Davidoff Cool Water. Launched in 1998, this is one perfume that has captivated the minds of the people. It was one of the first to experiment with an aquatic scent, and this risk has paid off wonderfully over the years. The ingredients list includes lavender, coriander, peppermint, geranium, jasmine, sandalwood, amber, musk, sandalwood and cedar. This is one perfume that is composed of unusual ingredients and thus has a distinct scent.
  • 3. Gucci Guilty Intense

    This one has been launched as recently as 2011. It has been received with mixed reviews, but in our books this is one scent that you ought to have. It is seductive in one of the most unusual ways and does not fail to captivate the olfactory system. With an ingredient list that includes mandarin, pink pepper, lilac, violet, heliotrope, amber, and patchouli, Gucci Guilty Intense has a very floral yet provocative appeal.
  • 4. Hermes Terre d'Hermes

    This perfume is for the man who travels the world, wants the best for himself and aims for the stars. Launched in 2006, this perfume has an eclectic mix of ingredients that includes orange, lemon, pepper, pelargonium, patchouli, vetiver, and benzoin. The perfume is earthy and transparent. The fragrance is not too deep and neither it is too ethereal; it manages to walk the tightrope between the two with elan.
  • 5. Cartier Declaration

    Love and Passion, these two words aptly describe Cartier Declaration. Launched in 1998, this perfume has a woody floral fragrance. The tangy notes of bergamot and bitter orange are well balanced by the earthy smells of rosewood, coriander, oakmoss, and patchouli. If you are in love, you should wear Cartier Declaration. The above listed perfumes are distinct in personality and fragrance. Buy one that you think suits your personality and disposition the best.

Do Not Be A Stinker! These fragrance tips



Women (and men): Remember, a fragrance should be a whisper, not a scream – it should never cause a hangover. People will talk and no one wants this to backfire. The Human Resource Department will need to see you if your perfume is screaming. The trick is, it's hard to tell a women or a man that he uses too much fragrance--you might be sued for sexual harassment or hostile work environment for such comments.


Saturday, April 13, 2013

How the Perfume Business Lost Its Class Ivanka Trump is no Audrey Hepburn




This is a timely look at one of the most daunting problems the perfume industry faces. It's not exclusive anymore, every celebrity has his/her own line and no body seems to pay attention anymore. It's has lost its prestige as a commodity, in a sense it has become more democratic.

In the old days, celebrity perfumes were plush, rarified things—scent couture, if you will. The lucky fan might get a whiff of the magic scent, but the juice wasn't for sale. Today, of course, every celebrity has a perfume, and all it takes is a call to the Home Shopping Network to buy it. Ever wonder how this part of Western civilization devolved in this manner?
Our story begins with the lady at right, who appeared at Hubert de Givenchy's atelier in 1953 to find a dress for the movie Sabrina. Audrey Hepburn brought so much vibrancy and life to the designer’s clothing that soon he dressed her exclusively. In 1957, Givenchy created a perfume for her, too. As the story goes, Hepburn loved the scent so much that when Givenchy suggested he might market it, she blurted, "But I forbid you!" Hence, the name: L’Interdit—forbidden.
And it was. "Everyone asked Audrey Hepburn where they could get the perfume, but she said 'no!'," relates fragrance expert Marian Bendeth, owner of consultancy Sixth Scents. Eventually, Hepburn relinquished, as this 1973 ad illustrates. Even so, the pitch was subtle and irrefutably legitimate: "Givenchy created this perfume for Audrey Hepburn, and she really wore it," Bendeth said. When you bought a bottle, you were getting a piece of something real and something special.

L'Interdit was (and remains, 20 years after Hepburn’s death) a success. But it also marked the beginning of a gradual awakening by beauty executives that celebrities are a highly effective way to market fragrances—so effective, in fact, that today’s $30 billion perfume industry has cooked up a scent for every A-, B- and C-lister out there. American department stores stocked 756 perfumes in 2002. As of 2010, the number was 1,160. Pick a celeb—c’mon, any celeb!—and there’s a good chance that he or she has a bottle of juice: Justin Bieber, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Usher, Mariah Carey—they’ve all got fragrances (never mind the chances, low to miniscule, that these beautiful peeps actually wear the stuff). And, given this 2013 ad, we can add Ivanka Trump to the list, too. Ivanka Trump’s perfume is called Ivanka Trump—appropriate, considering that father Donald Trump has a fragrance called Donald Trump, but that’s another story.
Read More

Friday, April 12, 2013

Vera Wang New Perfume "Be Jeweled" Fragrance



A new perfume from Chinese-American designer Vera Wang is set to go on sale this April.
The latest fragrance offering from Vera Wang aims to capture "the energy and excitement of the perfect girls' night out" according to the brand. Served up in a glamorous glass bottle cut to look like a precious gem, the packaging features imagery inspired by the designer's jewelry.

The scent was created by Yann Vasnier, the nose behind Marc Jacobs Lola (with Calice Becker) and Marc Jacobs Bang. The Frenchman has also recently worked on scents for Tom Ford, Donna Karan and Comme des Garçons.

Opening with pomegranate, red currant, and champagne notes, the perfume's heart is composed of a passion fruit extract with pink honeysuckle and peony. The drydown is musky, with added pink sugar crystals and a rich Australian sandalwood.

The scent will be launching exclusively in the US at Kohl's, in three different eau de parfum sprays: 30 ml ($45.00), 50 ml ($52.00) and 75 ml $68.00.

Wang launched Signature, her first fragrance in 2002, Be Jeweled is the seventh scent signed by the designer, whose lines Princess Vera Wang and Simply Vera Vera Wang are also Kohl's exclusives.



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/fashion/vera-wang-launches-jeweled-fragrance-article-1.1302784#ixzz2QGqH2hcF

Lipstick-Like Le Soft Perfume is New Brand of Fragrances



A new French brand of perfume-in-a-stick is born called Le Soft Perfume. At their helm are the same people who created the concept previously branded as Crazy Libellule and the Poppies: Isabelle Masson-Mandonnaud and Philippe Vignong.

Their first offerings amount to 10 in a series entitled Le Petit Fou (The Little Crazy One) and whimsically called Emballe-Moi, Striptease Flowers, Rock, Umabel, Nemamiah, Zazou, Copacabana, La Reine Soleil, Lucky Bay, Etre Ici ou Ailleurs...

For the export market they have 6 among these which have been made available.

The sticks made out of shea butter, Monoï, Tamanu and Mango butter have been dermatologically tested and are alcohol-free, which is a boon for the summery days.

Rock for instance features notes of bergamot, lemon, orange followed by a heart of cedar and amber resting on a base of sandalwood, oud, leather accord, praline, patchouli, musk.

Striptease Flowers includes notes of bergamot, mandarin with a heart of orange blossom and neroli and a base of patchouli, amber, caramel and vanilla.

Zazou has notes of lemon and citron followed by mid-notes of cypress, grapefruit, neroli and finally notes of cedar, musk and amber.

Each stick is priced at 19,90€. More information at Lesoftperfume.com

The Sweet Business: The 10 Best-Selling Celebrity Perfumes



It's called "the juice." It can carry a hint of spice (Jennifer Lopez's Live Luxe) or a tinge of sweet vanilla (Britney Spears' Fantasy), with notes that are wooden and citrusy (Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely) or musky and floral (Beyonce's Heat). The juice can be bottled in one's own image (Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday), shaped like a cat (Katy Perry's Purr) or sculpted into a microphone (Julian Casablancas' Azzaro Decibel).

And more and more, the juice -- the fragrances that power a $5 billion-a-year global industry -- carries with it a dose of Hollywood. In 2012, there were 85 star perfume or cologne launches compared with only 10 a decade ago. Of the top-selling 100 fragrances, 31 are tied to celebrities, all of them hoping to become the next Elizabeth Taylor. Her White Diamonds started the trend in 1991 and has earned $1 billion in sales, by far the most popular celebrity fragrance in the world.

As star salaries and album sales decrease, such ancillary revenue streams as fragrances and clothing lines are becoming more important to a star's overall financial well-being. A top celebrity -- one who appeals to the young women powering the market -- now can demand $3 million to $5 million as an upfront payment, plus a 6 percent or 7 percent royalty on sales, say insiders. Branding agents and business managers who negotiate the deals say fragrance endorsements are relatively low-risk, with the potential for high rewards. On the other side, fragrance-makers now see the name value of stars as a key element to distinguish a new brand, and the extra payout hardly depresses high profit margins: Bottles of perfume and cologne typically sell for about $125, and the cost of making them usually is about 25 percent of retail.

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WATCH: Wes Anderson's French Love Triangle Plays Out For Prada's Latest "Candy" Fragrance


Everyone who watched movies knows that director Wes Anderson has his own unique approach to film making. And most people know Parada is in a league of its own, put these two things together and you get one hell of an ad.

The video, featured above, is the first in a three part series that features French model and actress Léa Seydoux as Candy and two friends Peter Gadiot and Rodolphe Paul as Gene and Julius, both of whom are trying to get Candy's affection. Although the film is clearly French New Wave-inspired, the direction of the short film is signature Wes Anderson.

From what we can see so far, the film will be darkly charming, with plenty of spring style inspiration (those bangs and the pink polish on Seydoux? Amazing). Plus, it has succeeded in piquing our interest in how this new version of Candy will smell — we've heard that the fragrance's gourmand base will be lightened up with the addition of citrus and floral notes. Thankfully, we won't have to wait with bated breath for long: Candy L'Eau will be hitting shelves (and, perhaps, our vanities) in April.

Prada Candy L'Eau by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola - Episode 1





 Prada Candy L'Eau by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola - Episode 2

Video: The Perfume Cologne Joke Is Here


I love stand up comedy as much as the next guy, but one comedian at an American university starts his act by talking about cologne and perfumes, he asked the ladies in the room if they were perfume and asked them dude if the use cologne. It's a bit short, but you can tell the audience in the room ate it up and were all laughing.

I do not think the comedian Jacob Tehrani wears a fragrance. See how the guys refused to talk bout using fragrance, but the ladies were quick to confess. I like the gender bit, he took a joke about fragrance, and made it about dating.

"Gender, Murder" - Jacob Tehrani, Humor U Stand-Up Comedy

NEST Fragrance Introduces Their Spring Collection


NEST Fragrances, is a leading lifestyle fragrance brand that designs and manufactures a wide assortment of luxury scented products for the bath, body and home, introduces an indulgent new collection for spring, White Narcisse. A sophisticated fusion of fine art and fine fragrance, the limited-edition White Narcisse Collection debuts in a Luxury Scented Candle and three personal care products, including Body Wash, Body Cream and Body & Soul Eau De Toilette Spray.  
  
“After seeing the floral artwork I commissioned for White Narcisse, I was inspired to create another NEST scent that would translate beautifully into both a personal and home fragrance,” said Laura Slatkin, Founder, Creative Director and CEO of NEST Fragrances. “The sheer beauty of the artwork is matched by the intoxicating, modern white floral fragrance; I am so excited that White Narcisse is debuting in April…just in time for spring hostess and Mother’s Day gift-giving!”

White Narcisse is an elegant fragrance composed of white narcisse blended with hints of French mimosa, dewy muguet and creamy sandalwood. Featuring original artwork by Russian artist Alexander Solodukho, the White Narcisse Collection products are available for purchase separately, and the personal care items are being offered for purchase together in a chic, luxurious gift box. The White Narcisse Candle is housed in a fine, handmade porcelain container featuring an intricately sculpted interpretation of the floral artwork.  
The new White Narcisse Collection is available for purchase at Neiman Marcus stores and NeimanMarcus.com, Bergdorf Goodman and BergdorfGoodman.com, Shop.NESTFragrances.com, and select specialty boutiques and retailers nationwide.

The White Narcisse Collection includes (all prices are SRP): Classic Candle, 8.1 Oz. (230g) for $48; Body Wash, 200 mL (6.7 Fl. Oz.) for $34; Body Cream, 200 mL (6.7 Fl. Oz.) for $34; Body & Soul Eau De Toilette Spray, 100 mL (3.4 Fl. Oz.) for $48; Luxury Gift Set, $98.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Swarovski to retail perfume and beauty products on HSN




Swarovski is going to debut a line of perfume and beauty products on the multichannel retailer HSN, on April 15, reports say. The line is being named Aura by Swarovski.


The beauty products will include lipstick shades, body lotion, makeup and a solid perfume, packed in a palladium-finished case and decorated with a Swarovski crystal which can be used and worn as a pendant, reports say.

Swarovski debuted in the world of perfumes with Aura fragrance in 2011. After a couple of variations on the original, a new perfume named Swarovski Edition emerges in fall of 2012.

Their first offing was floral - fruity composition is created by perfumer Sonia Constant. It starts off with clementine and red currant jam that provide fruity aroma. The floral heart blooms with wild rose and gardenia. White musk and cedar are located at the base. The design of the bottle, signed by Gwenaël Nicolas from Curiosity Agency Japan, is reminiscent of the limited collection of clutch evening purses by Swarovski.

It is available as 50 ml Eau de Parfum.

Calvin Klein Model Matt Terry Talks Fragrance and Fitness




If you watched the Super Bowl this year, you undoubtedly saw the new face (make that abs) of Calvin Klein underwear: Matt Terry. The 22-year-old model is also fronting the brand's new fragrance, Dark Obsession. We spoke with Terry about the scent, what he loves about women, and his own surprising obsession.

How has your life changed since the Super Bowl ad aired?
"I'll go to the local breakfast place and they'll come up and say, 'Congratulations.' It's flattering but freaky. It's like, I haven't even gone on a first date with you and you know what I look like in my underwear."

You're the face of Dark Obsession for Men. What do you like about the fragrance?
"I had not smelled it until recently, and it turned out cooler than I thought. It has a very mellow, pleasant, vanilla-y smell along with a boldness and spice to it. It's not overpowering, which I like, because most men's fragrances are too in-your-face."

Do you remember your first fragrance?
"It's very ironic. When I was 14 or 15 my mom bought me a Calvin Klein fragrance kit. It had Obsession, Escape, and Eternity, along with another one. It's insane that I used to see this on my dresser every day and now my face is on the advertisements."

How do you think a woman should smell?
"I think a woman should smell very comforting—at least that's what I really enjoy. I like a gentle smell."


How did you get your body in the shape it's in?
"I try to go to the gym four to five times a week. I warm up for 10 to 15 minutes and then I jump into circuit training. My friends help me go to the gym because it sucks going by yourself. They push me to another level, and it makes the whole process better."

More:

Tips On Perfume Allergy



As anyone who is unfortunate enough to suffer from one will be able to tell you, a perfume allergy is a horrible and often debilitating condition depending on its severity. Those with a minor perfume allergy will often be unlucky enough to experience a rash, redness, itching, swelling and cold like symptoms. You sure can ask your co-worker not to put perfume on, but you cannot exactly use many products at home.

Those with a severe allergy will suffer all of those symptoms and could also suffer from difficulty breathing or even anaphylactic shock. Because it is a specific allergen that causes the perfume allergy it is not just a case of staying away from a specific perfume.

The vital thing is that you find out what your specific allergen(s) is that is causing your perfume allergy (parfume allergi is the Danish term). Many people make the mistake of assuming that it is something new that they have come into contact with.

In fact it can be something that you have used any number of times in the past with no problems at all. This is because your immune system needs to have come into contact with the allergen to have identified it as a threat.

Isolation test whereby you try each of the products that you used on the day your allergy symptoms first appeared and then eliminate those that do not cause a reaction. My colleague just had that and her arm is full of marks, and markings.

  1. Take a patch test. They will place minute samples of common allergens on your skin and study the reaction. Make sure to check not only your perfumes, cosmetics and skin care products but household cleaners, washing powders, candles, air fresheners, etc. 
  2. Throw away anything that contains your allergen and anything that you are not sure about or try to look up the list of ingredients on the internet.
  3. Try using a specialized shop to purchase those products that you have had to throw away. There are now many shops that specialize in producing allergy friendly products that do not contain chemicals and unnatural fragrances. They also produce allergy friendly perfumes so you can smell as great as you would normally. You may have to pay a little more for them but at least you will have peace of mind that you will not suffer an attack.

Smelling good without a perfume


Everyone likes to smell nice, but not everyone wants to wear perfume. Some people are allergic to it, the scents give some a headache and some can’t handle a smell quite that strong while some can’t just afford it.

Scented Lotion: Scented lotions are a great alternative to perfumes. You can get a lotion that smells like just about anything – even that amazing perfume you can’t afford. If you want a light, barely there scent, you can find that as well. The best part is, you’ll be moisturized as well, so your skin will be soft and supple, and sweet smelling all day long!

Body Spray Body sprays are also a great alternative but it can be overpowering, so you have to be careful. They are way cheaper than most perfumes and you can find a great one to suit your budget. However, be careful about what kind of spray you choose, and remember that just a few pumps will do the trick. Do not over-spray it!

Powders Another great alternative is Powder. Babies smell so sweet and fresh every time you pick them up because of the baby powder constantly sprinkled on them. You can also get that kind of fresh smell with some powders. Apart from making you smell good, a sprinkling of powder will help keep you cooler in the heat. You can go natural or look for something that’s like a perfume. Loads of scented powders can be found in the market and the smell is not as overpowering as sprays or lotions.

Body Wash If you don’t want a heavy scent but you do want a fragrance to linger on your skin, then scented body wash might be the answer. It can linger long after you’re out of the shower, but it’s in no way overpowering. You can also look for complementary lotions and/or body sprays in the scent you prefer. For the ladies, Victoria’s Secret specializes in that kind of thing.


Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Fatima Lopes ‘Be Mine’ Perfume



Portuguese designer Fatima Lopes who shows twice a year in Paris during Fashion Week will launch her first fragrance called Be Mine in September.
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Just like her prêt-à-porter collections, the designer’s first fragrance is feminine and full of passion and desire. Fatima Lopes wanted the scent to be “carnal” and “animal-like” and suggest a burst of “femininity.”

The essence, developed by Aurélien Guichar, centers on Virginia cedar with notes of frangipani flower, blackberry and vanilla. This combination is enriched by the amber-like accents of benzoin from Laos.

Be Mine comes in a cube-shaped glass bottle with an oversized diamond-shaped cap.

The fragrance will be available from September 2013. Prices start at €65 (50 ml spray)

The price and a name like Be Mine scream exclusive!

BE MINE

Former Baseball Player Jose Canseco has invented a manfume.




Yep, a perfume for men. You know, like cologne, but with some extra femininity. Or maybe it’s like a perfume, but with some extra manliness. Whatever it is, it’s weird, it contains dragon blood, and if you want to buy a case of it you’ll have to contact Canseco’s agent directly. Oh, it can also transfer Canceco’s powers to you when you wear it.

Jose Canseco Manfume Contains Dragon Blood, Magical Properties  The former baseball player explained the new fragrance on Twitter.





Speaking of ingredients, the other three “secret ingredients” are odors from our collective youth and according to Canseco, they will transfer the baseball player’s powers to us when we wear his manfume. What could those ingredients be? Steroids? Is Jose Canseco trying to sell a dragon blood perfume laced with steroids? 

Mercedes’ New Perfume-Infused Flagship


There’s luxury and then there’s Luxury. The next flagship from Mercedes-Benz falls into the latter camp, with hand-stitched leather, acres of wood trim, heated and massaging seats and “active perfuming” technology. Yes, that’s a bottle of eau de toilette in the glovebox.

With Mercedes-Benz’s parent company Daimler shuttering the over-priced and rarely purchased Maybach line, the tri-star brand can finally move up a rung in the luxury game. The all-conquering S-Class is finally getting the makeover it deserves, but before the wraps officially come off the all-new S next month, Mercedes is showing off the most important part: the interior.

With outside air being put through a variety of filters to eliminate any offending smells or allergy-inducing pollens, Mercedes ups the luxury quotient even more with its “air-balance” system that increases the “concentration of negatively charged oxygen ions” to provide a calming effect. Add in the “active perfuming system” which atomizes a Mercedes-specific fragrance that can be manually adjusted for intensity (or switched off entirely), and you’ve got the freshest interior this side of a Four Seasons spa day.

More @ <a href="http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/03/mercedes-benz-s-class-perfume/">Wired</a> 

Just Like Mushrooms, Keep Your Perfume and Cologne in the Dark



If you keep a few bottles of perfume or cologne around the house, but don't use them that often, consider storing them in a box in your closet to keep them from going bad.

Kristin Appenbrink at Real Simple warns us that heat and light can alter the scent of your fragrances, so it's best to keep them in cool, dark environments. Out in the open, perfumes and colognes will still last several months, so this isn't a huge deal if you use them often and go through a bottle fairly quickly. If you only break out fragrances for special occasions though, this tip will maintain the proper scent for well over a year, meaning you won't have to rush out to replace it on the one night you really needed it.


Just keep them in the original box and avoid putting them in the bathroom, the change of temperatures there will make them go bad.
For a refreshing treat, store the ones made for summer time, preferably, in the refrigerator, the cool effect with citruses, mints and herbs feel really nice. A better trick is to do it with bottles close to finish so you don't have to take them out and having weather affect them.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

What Is "Fragrance"?


A fragrance can be made up of dozens or even hundreds of different chemicals. One fragrance can be made up of completely different chemicals from another.

Among these chemicals are numerous known allergens such as geraniol, eugenol, citronellol. Additionally, several hazardous chemicals can be found in fragrance: phthalates, which have been linked to reproductive harm; synthetic musks, which may alter hormone levels; and cancer-causing chemicals like styrene and methyl eugenol. But you won't find these ingredients listed on product labels--you'll just see the word "fragrance."

  1. 96 percent of shampoos contain fragrance
  2. 98 percent of conditioners contain fragrance
  3. 95 percent of shaving products contain fragrance
  4. 91 percent of antiperspirants contain fragrance.
One more thing, going fragrance free is very expensive! 

Luxury perfume, Not Just For Westerners



A growing interest in designer perfumes helped Dubai-based retailer Paris Gallery experience another record year of sales in 2012, the company said.

The family-owned business said its revenue increased 43 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, which was also a record. Net profit rose 13 percent.

The company would not reveal the value of the sales but it is estimated it turns over more than US$1 billion worth of perfume, cosmetics and luxury goods.

Perfume made up more than half of the company’s sales, while watches and jewelry accounted for 27 percent, fashion 10 percent, eyewear 6 percent and accessories 5 percent.

Half the sales were in the UAE, where the majority of the company’s stores are located, including its flagship outlet in Dubai Mall.

Saudi Arabia was also a large contributor, with 41 percent of sales, while Qatar (7 percent) and Bahrain (2 percent) made up the remainder.

Paris Gallery CEO Mohammed Abdul Rahim Al Fahim said the company had been growing each year since 2009.

It expected to open several new stores this year, including in Ras al Khaimah, Muscat and Salalah in Oman, and the first of its planned five stores in Iraq – the first time it has spread outside the Gulf.
Al Fahim said he also had signed a deal to expand into Azerbaijan, where he envisaged four to five stores, with the first in the capital, Baku.

He also has revealed to Arabian Business he is in talks to open two stores in South Africa, which would be the company’s first outside the Middle East.

Al Fahim said the luxury retail industry was growing, particularly for fragrances.
“Consumers are looking for uniqueness, are more discerning and have a good idea of what they are looking for,” he said.

8 Fresh, Fruity & Sweet Scents For The Season

Spring Fragrance Checklist: 8 Fresh, Fruity & Sweet Scents For The Season
» By DaMonica Boone April 8, 2013, 13:12pm
   
spring scentsIt’s April and we’ve finally got weather above 50 degrees to go along with sunny skies. It’s safe to say it’s officially spring and it’s going to start smelling like it any day now—flowers blooming, trees growing and freshly cut grass. And what about you?  Will you be smelling fruity and citrusy, or woody and spicy?

Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs is back with another spin on his signature Daisy fragrance. His Daisy Sunshine eau de toilette spray features guavaapricot and mandarin notes.
See by Chloé
See by Chloé eau de parfum spray features jasminylang and vanilla notes for the woman who loves mixing her femininity with a little bit of masculinity.
DKNYDonna Karan also put a spin on her signature Be Delicious fragrance with Be Delicious Fresh Blossom eau de parfum spray, which features grapefruitapple and apricot notes.


PhilosophyPhilosophy Field of Flowers Peony Blossom eau de toilette spray will have you smelling just as such with notes of honeysuckle mandarin and American peony.
GucciFlora by Gucci Gorgeous Gardenia eau de parfum spray will have you smelling like sweet fruit with red berries, pear and brown sugar notes.


Calvin KleinCalvin Klein put a new twist on his signature CK One fragrance with his CK One Shock For Her eau de toilette spray that features notes of passionflowerchocolate and blackberry.
Nina Ricci
This limited edition Nina L’eau by Nina Ricci fragrance features applegrapefruit and cherry notes.
Stella McCartneyStella McCartney’s L.I.L.Y eau de parfum spray will leave you smelling like nature itself with notes of white muskpink pepper and lilies.