Japanese designer creates collection of gorgeous perfume bottles based on Disney villains

While Disney princesses have seen their stock steadily rising for the past several years, it seems the villains from the renowned animation house are finally getting their due, such as with the upcoming Angelina Jolie film Maleficent. Perhaps this is connected to the recent crop of dark fairy tale reimaginings such as TV series Once Upon a Time and Grimm, and the opportunities for greater complexity presented by antagonists make them more compelling characters for adults to watch. Or, maybe after enough viewings, the characters we love to hate slowly metamorphose into the characters we simply love.
For the woman who is mature enough to appreciate the dark sophistication of these characters over the bubbly effervescence of their tales’ respective heroes and heroines, as well as enjoy a spritz of an enchanting scent, there’s no better way to store her fragrances than with a set of perfume bottles shaped like Disney villains.

These unique containers are the work of a Japanese designer who goes by the name Ruby Spark (no relation to the 2012 romantic comedy of almost the same name). “There’s something special about each and every Disney villain,” she explains. “When I look at them, they have a sort of mysterious sexiness you’d never get from the princesses.”
Ruby goes on to say that she her inspiration for the set came from musing about the different kinds of perfume women have to choose from. “Perfumes aren’t always soft and floral. Some of them have a tempting character, something that feels almost a little dangerous, even. I thought it’d be wonderful to combine perfumes like that with the motif of Disney villains.”
Ruby has crafted perfume holders featuring villains from 19 Disney films spanning some 80 years. We’ll show each one below, with the identity of the character that inspired it underneath, so that Disney fans can quiz themselves. Let’s start with an easy one.

The design of the villain from Snow White is so iconic that she doesn’t even need a name. She’s simply known as The Evil Queen.

We’ve never been sure if those are horns or just accouterments to her head covering, but either way you’ll never mistake Sleeping Beauty’s Maleficent for anyone else.

The curvaceous form of Ursula from The Little Mermaid easily makes the transition to perfume receptacle.

Here we see the similarly rotund Ratcliffe from Pocahontas.

Remember, not every Disney villain is a lady, as evidenced here by Captain Hook.

Another bad guy whose headgear gives him away, The Hunchback of Notre Dame’s Frollo.

The pinched base of this bottle is a nod to the high-necked dress of Lady Tremaine, better known as Cinderella’s wicked stepmother.

Smoking is bad for your health and makes you smell terrible to boot, but it does provide an easy visual clue for fur-lover Cruella de Vil.

A bit of fire is also the tip-off for Hades, as is the Greek lettering on his bottle.

Appearing next is Alladin’s Jafar, every bit the scheme-smith as the above Hades.

The top half of this bottle is all you really need to discern it as being based on The Queen of Hearts, tormentor of the title character from Alice in Wonderland.

More abstract still is this representation of beast-hunter Gaston, which calls to mind his trade of stalking wild game.

Shunning the more obvious choice of Monstro the whale, this set serves as stand-ins for Foulfellow and Gideon, the cunning pair that lures Pinocchio to Pleasure Island.

The most recent villain in the set is Mother Gotheil, the kidnapper and captor of Rapunzel in Disney’s Tangled.

Only slightly older is Doctor Facilier from 2009’s The Princess and the Frog, who can be indentified by his voodoo charms.

Concluding our list of 21st-century Disney villains is Yzma, part of the cast of The Emperor’s New Groove from 2000.

On the other hand, if you childhood ended before the new millennium began, maybe you’d recognize The Rescuers‘ Madame Medusa, instead.

Another one for fans of the classics, here’s Robin Hood’s Prince John, in all his regal glory.

Finally, although for a villain as devious as Scar, we’re a bit disappointed at his “hiding in plain sight” gambit, he definitely gets style points.
Unfortunately, Ruby Spark doesn’t have an official license to produce Disney merchandise, so as of right now her creations aren’t available for purchase. Still, you never know how things might turn out, so don’t lose heart, villain lovers. In the meantime, there’s always the chance the Ruby will choose to expend the line, so fans of the 1985 box office disaster The Black Cauldron should keep their fingers crossed (all fourteen of you).


Source, images: Pixiv

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Hugo Boss Hugo Man Music Edition (2014) {New Fragrance} {Men's Cologne} {Perfume Images & Ads}

 

Hugo Boss have launched new limited-edition fragrance within their Hugo Man franchise called Hugo Man Music Edition. The ad campaign continues to be fronted by actor and musician Jared Leto...


The packaging includes a code which allows you to download up to three titles from the 1970s which have been remixed.

The new fragrance is said to be characterized by both appley and aromatic notes. The eau de toilette opens on top notes of green apple, grapefruit, and basilic leading to a heart of sage and jasmine while base notes include balsam fir, cedar wood and patchouli notes.

You can watch a commercial for the Music Edition below,



Price is 64,50€ for 125 ml.
Read more at http://www.mimifroufrou.com/scentedsalamander/2014/02/hugo_boss_hugo_man_music_editi.html#uPJ25KrzQgdvyhUh.99

HUGO MAN Music Edition

Cheryl Cole wears Paris Hilton's £8.99 perfume - reveals pal Alesha Dixon

e bet Chezza smells lovely

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When we think of Cheryl Cole, we imagine her smelling like a mixture of jelly tots and flowers.

And according to her pal Alesha Dixon, she smells really very scrummy.

"Cheryl is the best smelling celebrity I know," she told The Sun.

“When we climbed Kilimanjaro she always had a bottle of Paris Hilton’s stuff... she probably wouldn’t want me revealing that, actually!”

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Police blotter: Mundelein man charged with theft of perfume in Vernon Hills

The following incidents were listed among the official reports of the Vernon Hills Police Departments. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. Only a court of law can make that determination.

RETAIL THEFT

Timothy Schneider, 45, 19314 W. Fairview Drive, Mundelein, was arrested and later charged with retail theft when he left Sears, at 2 Hawthorn Center, without paying for $104.50 worth of perfume on Thursday, Dec. 26. He is due in court on Jan. 15.

High-flying perfume thieves land in prison

Two Polish shoplifters who repeatedly flew into British airports purely to steal duty free perfumes have been jailed.

Pawel Lenard, 35, and Magdalena Rezler, 34, used cheap Ryanair flights to visit Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow before returning to Poland.

The pair, along with suitcases brought only to stash stolen goods, visited the World Duty Free store at Bristol Airport while waiting for connecting flights. CCTV caught married father Lenard and mother Rezler, pulling dozens of boxes of luxury perfumes such as Chanel into baskets. They then walked to the store's confectionery area and transferred the boxes, worth £4,588.60 in total, into their luggage.

Bristol Crown Court heard that on the second occasion, police – acting on a tip-off from a passenger – arrested the pair as they waited to board their next flight.

Officers discovered 40 boxes of perfume, worth £2,638.40, in their suitcases. Both later admitted two counts of theft.

Recorder David Evans told the pair, from the Polish town of Krzyz Wielkopolski, he wished to ban them from Britain but could not.

The judge sentenced both to two months in prison but acknowledged they had already spent a month in custody after being arrested – and would probably be released instantly.

The court was told Lenard and Rezler booked cheap flights from Poland to British airports in July, August, September, October and December of last year. The pair flew between Poland, Bristol and either Glasgow or Edinburgh before returning to Poland. Police said it had been an audacious shoplifting attempt.


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Man Arrested in Perfume Heist

A New York man accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of cologne and perfume is in police custody in Glastonbury.

Police said Stevens Tadros, 32, of Howard Beach, New York, is part of a team of “boosters” who are suspected of stealing perfume and cologne from several Walgreens stores in the tri-state area.

“Boosters” are on the low end of professional shoplifters, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and higher level “fencers” coordinate booster thefts.

These organized retail theft rings use sophisticated methods to shoplift, including counterfeit receipts and UPC codes to get refunds, according to the FBI, and are known to travel from state to state or city to city.

Tadros is accused of being involved in a perfume heist at a Walgreens in Glastonbury in April 2013 in which $2,195.60 worth of perfume was stolen.

New York Police took Tadros into custody there in mid-December and Glastonbury police went to New York to get him.

He was charged with third-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny in the third degree.
He was unable to post $100,000 bond and is due in court today.

Perfume, earring rules dropped from Capitol intern guide

Dozens of snappily dressed Kansas Legislature interns arrived Thursday for an orientation session as each prepared to begin assignments working with House and Senate members.

"I'm excited about this year," said Rep. Peggy Mast, an Emporia Republican who serves as House speaker pro tem. "We are sitting right now in the most attractive building in the state of Kansas."
The sparkling Capitol, borne of a 13-year, $320 million renovation, awaited interns from The University of Kansas, Washburn University and Kansas State University. They will begin duties Monday at the start of the 2014 session.

Before leading tours of the building, Mast made no reference to controversy about proposed revisions to the intern handbook. Numerous rules suggested last week for inclusion by Mast were edited out.
"We don't want it to be an onerous environment," Mast said in an interview. "We wanted it to be a professional environment."

Staff members of Democratic legislators had raised questions about fashion regulations for interns that went beyond limits applied to legislators. Civil rights attorneys had taken issue with boundaries on social media expression among interns that had been put forward by Mast.

"This should have been settled a long time ago, and the process ought to have been more inclusive," said Will Lawrence, who runs the intern program for Senate Democrats.

The final 2014 intern handbook no longer contained mandates on quantity of perfume and cologne, "over the top" hair coloring, number of earrings, length of facial hair and "tight, skinny" pants.
Removed from the document was an admonition volunteer interns were expected to exhibit the highest level of conduct because they represented House or Senate members at all times whether at work or play.

Another eliminated rule asserted "inappropriate" photographs and language had to be deleted from personal social media sites. Also dropped was a requirement interns "never say anything derogatory about another individual with whom you interact or about any policy your legislator is supporting and or advocating."

In addition, a prohibition on interns dating legislative staff members was removed.
The document advises the college-age interns to dress professionally. They were still blocked from wearing flip-flops and tennis shoes. The handbook says tattoos should be covered — if possible.
Under revised rules, men were to wear a suit or a collared dress shirt and tie, dress slacks and dress shoes. Women, meanwhile, were to arrive in "suits or business dresses or a shirt-dress pants and dressy top."

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Fragrances matched to your circadian rhythm to guide you through your day.

The Scent Rhythm Watch by Aisen Caro Chacin could mean that you never have to look at your watch again when you want to tell the time. Instead of being aware of every second that passes, Chacin’s watch changes the way you perceive time by releasing a specific scent for different phases throughout the day.

Scent Rhythm maps fragrances in sequence with the body’s circadian cycle, which means each one corresponds to a specific state of being; which include waking up, being active, relaxing, and sleeping.

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How to pick the right perfume

The trick to finding the right perfume from a crowd of random colognes
 Does your lady love think of you when your perfume lingers on her dupatta? Or does it remind her of a department store's on-sale section? The difference between a gentlemen's sophisticated cologne and the pungent overuse of cheap deodorant could be the difference in your confidence levels.
 Be it chatting up a woman or making a statement at the board meeting, every man needs to find a scent that suits his personality and compliments his dressing sense.

 Wearing one fragrance simplifies your morning routine; men who change colognes like they would their gym pants are likely to be lost in a crowd. The journey to finding their one fragrance includes a bit of soul searching and some help from us.

The family parfum
 The first step is to have a clear understanding of which scents appeal to you. Look for traits of a classification system for fragrances, like florals (dominated by one or more flower), amber (both, sweet and exotic) and woody (typified by sandalwood and cedar tones). Then there is the leather family (honey and tobacco), bergamot and labdanum are found in the chypre category, and herbaceous fougere scents are composed of lavender, coumarone and oak moss. Modern fragrance families include citrus-based scents, aquatic ones (which are clean and unisex) and green scents (which are light and typified by notes like grass or cucumber).

Listen to your nose
 The fragrance you choose will represent you, so search deep for what aspects of your personality you'd like to highlight. Take your time when searching for the right mix of smells that define you. Visit your nearest mall and sample the spoils. Breathe in deep and imagine the scene before you. Let your nostrils linger and trust your gut.

 Refrain from making your own potions by Googling aphrodisiacs. Knocking a girl out with a whiff of your potent elixir won't work, trust us.

Sniff to select
Cleanse your nasal palette. Don't sniff more than three scents in one session and put something woolly, like a scarf, close to your nose to inhale between smells.
 Keep in mind your natural body odour, the weather of your city and is places you travel to. How active is your usual work day? This should impact your choice.

The cheat code
 If you think you are steadfast with a mysterious allure, go for a musky, amber-based scent.

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Police: 18 Bottles of Perfume Stolen at Victoria's Secret

- On Jan. 5 at 4:29 p.m., an individual from Bayville was arrested and charged with shoplifting at Macy's in the Broadway Mall.

- On Jan. 5 between 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., unknown subject(s) removed 18 bottles of perfume from Victoria's Secret, located at 358 Broadway Mall.

- On Jan. 5 at 7:55 p.m., a Hempstead woman was arrested for shoplifting at Walmart in Westbury.

- On Jan. 6 at 5:45 p.m., a Lawrence man was arrested for shoplifting at Walmart in Westbury.

Lauren’s Perfume Really Does Smell Like the Beach

The wet, icy weeks between the beginning of January and mid-March in New York are the absolute worst of the year. I spend the time counting down the days until the shortest day of the year (the very worst is over!) and buying resort clothes pretending that winter will end early and I’ll be able to wear them at any moment. You could say I’m proficient at self-distraction.

This winter, I added a new tool to my let’s-pretend-winter-isn’t-happening arsenal: CB I Hate Perfume’s At the Beach 1966 fragrance, which I first discovered at The Apartment in Soho this fall. At $100 for 15ml, it’s criminally expensive, but the smell — which somehow captures the water, the salt, the sand, even the sunscreen scents of the beach — is pure escapist heaven. And who wouldn’t pay $100 for a whiff of heaven?

The fragrance is sold out at The Apartment’s online store, but is still available at CB I Hate Perfume’s website.

CB I Hate Perfume At the Beach 1966, $100, available at cbihateperfume.com.

Perfume and poetry: the new romantic connection

Maybe you can't resist panting the lyrics from "Toxic" each time you squirt Britney Spear's best-selling Fantasy near your earlobe, but in the higher echelons of the perfume world it's all a bit more refined than that.

A new fragrance by the British perfumer Angela Flanders has been inspired by a poem and is part of a wider trend linking scent and literature.
                            
Flanders created the perfume after writer and perfume critic, Vicci Bentley, came across some snowdrops - spring's first and most delicate blooms, traditionally known as 'flowers of hope' - in a frosty churchyard last February and thought about how a perfumer such as Flanders might go about capturing the earthy and delicately floral aroma that she inhaled.

Breath of Hope takes top notes of Lily of the valley and galbanum, while frankincense and myrrh - evocative of a church - add a cool calm to its heart. Oakmoss and guaiac wood lend a reassuring, soft earthiness. The result is an uplifting green floral that evokes that smell of growing things that is such a sensual boost in these otherwise grim months.

Neither Flanders nor Bentley had created a perfume like this before but literature and fragrance seem to be enjoying an increasingly entwined partnership.

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CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Woman Steals Perfume From Ulta

ODESSA - It's a classic holiday shoplifting case; a woman in Odessa walked into a cosmetics store and took off with nearly $200 worth of stuff without paying. The woman is believed to be a repeat offender.

"The young lady we're looking at has been in this business several times," Susan Rogers with Odessa Crime Stoppers, said.

On December 15, 2013, the woman went into Ulta. The surveillance video shows her "shopping."

"You can actually see her walking around the store, looking at the things she wants," Rogers said.

The woman went over to the perfume gift sets. She picked one up and stored it on an end cap. Then she scoped the place out. "You can see her casing the store, looking for other people in there," Rogers said.

In clear view of the surveillance camera, the woman stuffs the gifts up her shirt.

"When she sees the opportunity, she sticks everything in that jacket and takes off," she said.

The woman took a Michael Kors perfume gift set and a Polo gift set which totaled to about $200.

"This one incident in a Class B (Misdemeanor). Now, if we can tie her to other incidents, they're going to aggregate that to a different class," Rogers said.

Rogers told NewsWest 9, the employees also caught a glimpse of the getaway car.

"Red Taurus, about a '96-'97 model with handicap plates. It's a four door. She did get in that vehicle with a man driving it," she said.

She's described as a white woman in her 30's with a chest tattoo.

If you have any information, you are asked to call Odessa Crime Stoppers at (432) 333-TIPS. If your tip leads to an arrest, you could receive a cash reward.

Video Here

KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com |

Louis CK One Perfume Is Why The Internet Exists

This is one of those erasers-on-the-end-of-pencils ideas that you kick yourself for not thinking of first. As you've gleaned from the headline, some genius (or geniuses) has elided the stage name of America's most prominent indie comedian, Louis C.K. and the title of Calvin Klein' first unisex fragrance, CK One, to get Louis CK One. There's a quiet brilliance there. Let it sink in.

Now, an idea is only truly good if it compels itself toward execution. As you can see, Louis CK One has certainly done that, fostering a Tumblr filled with well-wrought fake magazine ads, billboards, and the like. Again, let your mind soak in the sweet juxtaposition of popular culture's fastest rising, self-effacing, sweaty, miserable writer/director/comic and the timeless, minimalist appeal of a scent that was once advertised by Kate Moss.

As for what exactly Louis CK One would smell like — aniseed and pizza grease? Citrus and flop sweat? Baby powder and righteous rage? Your guess is as good as ours. (Paste)

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Alesha Dixon to name next perfume after daughter?

The 'Britain's Got Talent' judge thinks her three-month-old daughter Azura Sienna's name has ''mystical'' qualities which perfectly match the floral notes of her first fragrance, Rose Quartz.

Speaking at the launch of her perfume at London's St Martin's Lane Hotel yesterday (08.01.14), she told BANG Showbiz: ''I think Azura would have made a really good name for a perfume. It sounds quite mystical doesn't it! Who knows, she might influence the next one.''

However, Alesha had already decided on the perfect name for her scent, which she has been developing since 2009, and insists she has taken the creation process seriously, unlike many other stars who simply put their name to a fragrance.

She explained: ''I could easily have said yes to the first thing, but what's the point, you want something that people are genuinely going to like. These things take time.

''We're doing the whole crystal collection and I'm taking my time. That's all I can do to make sure people see it's an authentic venture. As a girl, it's a real treat to be able to say I have a fragrance, it's special.''

Alesha was back at work this week for the first time since giving birth to Azura - who she has with her partner Azuka Ononye - in October and she has enjoyed focusing solely on motherhood for the last few months.

The 35-year-old singer said: ''Becoming a mum delayed the perfume. Originally I was going to bring it out at Christmas, but then thought it was best to wait until I'd had the baby so I could focus on the launch.''

Alesha Rose Quartz is a feminine and classic floral fragrance, with the notes reflecting the healing qualities of the rose quartz crystal. It is priced at £25.00 for 50ml and will be available to buy from leading fragrance outlets from March 2014.

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Dubai Duty Free Hits Monthly Sales Record

Jan. 03--Dubai Duty Free, or DDF, on Thursday said it set a new monthly sales record of Dh700 million ($192 million) in December.

In a statement DDF said 2013 was a remarkable year as it recorded 11.4 per cent growth in sales to $1.8 billion. It's operations on 30th anniversary on December 20 also set a new daily sales record of Dh111.88 million, showing a 40 per cent year-on-year growth with the help of 215,000 transactions.

"We are thrilled to announce such a positive year in 2013, which marked our 30th anniversary. The operation went from strength to strength with the opening of Concourse A in Terminal 3 in January and Al Maktoum International in October, with overall sales soaring to a new high," Colm McLoughlin, executive vice-chairman, said in a statement to

The duty free operations recorded a staggering 25,973,819 sales transactions in 2013, which average at 71,161 sales transactions per day. It began new year on a high note and confident of crossing $2 billion sales mark in months to come. From a category point of view, perfumes retained its position as the best-selling category with an increase of 16 per cent year-on-year. Sales of perfumes reached Dh1.06 billion ($289 million), an increase of over Dh148 million ($41 million) over the previous year. Perfumes now contribute 16 per cent towards total sales at Dubai Duty Free sales.

Liquor and gold categories followed with gold recording sales figures of Dh613 million ($168 million) representing an increase of five per cent year-on-year.

Confectionery jumped to the fifth position which increased by 12 per cent to Dh520 million ($142 million) for the year. Other steep increases were seen in watches which rose by 16 per cent to Dh459 million ($126 million), cosmetics rose by 20 per cent to Dh446 million ($122 million) and delicatessen sales rose by 13 per cent to Dh298 million ($82 million). Gifts from Dubai and Handbags and Leather Goods categories have seen an impressive increase of 22 per cent and 46 per cent increase in 2013, respectively. Moreover, sales in DDF Departures rose by 11 per cent while Arrivals sales have shown a 13 per cent increase over last year. Terminal 2, which completed its renovation in December, recorded a 22 per cent increase in sales.



In addition to a remarkable turnover, 2013 provided Dubai Duty Free with major milestones in terms of growth and expansion including the opening of Concourse A, dedicated to Emirates airline fleet of A380s, and the opening of the passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, collectively providing Dubai Duty Free with over 28,000 square metres of retail space. Looking ahead, Dubai Duty Free will continue to enhance its retail operation in 2014 while maintaining a busy events and promotional calendar, which includes the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, commencing on February 17th to March 1st, 2014 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.

Copyright 2014 - Khaleej Times, Dubai, United Arab Emirate
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2 women suspected in perfume theft

FLORENCE, AL (WAFF) -

Florence Police hope you can identify a pair of theft suspects.

Investigators said two women caught on security camera footage are suspects in a felony theft from Dec. 23.

The two are accused of stealing over $1,500 worth of perfume.

If the women look familiar, call Florence Police or text FPDTIP to 274637.

Remember, when breaking news happens, we break it first online, by email, and by text. If you want to receive our breaking news alerts by text, pull out your phone right now and text NEWS to 44848. Message and data rates may apply. You can text STOP at any time to cancel your subscription, text HELP for more information, or call 877-571-0774 for support.

Kristen Stewart Goes Topless in New Ads for Balenciaga's Rosabotanica Perfume

Kristen Stewart is topless in sultry new ads for the Balenciagaperfume Rosabotanica.

23-year-old K.Stew, who has a contract with the luxe French fashion brand, has appeared in other ads for the company, including ones for their previous Florabotanica scent. But this is definitely a more intimate side of the actress, who appears topless - although not showing too much skin - in the ad.

This is clearly a shot back at her off-again boyfriend Robert Pattinson, who spent his Christmas shooting sexy ads for a new Dior fragrance and hanging out with his family in England, far away from his Twilight costar in the US.

Buying Perfume Hasn't Changed Since The 1960s -- Just Ask This Avon Lady

Do you remember those days when the Avon lady would arrive at your doorstep hawking beauty goods? Well-dressed and made-up, she'd educate our grandmothers, mothers and aunts on the latest makeup trends. But one of our most memorable Avon lady experiences is when she taught us how to pick the perfect perfume.

In the 1961 ad above, we see an Avon rep in the cozy confines of a home that looks like a scene from "Mad Men." With a small selection of fragrances laid out, she guides her potential customer on how and where to apply it. (Tip: You should dab or spritz perfume on your skin in spots where a pulse warms up the notes, like the inside of your wrists and inner side of the arms.)

Everyone's skin chemistry isn't the same, so a fragrance may smell different from woman to woman. This is a part of what makes it so personal. And when you factor in that many people choose to outfit themselves with a perfume that goes with their wardrobe, an event or the season, there simply isn't any other category of beauty that compares to fragrance.

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That Touch of Perfume (1961) - Part Two

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The correct spelling of perfume: poison

By Carol Mizrahi

Fragrance hypersensitivity has become the most common allergy among adults. More than 2 millions Americans suffer from a condition called "multiple chemical sensitivity." This means they're either allergic to the fragrances that go into perfumes, colognes and other scented products, or to the additional 12 to 18 toxins typically added from a cauldron of 5,000 chemicals.

These chemicals can cause a variety of allergic reactions, such as headaches, migraines, asthma, wheezing, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, inability to concentrate, dizziness, raw throat, and skin allergies such as hives and rashes.

Diethyl phthalate — DEP and DEHP, now banned in Europe, commonly used in fragrances — have been linked to breast cancer, liver, kidney and lung damage, weight gain, diabetes and hormone dysfunction. Other toxins affect brain function and have been linked to attention deficit disorder. Parabens, frequently used as preservatives, influence early onset of puberty in girls.

A study at the University of Rochester found that women who had used perfumes and other fragranced products 24 hours prior to a urine test had three times the amount of the phthalate MEP (linked to breast cancer) in their urine than did women who had not used any fragranced products.

Even so-called "natural" perfumes or colognes often contain an additive called geraniol, safe by itself but transformed into the allergen geranial when in contact with skin enzymes and acids.

On Oct. 3, a passenger on an air flight reacted to a perfume scent onboard and fainted. The emergency crew that administered oxygen saved the man's life.

I began to wonder — was I putting dangerous chemicals on myself, endangering others and polluting the environment?

With the help of a magnifying glass, I read the label on the Lustre-Glo can, which promised to give my house plants "the glow of health." Although no ingredients were listed, there was a warning to flush immediately if I got any Lustre-Glo on my skin, and if the discomfort continued, to call a doctor.

My deodorant warned: "Don't wear on broken skin and contact a doctor before using if you have kidney disease" (yup, in that order). Of the 14 four-syllable ingredients listed, I understood only one — "fragrance."

Now that was frightening; after all, if the manufacturer was willing to list ingredients that sounded like a prescription for chemical warfare, how much more perilous were the toxins that weren't disclosed; that were hidden within the catchall of "fragrance"?

My hair gel listed 24 ingredients; among them, geraniol. Remember geraniol? "Safe until it comes into contact with skin enzymes and acids." All muck perfumes contain galaxoide and tonalide, two contaminants found to harm the endocrine glands.

Neither my Revlon powder nor blush listed its contents, and the label on my nail polish was unreadable, written in pale white ink and in letters the size of a microscopic dot. My hair spray listed 31 ingredients, and included the ubiquitous word "fragrance," while the bathroom freshener contained benzene and formaldehyde, two chemicals linked to cancer.

How can it be that hundreds of chemicals used in everyday products go to market untested and that potentially toxic chemicals can be hidden from consumers under the guise of "fragrance"? Is no one minding the store?

The National Academy of Sciences has repeatedly asked the Food and Drug Administration to fund research to study the long-term effect of toxins on human health. These requests have been ignored. As for mandating that manufacturers list all ingredients in fragranced products on packaging, this isn't going to happen; at least, not until the federal government rescinds the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, which exempts manufacturers from disclosure in order to protect their "proprietary blends" and "trade secrets."

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Should schools ban perfume?

Should schools ban perfumes if one student is allergic? That's what one Pennsylvania state legislator is proposing.

Marcia Hahn, a Republican, is proposing that schools in that state ban people from wearing perfume or body spray if a student in the building is allergic to fragrances. The "fragrance free schools" proposal was inspired by a high school student in the state who is so severely allergic to Axe body spray that he had to be hospitalized and is now being homeschooled.

Pennsylvania school administrators have said such a ban would be extremely difficult to enforce, according to an article in Lehighvalleylive.com earlier this month, and I can see their point. I suspect it would also be an infringement on the rights of other students to prevent them from wearing perfume or cologne.

But another Pennsylvania case left me feeling more sympathetic to the allergic student. Last month a federal judge tossed out a civil rights suit filed by parents on behalf of their tree-nut allergic son against the Fox Chapel Area School District. Unlike in some other recent cases, the parents in this case apparently weren't asking that all nuts or tree nuts be banned from the school. The parents' chief complaint seems to have been that the boy was forced to sit alone at a "food allergy table" that was actually a desk set apart from the lunch tables. The boy's doctor had recommended that he be seated at the end of a rectangular table with a two feet buffer zone from other students at the table, and that the others at the table also be those who had agreed eat a tree-nut free lunch. That sounds fairly reasonable to me, particularly since many schools across the country already make similar accommodations. The parents claimed that one other parent in the class had even agreed to send her child to school with a tree-nut free lunch so their son wouldn't have to eat alone at the table.

However, the principal at this particular elementary refused that accommodation because the school's tables are "round" and the rectangular tables were activity tables that would look too different from the rest of the tables. The school also did not have appropriate chairs for the rectangular tables, according to the principal and head nurse. In their lawsuit, the parents also claimed the boy was being teased by his classmates, that the problem wasn't adequately addressed by the school district and that the boy was exposed to tree nuts at a school Halloween party. When they pulled the boy from school and enrolled him in an online charter school, Fox Chapel Area School District charged them with a truancy violation, which was eventually dropped. The school district disputed the parents' assertions.

But, though he deemed the school's response to the lunch table situation imperfect and not adequately explained, Judge Arthur Schwab noted that the school district had come up with four different plans for accommodating the boy's allergies and the parents had rejected all of them. Schwab wrote that the school district had taken reasonable steps to accommodate the boy's disabilities and include him in class activities. He said a school is not required by law to grant all of the specifications required by parents or to make substantial modifications to the programs used for all students in a school to accommodate one student. I suspect that ruling would apply in the case of perfume too.

The tree-nut allergic student case was T.F. et al v. Fox Chapel Area School District

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Woman ‘Wasn’t Thinking’ When Injured Cop and Stole Perfume: Blotter

A Matteson woman is accused of causing injuries to a police officer who tried handcuffing her, after store security said she was seen taking perfume without paying, according to an Orland Park Police report.

Kim Whatley, 50, of the first block on West Cloverleaf Street in Matteson, was charged with felony retail theft, battery and resisting arrest.

On Nov. 15, the Orland Park Police Department was called to the upper level of Orland Square Mall about a security guard from Sephora fighting with a woman suspected of theft around 12:30 p.m. The first officer on scene tried putting the woman, Whatley, into custody and she kept pulling away as he was putting handcuffs on her, and ignored directions to cooperate, police said. Whatley was moved to the ground, but still resisted handcuffs, even as another officer assisted, according to the report. The first officer was left with wrist ligament injuries after Whatley was handcuffed, police said.

The security guard told police that Whatley was seen putting three bottles of perfume into her purse and walking out of the store without paying, according to the report. Sensors were set off as Whatley left the store, though she kept walking away from the guard despite instructions to stop, police said. Whatley shoved the guard away when he stood in front of her, and continued walking away from Sephora before police arrived, according to the report.

The perfume bottles cost a total of $217, police said.

While at the police station, Whatley told police she “just wasn’t thinking,” according to the report.

Police blotter information is provided by the Orland Park Police Department. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.

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Perfume plunderer remains on the loose

COEUR d'ALENE - Something didn't smell right to a Macy's loss prevention manager when she saw a customer select three perfume box sets at the store on Christmas Eve.

Following her nose, the manager watched as the customer took the three sets of fragrances into a dressing room. When the customer exited the room, she was carrying a large shopping bag and the merchandise was not visible.

That was when it dawned on her that the customer was not a customer at all, but a shoplifter who had stolen store merchandise on two prior occasions.

Unable to intercept the suspect, the manager contacted the Coeur d'Alene Police, and according to an incident report, she told the officer that on Dec. 2 and Dec. 20 the same woman had stolen more than $3,000 worth of merchandise.

The three boxes of perfume were valued at $353 and according to the incident report, the shoplifter is a 5-foot-5 female with shoulder-length black hair.

Fragrant Options for Men and Women Presented by Beauty Research

Fragrance has a dramatic impact upon a person's overall image. Many people become known for their scents and find that the fragrances that they wear directly impact their mood and state of mind throughout the day. As a result, many people who want to change their images for the New Year look for new signature scents. The latest article by BeautyResearch.com, Fragrant Options for Men and Women, discusses the various types of fragrance products on the market for men and women in order to help people find new signature fragrances.

Women who are shopping for traditional fragrance products often run into difficulty deciphering the terminology used to describe perfume products. By knowing more about these terms, women can make better decisions regarding fragrance purchases. What do terms like "eau de toilette" and "eau de parfum" mean? How should women approach choosing between the various types of fragrances? Is it important for a woman to wear the same kind of scent all year round? To find out, visit BeautyResearch.com or click

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/27/fragrant-options-for-women-and-men.aspx

Men's fragrance products are typically divided into two types: after shave and cologne. Even though the choices are simple, many men struggle to decide which one is best. What is the difference between cologne and after shave? How do their benefits differ? Are both types of men's fragrance suitable for all men? To find out, visit BeautyResearch.com or click

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/27/fragrant-options-for-women-and-men.aspx

Some women do not like traditional perfume or want to find products that have pleasing fragrances and can be used along with regular women's fragrance formulas. What are some of the alternatives to traditional fragrance that are available on the market? Are there any brands known for making great alternatives to ordinary fragrances? For what reasons might a woman opt for a non-traditional fragrance product? To find out, visit BeautyResearch.com or click

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/27/fragrant-options-for-women-and-men.aspx

Just as some women do not like wearing spray perfumes, not all men want to use cologne or after shave on a daily basis. Are there alternatives to traditional men's fragrances available on the market? If so, what types of products are there? Which brands are known for creating scented products specifically for men? To find out, visit BeautyResearch.com or click:

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/27/fragrant-options-for-women-and-men.aspx

See also:

"Where to Shop for Post-Holiday Sales"

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/26/where-to-shop-for-post-holiday-sales.aspx

Once the holiday shopping season comes to an end, retailers often mark down merchandise in hopes of selling off excess inventory. Post-holiday sales provide opportunities for consumers to enjoy big discounts, but in order to get the best deals, shoppers need to know precisely which types of stores are most likely to have the biggest markdowns. Discover the secrets to timing a post-holiday shopping trip to find the absolute best prices waiting in stores. Learn which brick and mortar stores are most likely to offer major discounts after the holiday season. Explore options for saving when shopping online, particularly once the holidays have come and gone.

"Beauty Tool Body Transformations"

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/23/beauty-tool-body-transformations.aspx

Body skin is every bit as susceptible to imperfections as the facial skin, and many women find that flaws that develop below the neckline are difficult to address with topical products alone. Beauty tools designed for the body can help women see better results from body care routines and minimize many imperfections. Find out about the best tools on the market for dealing with patches of rough skin on places like the elbows, knees and heels. Learn about high tech and low tech skin care tools developed specifically for the dermatological needs of the hands and feet. Discover how a beauty tool can help address problems with cellulite deposits and which one can leave the skin appearing firmer and smoother.

"Clarifying Solutions for Men"

http://www.beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/12/20/clarifying-solutions-for-men.aspx

Many men are prone to oily skin, developing symptoms like clogged pores, acne and greasiness all year round or during the warmer summer months. For men with problem skin marked by excessive oiliness, clarifying skin care products that help to normalize the production of the skin oil sebum are often beneficial. Explore the various types of clarifying products that are made especially for the needs of men's skin or that are suitable for men to use to address oiliness. Find out how shaving affects oily skin and what can be done to clarify after shaving. Discover brands and products that are geared toward men and that offer clarifying solutions for daily skin care regimens.

About Beauty Research

Beauty Research is a beauty blogging web site started by two experienced skin care enthusiasts wishing to share tips and suggestions. The blog includes all kinds of articles related to celebrities, fashion, women's health and diet. For more information, visit http://www.beautyresearch.com.

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The Spice of Life: Layering fragrances and loving it

As a young lady, when I was feeling down or a little under the weather, my mother’s advice was simple: Get up and put on some lipstick. You’ll feel better.

This did actually work. Still does.

But I’ve found as I’ve matured that perfume may even work better. When I’m feeling stressed, tired or sad, just a couple of spritzes is all it takes, and I feel so much better. And if I spritz when I’m actually feeling well, then look out, world!

The new Aerin Fragrance Collection by Aerin Lauder makes me very happy. There are five scents — Gardenia Rattan, Amber Musk, Lilac Path, Ikat Jasmine and Evening Rose — and they really smell like their names.

The press materials say that the collection “is the most personal and intimate expression of Aerin’s life and memories. Whether evoking the feeling of sunshine on a long walk on the beach or the cozy peacefulness of a quiet retreat in the mountains, each fragrance tells its own story.”


Each fragrance comes in a box featuring an Aerin for Lee Jofa design. (Courtesy photo)


Aerin Lauder may not appreciate me muddling her memories, but what I like most about the fragrances is how they layer together. (Confession: I always layer and mix complementary fragrances because it creates a unique scent I won’t smell on anyone else. So if you ask me what scent I’m wearing and I only give you one name, I’m lying. This is either because I really can’t remember what combo I put on that morning, or because I don’t like you and I don’t want you to know my secrets. Smiley face.)

Full Article

Perfume Sillage {Perfume Language & Fragrance Words}

"Sillage" is the French term for "trail". It designates the olfactory impression left behind one's person who is wearing a fragrance thanks to the lastingness of the scent, or even better, when a sillage was explicitly designed to leave its signature as the extension of a person, weaving its seductive, serpentine path. If today, eclectism in fragrance wearing is encouraged, for persons who wear a "signature fragrance" as it is called, a sillage becomes the memory and personality of that person.

If many words in perfumery are borrowed from music, sillage comes from maritime terminology designating the wake of a ship. It is pronounced see-ya-j (as in Nicki Minaj). In French "sillage" can be used metaphorically not just for a scent, but also for auditive and visual impressions. It is the trace of something which is perceived in an impressionistic way... A sillage is distinct from a "drydown" which refers to the way a perfume was constructed to include lasting fragrance notes meant to last for hours - and in the past, days - which evaporate progressively or "dry down", instead of being more fleeting as in the opening of the perfume.

 The drydown however plays a major role in creating a sillage since persistence is key but it is not enough as, to me at least, a sillage in its purest form ought to not just be perceived as a cloud stagnating mid-air in a room but offer a dynamic and vivid physicality.

Full Article

21 Uses Of Fragrance Oils

Just as there are countless number of perfumes and colognes, there are as many fragrance/scented oils. From the designer Chanel No.5 to Armani Code, to all sorts of DKNY fragrances among others which are a mixture of several fragrances, to the single regular everyday scents like Jasmine, Vanilla, Lavender, Baby Powder, Honey suckle, Lemon, Orange, Rose etc there are myriad scents all over.



But what to do with all these oils? There are quite a number of uses:

5. Use some on your skin as perfume.

6. Add a drop on your cold light bulb to scent a room.

7. Add a few drops of lavender oil in your bath water for a fresh just showered smell.

8. Add some to a gift package bow, to give the gift an extra personal touch.

Full List

THE FRAGRANCE COMPANY THAT MADE ME FORGET ABOUT EVERY OTHER SCENT EVER

Earlier this fall, I finally bought a fragrance that I had been wanting for a really, really long time. It wasn’t cheap, but fragrances are an investment. Really, anything is an investment as long as you call it “an investment.” See how easy that is?! Besides, you shouldn’t apologize for spending money on yourself. You shouldn’t apologize for anything!

So I was wearing my new scent for a couple of weeks, feeling like that bitch. I felt so good, like I had found the best scent on earth, the one scent that I would be wearing for the rest of my life.

That is, until I discovered Odin. Now, it’s like I don’t even know who I am anymore.

Odin is a collection of 11 unisex fragrances that are made up of some of the most unique and unconventional notes I’ve come across in the fragrance world, and I’ve smelled everything. The thing that really sets Odin apart from the rest is their expert use of notes that you’re going to be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. The first time I read about the line and really looked into, I was intrigued. The scents look good on paper, but that’s nothing compared to how they smell on your skin.

Cut to me, smelling myself, all day. Again.

Full Article

Fragrance sensitivity: accommodate it! Here Are Some HR Tips

Ah, spring is in the air? Too early for that. It’s just Sandy’s new perfume that smells as sweet as a spring meadow after a rainstorm.

But if another employee complains that the fragrance is aggravating her allergies, you had better act on it or the scent of a lawsuit will soon begin to fill the room.

Severe allergies may be considered disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), particularly since the definition of disability has been significantly expanded under the ADA Amendments Act. Employers have a legal duty to reasonably accommodate affected employees who request accommodation.

Case in point: The city of Detroit found this out the hard way when a city employee with multiple chemical sensitivity sued the city under the ADA for refusing to accommodate her disability.

A co-worker who wore heavy perfume and used a plug-in room deodorizer had transferred into the department in close proximity to the employee, causing the employee to become ill. The employee asked the co-worker to refrain from using these fragrances; the co-worker stopped using the room deodorizer but continued wearing the perfume. The employee complained to her super­visor, and although the possibility of relocating either the employee’s or the co-worker’s workstation was discussed, no steps were ever taken to remedy the situation. The employee took multiple sick days and leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and finally sued the city.
What you need to do

If an employee approaches you with an accommodation request due to their adverse reaction to strong fragrances, immediately start working with her to come up with reasonable solutions.

Consider adopting a fragrance policy like the one the city of Detroit eventually did, advising employees that mild scents may be worn in moderation, but strong or offensive scents that become detrimental to the work unit are not ­welcome. You could incorporate it into your existing dress code policy, or create a stand-alone fragrance policy.

When announcing the new policy to your workforce, explain the general reason behind the policy, but be sure to respect a disabled employee’s privacy and keep that person’s medical information confidential. If other employees complain that their rights are being infringed upon, explain to them that wearing a personal fragrance is not a need or a protected right, while accommodating an employee with a disability is both a legal necessity and the right thing to do.

If, after the policy is implemented, an employee comes into work scented too strongly, discreetly pull her aside, gently point out that her fragrance is too strong for the workplace, and ask her to refrain from scenting herself that way in the future. If she continues to ignore the fragrance restriction, treat it as an issue of insubordination and discipline. Apply the same treatment to men who overdo it with cologne.
Accommodation ideas

In addition to or in lieu of a fragrance policy, here are some alternative accommodation ideas you could adopt:
Get a small air purifier for the employee to keep in her workspace.
Move the employee’s workstation to an area where she would have less exposure to fragrances.
Designate certain areas of the workplace (e.g., meeting areas) as fragrance-free.
Reduce the employee’s face-to-face contact with co-workers or clients by permitting her to conduct business via email, phone, instant messaging, etc.

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Why it's Best not to Wear Perfume Nor Take the Pill when Looking for a Mate

Fine perfume might be more intellectual and spiritual in nature than instinctual after all. A few years back - in 2008 - there were a series of articles on olfaction and attraction shedding light on enduring sexual attraction thanks to new research on the role of the contraceptive pill. It is required reading if you wish to grasp some of the potentially thwarted "chemistry" at work when choosing not only a compatible mate, but a long-term one...

The research resulted in the practical advice not to be on the contraceptive pill when dating - and even in order to perfect the approach, not to wear fragrances in the first few weeks of getting to know someone so as to be able to olfactorily ascertain the soundness of the basis for your sexual attraction. It has to do with MHC genes compatibility - they should be not too similar, but not too dissimilar as well. These are as unique as a finger prints so there are no obvious visual predictors such as the color of skin, or race. Only your nose will tell, provided no pill is involved and perfumes do not blur the olfactory message too much although a link has been found between perfume preferences and the Major histocompatibility complex. If you and someone else consistently show similar cologne preferences, this tends to mean you have similiar MHC genes, and so are not biologically compatible actually. They should stay great buddies of yours.

Full Article 

Pizza perfume: It's real, and you can buy it for $20

Hot, cheesy and fresh out of the oven — exactly how a girl wants to smell, right?

Demeter’s new Pizza perfume re-creates the sensation of diving into a slice of ’za, with a strong scent of dough mixed with notes of tomato sauce, mozzarella and oregano.

In testing, Daily News olfactory workers deemed it “intoxicating and a little off-putting,”“as romantic as a cheese slice at 2 a.m.” and “great, if you want to smell like garlic.”


The most dangerous side effect for your diet: “It makes you constantly think about pizza,” said one tester.

The good news: The fragrance isn’t pungent for long. “After a few minutes, it mellows into the soft scent of cold, leftover pizza, which, of course, drives a partner wild,” said another tester.

Demeter’s CEO, Mark Crames, is a bit nervous that his company — famous for putting out unwearable scents such as Turpentine and Rubber — has jumped the slice.

“This is an experiment,” Crames says, citing a successful pizza perfume issued by Pizza Hut in 2012. “We’ll find out if we’re crazy or (it) makes sense.”

The cologne spray ($20 for 1 ounce) is sold online at demeterfragrance.com.