|
|
August 2006 Archive
Page 3 of 5 • 1 2 3 4 5
 When one looks for a musk scent, and more than with any other scents, one hopes to find that sexy musk that will prove to be the perfect marriage of seduction and intimacy. When one searches high and low for a lovely powdery scent (like I used to), one hopes to find a scent evocative of something rare and precious, a concoction that will transport one through the sense of smell to a refined ancient boudoir, a lady's powder room in the 18th century. Both Musk and powder share this in common that they can powerfully call to imagination the skin of the perfume wearer through a series of olfactory, historical, and cultural associations. The latest offering by Les Néréides, Musc Samarkand, is a powdery musk scent that would have been even more evocative in my opinion had it seized upon an imagery such as that of "Madame de Pompadour à sa toilette" painted by François Boucher. I must say also that I have been several times to Samarkand and I have trouble connecting the perfume to that city. We need more spices to succeed in doing that. Of course, the word "Samarkand" is mainly used here as an Orientalist motif and probably in reference to the vegetal musk found there called "sumbul" which I believe is the same thing as or related to spikenard. On the other hand, had it been called Musc à la Pompadour or Boudoir et Musc, I would have accepted those hints without any hesitation...
Continue reading "Perfume Review & Musings: Musc Samarkand by Les Néréides" »
If you're desperate about the new ban on liquids that is being enforced in nearly all airports, except in Canada, and wonder how you are going to survive without any moisturizer (and an abundant supply of water) during your flight, think about purchasing solid moisturizers or lotion bars. These just need to be rubbed onto the skin and will melt with your body heat.  • Surgeon's Skin Secret This moisturizer was initially used by surgeons to heal the skin after surgery. They come in twist-up stick containers. The try-me size costs $4.95. • Queen Helene's 100% Cocoa Butter Stick or any other 100% cocoa butter sticks.
• Lotion Bar Spice n' Ice by Woodsprite. Ingredients are: Organic Virgin Cocoa Butter, Organic Shea Butter,
Beeswax, Avocado Oil, Natural Vitamin E & Select Essential Oils of Ginger, Clove, Peppermint, Juniper, Rosemary and Cassia. It costs $16. Just keep it in a cool place before take off so that it does not melt too soon, as they seem to be worried about this possibility. A little freeze pack might help...
Continue reading "Beauty Notes & Shopping Tips: Think About Bringing Solid Moisturizers on the Airplane" »
The latest Hanae Mori, Magical Moon, is now available for purchase on the Nordstrom site for $95 and $65. So is the YSL Collector Fireworks Paris Edition in principle reserved only for duty-free retail. It retails for $67.50.
Le Bijou (Jewel in French) is the precious name of a natural perfumery boutique and studio located in La Jolla, California and headed by perfumer JoAnn Bassett since 1993. She is an International Certified Aromatherapist...
Continue reading "Scented Paths & Fragrant Addresses: JoAnn Bassett's Le Bijou Natural Perfumery " »
 "Horowitz-Thran’s desire to celebrate the phenomena of inner-beauty has given rise to the latest of Creative Scentualization’s fragrances, the “Comes From Within” Trio.
Recently launched in Barneys, Light, Peace and Love each express an inner-beauty quality of the wearer, and are individually formulated to evolve differently on everyone. Based on the powerful connection between the heart, mind and soul, the overall result of this trio is a powerful yet free spirited blend that can be unique as its wearer." You can find more information about these fragrances on the Creative Scentualization website. Source: Press release.
"The New York Times Style Magazine broadens its beauty coverage, the 14-times-a-year supplement has signed its first regular critic. Chandler Burr, author of the book, "The Emperor of Scent: A True Story of Perfume and Obsession," will pen a regular column, "Scent Strip," beginning with the Aug. 27 women's fashion issue. Burr has been a contributor to the magazine for the past year and also has written about fragrance for Food + Wine and The New Yorker. T editor Stefano Tonchi said Burr brings a unique intelligence to the topic: "He deals with the world of fragrances in a way that no one else has done before by contextualizing the historical roots and social implications." Isn't that a little overstated Mr. Tonchi? All the perfume historians I read do that...perhaps a little brushing up on the literature is required for the editor? Source: Women's Wear Daily
 The Beckhams are launching a duo of fragrances in the wake of the success of Instinct by Beckham. "The Intimately Beckham for Him juice, concocted by International Flavors and Fragrances features notes of bergamot, grapefruit zest, cardamom, violet, nutmeg, star anise, sandalwood, patchouli and amber. The women's scent, blended by Firmenich, offers notes of white flowers, bergamot, rose petals, Casablanca lily, tuberose, orange blossom, vanilla, sandalwood and musk." They are scheduled to launch this week in the UK and worldwide, except in the US, in September 2006. The perfumes will retail for $37, $49, and $62 in the 30, 50, and 75 ml sizes. Source: Women's Wear Daily
Cacharel has introduced an Orientalized version of Amor Amor. It retains the fruity-floral characteristics of its predecessor while adding a new warmth and sensuality to it. The perfume was composed by Laurent Bruyère and Dominique Ropion. Top notes are blood orange, blackcurrant, and mandarine. Heart notes are tiare, Melati jasmine, lily of the valley. Base notes are sandalwood, Palmyre wood, and benzoin. Source: Osmoz
The new Emporio Remix for Him by Armani (dark blue bottle) is meant to pay an homage to disco dancing. The perfume is described as offering the remix of a vintage fougère fragrance. Top notes are bergamot, basilic, and anise. Heart notes are cardamom, mace, lily of the valley, a fougère accord. Base notes are licorice wood, vetiver, and musks. Source: Osmoz
You can get a complimentary sample of the new Vera Wang Princess perfume on the Vera Wang Princess website if you take the time to fill out a questionnaire.
Update: apparently this offer is no longer valid.
Source: Cosmetic News
 The Mustang brand of jeans has issued a twin set of fragrances for her and for him. "I just wear Mustang" is the catchy slogan for the ad.
Mustang Woman, a fruity floral perfume, has head notes of pear, grapefruit, rhubarb, and red berries. Heart notes are rose, sweet pea, and ylang ylang. Base notes are sandalwood, cedarwood, moss, and musk. Mustang Man, a fresh and aromatic fragrance, includes top notes of cardamom, bay leaf, bergamot, and lavender. Heart notes are comprised of green notes and nutmeg. Base notes are cedar, Gaiac wood, musk, and amber. Both fragrances will launch from mid-September 2006. Source: Cosmoty.de
 • There is, or rather there will be tomorrow, both a humorous and illuminating article on celebrity fragrances in The Guardian of August 23 2006. Roja Dove shares his thoughts with Laura Barton on the trend as well as reviews several of those perfumes, including the new duo of fragrances, Intimately by Beckham: Naomi's is Hideous
"It was Matt Dillon who once observed that "When I go really far back in time, to the days when everyone was dying of cholera and syphilis and bubonic plague, I want nothing to do with those periods. I mean, nobody showered. That's why perfume became such a popular item." Dillon has yet to offer his explanation for the popularity of celebrity perfume, but the reasons are probably similar: such fragrances are an attempt to elevate ourselves above the great unwashed..."
Continue reading "The 5th Sense in the News: Interview with Roja Dove on Celebrity Perfumes, The Rise of Female Noses, Scents will be Used During The Story of a Murderer, The Launch of Intimately by Beckham" »
 The French jeweller from Saint-Tropez, André Gas, just introduced his first fragrance in 2006. It is called Ensoleille-Moi (Cast Sunshine on Me, Bathe me in sunshine, literally). It was composed by perfumer Mathilde Laurent. This profane prayer to the sun-god is yet another take on a beach scent, this time centered on Monoï. In Maohi, monoï means "sacred oil". In this case, it is more particularly a reference to a popular brand of suntan oil in Europe called Monoï Tahiti, but the Gas perfume derived from it is more sophisticated and polished than the original fragrant oil itself in which a tiare flower is seen macerating in coconut oil contained in a glass bottle. The original oil smells great but is more simply structured.
As the summer wanes, a little too soon alas in New England, my appetite for summery aromas may already feel a little décalé and out-of-season but how could I resist the luscious notes? If you like tropical beach scents you will fall for this one; it is a very good quality, complex, and elegant beach fragrance. If you uncork its flacon in winter it will easily ressuscitate for you the best days of summer or of past sojourns in tropical countries. Top notes are bergamot and tiare, heart notes are ylang-ylang and coconut, base notes are vanilla and white musk...
Continue reading "Andre Gas Ensoleille-Moi (2006) {Perfume Review & Musings}" »
 Montblanc has unveiled its new women's fragrance, Femme, which aims at creating a sense of sophistication and luxury in its wearer. It is recommended for wearing in the evenings and on special occasions...
Continue reading "New Perfume: Luxe Femme by Montblanc" »
We love perfume flacons and in this sense we are the children of 20th century perfumery as defined by François Coty. This innovative entrepreneur and perfumer was a man of instinct and vision as he helped define the perfume concept as a mass-marketable object of luxury in which the container played an equal aesthetic role to that which was contained in it. He once said, "a perfume should attract the eye as much as the nose." The adequacy between the two signalled to Coty a successful fragrance, that is a fragrance capable of becoming the focus of women's aspirations and desires, their very expression in fact, until then perhaps only confusely felt and dreamt about. This message of Coty's is famous but not necessarily ingrained, even today 102 years later, in people's mentalities. Many a perfume wearer today will still consider the juice itself to be more significant than its container. This is a perfectly acceptable proposition but it does not explore fully what beauty and luxury can be as fuller, more complete experiences...
Continue reading "Scented Thoughts: The Flacon of M.A. Sillage de La Reine by Le Château de Versailles" »
August 2006 Archive
Page 3 of 5 • 1 2 3 4 5
|
All original content and translations herein copyright © 2006. All rights reserved; reproduction requires the author’s prior written consent. You are however welcome to provide a link back to the posts on this site as long as you explicitly mention their authorship, recognize the original source of the information you give, and acknowledge the site of origin.
Powered by Movable Type 4.32-en
|
Digg This
Stumble
Facebook
Del.icio.us
