The Scented Salamander: Perfume & Beauty Blog & Webzine: August 2006

August 2006 Archive

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August 14, 2006

Passion for Perfume: An Interview with Christa Patout and Stéphane Humbert Lucas of Nez à Nez

The owners and designers of Nez à Nez, Christa Patout and her husband Stéphane Humbert Lucas have opened for a us a little door into their rich universe. Creativity, sensuality, and love seem to be their guiding principles. Let me have the pleasure of introducing them to you.

TSS - Can you tell us how Nez à Nez started and what are the origins of this very recently established house? I am told that a number of perfumes were created by your father, Jean Patout.

Christa Patout with Stéphane Humbert Lucas - The adventure of Nez à Nez started a little more than five years ago. It is first and foremost the story of an encounter...

Continue reading "Passion for Perfume: An Interview with Christa Patout and Stéphane Humbert Lucas of Nez à Nez" »

Previous Posts in Passion for Perfume - Portraits:

Passion for Perfume: A Portrait of Perfumer Andy Tauer

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August 15, 2006

Fragrance News: Part II of Nez à Nez Overview & Giveaway

I will post my part II of the overview of Nez à Nez fragrances soon and will offer 2 samples to the lucky winner of a draw. One will be Ambre à Sade and the other one you can choose (except maybe for Atelier D'Artiste.....OK, if you insist I'll spare a few drops:)). Don't forget to check my own overview part I here.

Previous Posts in Fragrance News:

Fragrance News: Fleur de Narcisse 2006 by L'Artisan Parfumeur (Updated)

Fragrance News: Upcoming Interview with Nez à Nez

Fragrance News: Victoria & David Beckham to Release Couple Perfumes

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Fragrance News: Opium Collector Edition & Opium Collector Powder for Eyes & Complexion

Yves Saint Laurent is releasing a limited Collector Edition of Opium bottled in a gorgeous black Oriental lacquer type flacon and adorned with a lotus cloisonné motif said to be a symbol of "purity and splendour". It is accompanied this time by an Opium Collector Powder for Eyes & Complexion. The shades are, "...imperial purple, pearly white, jade green and golden beige. These have been assembled to form the petals and leaves of a lotus flower. They can be used alone or together, on the eyes or face." It is the first time that YSL issues a compact powder together with a perfume.

The perfume will retail for €52.70 and the compact for €43.20. This limited collector edition will be available in travel retail from September 1 2006.

Source: The Moodie Report

Previous Posts in Fragrance News:

Fragrance News: Part II of Nez à Nez Overview & Giveaway

Fragrance News: Fleur de Narcisse 2006 by L'Artisan Parfumeur (Updated)

Fragrance News: Upcoming Interview with Nez à Nez

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Fragrance News: Collector Paris by Yves Saint Laurent (Updated)

YSL is also releasing a limited Fireworks Collector Edition of Paris all dressed up in luxurious black and gold. It will retail for 49.60 Euros and will be available in travel retail from September 1 2006. This flacon will grace any vanity table, I think. This jus is, by the way, one of the best rose scents on the market. It smells like spring and summer in Paris even if you wear it in the autumn and winter.

Update: It is now available at Nordstrom for $67.50.

Source: The Moodie Report

Previous Posts in Fragrance News:

Fragrance News: Opium Collector Edition & Opium Collector Powder for Eyes & Complexion

Fragrance News: Part II of Nez à Nez Overview & Giveaway

Fragrance News: Fleur de Narcisse 2006 by L'Artisan Parfumeur (Updated)

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August 16, 2006

Scented Quote of the Day, from Pierre Bourdon:

"The choice of a perfume has as much to do with the regional culture as with one's preferences. It is even much more controlled by existing social codes than by desires believed to be one's own."

Note: Pierre Bourdon is the nose behind Davidoff Cool Water, Dior Dolce Vita, and Malle Iris Poudre, among others.

Photo is from Editions de Parfums

Previous Posts in Scented Quote of the Day:

Scented Quote of the Day, from Jean-Paul Guerlain

Scented Quote of the Day, from Serge Lutens:

Scented Quote of the Day, from Harriet Hubbard Ayer

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New Perfume: Magical Moon by Hanae Mori (Updated)

Hanae Mori has announced that it will launch its first fragrance in eight years, Magical Moon, in August-September 2006. Their last perfume, Haute Couture, was introduced in 1998.

Notes are described as including, "buds and blooms harvested according to an ancient lunar calendar": Osmanthus Flower, Rose, Sugar Cane, Cotton Flower, Coconut Milk, Vanilla, White Musk, White Sandalwood, Red Cedar, Incense, Litchi, Patchouli, Pineapple Pulp, Guava Nectar, Star Fruit, Orange Flowers and Pink Berries.

According to Basenotes, it will be available exclusively at Nordstrom in September and will be distributed more widely in November. According to Women's Wear Daily, it will retail for $95 for a flacon of 1.7 oz and would have been launched August 1 in specialty stores.

Update: It is now available at Norsdtrom for $95 and $65.

Sources: Women's Wear Daily and Basenotes where you can read more about the new fragrance including an anecdote about who was the first woman to receive the fragrance as a much publicized gift.

Previous Posts in New Perfumes:

New Perfume: Storia by Isabella Rossellini

New Perfume: Live Luxe by Jennifer Lopez

New Perfume: Tabu Flores by Dana

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August 17, 2006

Perfume Review & Musings: Ginger Fragrance by Lush

I have just rediscovered Ginger Fragrance by Lush.The first time I tried it, the experience was disappointing as the opening made me exclaim "Wow!", but then later on I became gradually turned off by what smelled to me like a cheap, synthetic drydown that seemed to never want to let go of you.What happened? I have no idea, or rather I have some ideas that are purely speculative. One of them is the following: did they reformulate it? The perfume, by the way, was composed by Simon Constantine.

This time the perfume is amicable all along. It opens with a complex aromatic bouquet that says "I am not a middle-of-the-road boring perfume'. The Jamaican ginger is nicely outlined, quite tonic and sweetened by the mimosa, jasmine, rose, and geranium. The drydown finally evokes the softeness and sweeteness of honey. There are woodsy undertones to the honey and a light tea-like aroma. It is a very nice, aromatic scent. Staying power is a tad disatisfying. It feels natural. I see it as a kind of affluent middle-class hippie scent...

Continue reading "Perfume Review & Musings: Ginger Fragrance by Lush" »

Previous Posts in Perfume Review & Musings:

Perfume Review & Musings: Insolence by Guerlain

Perfume Review & Musings: An Overview of The Nez à Nez Perfume Line, Part I

Fragrance of the Moment: Atelier d'Artiste by Nez à Nez

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Lush Big Shampoo: Review {Beauty Notes} {Hair}

I have to rave about this shampoo. First of all it smells good; it is composed with fragrant ingredients such as seaweed infusion, fresh lemon infusion, fresh lime juice, neroli oil, mandarin oil, vanilla absolute, and even orris absolute. The mix, out of the pot, smells a little like a subtle suntan oil lotion making you think of the holidays and the sea. There is actually Scottish sea water in the recipe. The shampoo has a granulous sea salt base, none of which remains in your hair. It lathers richly so you don't need to put a big quantity of it each time. On wet hair, the shampoo smells a little of light patchouli.

The results are excellent: your hair feels squeaky clean at the end of the shampooing session and when they dry they offer a new volume and a lustrous sheen from top to bottom. I see it as a shampoo + beauty mask for the hair. It makes them look really healthy.

It retails for $17.95 on the Lush site

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The 5th Sense in the News: The SmHell of New York in the Summer, New Website for Bond no 9

There is an article in the Washington Post on Laurice Rahme of Bond no 9 on a mission to find the stinkiest place in New York city together with a team of experts (via Blogdorf Goodman.)

Eau Dear: Sniffing Out the Big Apple's Smelliest Spots

More news regarding Bond no 9: the perfume house has now a new website and can sell its fragrances directly online (via Blog for Beauty & Coutorture).

Previous Posts in The Fifth Sense in the News:

The 5th Sense in the News: Perfumes (and Any Liquid for that Matter) Banned From Airplanes

The 5th Sense In The News: 4711 Eau de Cologne on the Wane?

The 5th Sense In The News: Cracking the Genetic Code to Naturally Reproduce Fragrances

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August 19, 2006

The 5th Sense in the News: Article on Terre d'Hermès

The Globe and Mail of 8-19-2006 published an article on Terre d'Hermès. For more information on the perfume's notes you can go to this previous post. Terre d'Hermes is a great perfume, elegant and unisex. I think it is perfect to wear at the office and I would add that it is very versatile.

Previous Posts in The Fifth Sense in the News:

The 5th Sense in the News: The SmHell of New York in the Summer, New Website for Bond no 9

The 5th Sense in the News: Perfumes (and Any Liquid for that Matter) Banned From Airplanes

The 5th Sense In The News: 4711 Eau de Cologne on the Wane?

Posted by Marie-Helene Wagner | Permalink | Comments (0)

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