 Helena Rubinstein WantedSmell Expensive for Less with these 6 PerfumesNatori by Josie NatoriNorth-American Originals: Perfumers on Fall & Winter 3North-American Originals: Perfumers on Fall & Winter 2North-American Originals: Perfumers on Fall & WinterMy 2009 Halloween Shopping ListMarilyn Miglin Fo-Ti-TiengThe Body Shop Love Etc.Fall Fragrances: Cornucopia of Dark FruitsL'Occitane Labdanum de Séville, Mimosa de l'EstérelRobert Piguet FuturKate Moss VintageFrapin L'HumanistePatriotic Bestseller Perfumes: DiscussFaguenat, Faganat...Fug?Sniffing Rich Orientals in ParisL'Artisan Parfumeur Havana Vanille Dolce & Gabbana Rose The OneGuerlain Idylle - Part 1Guerlain Idylle - Part 2Kat Von D Saint & SinnerCalvin Klein CK Free for MenMariah Carey ForeverWienerBlut KlubwasserPrada L'Eau AmbréeSerge Lutens Fille en AiguillesBritney Spears Circus FantasyYves Saint Laurent ParisienneIdole d'ArmaniGuerlain Aqua Allegoria Tiaré-Blossom, Cherry BlossomHermès Eau d'Orange Verte, Eau de Pamplemousse Rose, Eau de Gentiane BlancheParfums de Nicolaï Weekend à DeauvilleSerge Lutens Fourreau NoirEssential FaithPenhaligon's Anthology: Eau de Verveine, Extract of Limes, Gardenia, Night Scented StockMac Naked Honey & AfricanimalChopard CascadeLancôme Hypnôse SensesJuliette Has a Gun Midnight OudNarciso Rodriguez EssenceQueen Latifah QueenBenefit Laugh With Me LeeLee, There's Something About Sofia, My Place Or Yours GinaThe Body Shop White Musk White Hot SummerRochas Eau SensuelleL'Artisan Parfumeur Côte d'AmourChloe Eau de ParfumGuerlain Les Fleurs du Guildo: An Early 19th Century Precursor of Marine ScentsLush VanillaryByredo Bal d'AfriqueZadig & Voltaire Tome 1 La Pureté - Part 1Zadig & Voltaire Tome 1 La Pureté - Part 2Guerlain MuguetGuerlain Muguet (en français)Spring Notes: Lily of the Valley & DiorChanel Cristalle Eau VerteChristian Dior Escale à PondichéryFrédéric Malle Géranium pour MonsieurGobin-Daudé Sous Le BuisRoger et Gallet Bois d'OrangeMontale Patchouli LeavesStetson All AmericanStephen Jones by Comme des GarçonsGivenchy Harvest 2008: Ange ou Démon Jasmin Sambac, Amarige Ylang Ylang, Very Irresistible Rose Damascena, Organza Fleur d'OrangerYves Saint Laurent La Nuit de l'HommeYves Saint Laurent l'HommeThe Sex Factor in Men's FragrancesNina Ricci Love by NinaHermès Kelly Calèche EDPAnnick Goutal Un Matin d'OrageGuerlain La Petite Robe NoireSerge Lutens Nuit de CellophaneParfums MDCI Péché CardinalHermès Vanille Galante - Part 1Hermès Vanille Galante - Part 2
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 Claridges have partnered with Christian Dior to offer a supplementary luxury room service with the creation of the Dior Dressing Tables. "The Dior Dressing Table includes a carefully curated range of timeless
accessories, including an elegant silk Claridge's dressing gown and
slippers; a cashmere eye mask; and a selection of classic Dior
fragrances including Diorella, Dioramma [sic] and Dioressence, as well as
range of beauty kit essentials.
"
The idea behind the Dior Dressing Table is also to help create a 1930s atmosphere. You can order a cocktail from the period amongst the "swizzles, daisies, sours, juleps and pick-me-ups" from the hotel's Fumoir Bar. They are served in Lalique
glasses. Books and music come complete the picture with works by Evelyn Waugh and
Nancy Mitford and songs by Josephine Baker and Fred Astaire. Sounds to me like a perfect recovery plan for someone stuck in a hotel room with a cold or prevented from shopping due to a storm or alternatively for people who cannot resist things being brought to them on a tray. Priced at £200, minus the room quote. Via Just Luxe
 A team led by Dr. Nick Lavidis from Queensland University Australia has developed a scent that smells of cut grass at higher doses but is virtually undetectable by the nose at lower levels yet impacts the functioning of the brain to relieve stress and anxiety symptoms. Serenascent "... is a mixture of hexanals, hexenols and pinenes in very specific ratios."
It was tested on animals to positive effects and will be first launched
as a room spray that can be applied to clothing and bedding...
Continue reading "New Serenascent is Undetectable but Relieves Stress & Anxiety {Fragrance News}" »
 Two years ago, an informed rumor surfaced on the internet via the fashionweekdaily.com announcing that Frederic Malle of Editions de Parfums was hunting for a store in New York City. The new boutique is now open. It is "...a 900-square-foot space located at 898 Madison Avenue at 72nd Street, in Manhattan." Malle reportedly had had his eye on the building since his days as an arts student at New York City University, with an impression filed away under a tag saying something like "great building!"...
Continue reading "Editions de Parfums Opens in Manhattan {Fragrance News} {Scented Paths & Fragrant Addresses} " »
 Lubin, perfumer since 1798, have completely relooked their website. Entering it now is like walking through different rooms, galleries, or atmospheres also created by varied musics and animations. The text clarifies some sources of inspiration like the medieval one for Le Vetiver. History is used to legitimize the brand...
Continue reading "Lubin Parfumeur Has a New Website {Fragrance News}" »
 A 19th century British perfume brand that few remember today, Grossmith, has been re-established by a descendant, Simon Brooke, with the help of perfume expert Roja Dove. J. Grossmith Son & Co which has had slightly differing company names since 1835 the year of its original establishment was a contemporary of familiar-sounding fragrance brands to the contemporary ear like Eugene Rimmel, Yardley, Jean-Marie Farina or more obscure ones like George Payne from the Isle of Wright and T. W. Fisher & Co. One of their bestsellers seems to have been Shem-El-Nessim the Scent of Araby. When looking at advertisements for Grossmith perfumes, one cannot but be struck by how they carried the prejudices of its time offering some of the most colonialist imagery I have seen, and certainly as appearing behind the name of a fragrance. For Wana-Ranee the Perfume of Ceylon and in 1918 it won't do if the perfume is not presented as a quasi devotional offering by a deferential Indian woman who is either on her knees or hunched and extending her arms from afar (in terms of social distance hinted at by her gesture) towards a group of Blond, European maharanis as if all English women ought to be ideally blond as cherubs. It is unsettling to the modern eye and we see that Grossmith was a great supporter of the British imperial crown... 
Continue reading "The Comeback of J. Grossmith Son & Co Perfumes {Fragrance News}" »
 Rochas have finally set up their new website at Rochas.com showcasing their perfume collections. The design pays homage to the signature Rochas lace that appeared on the perfume packaging of Femme. The contents feature the commentary of in-house perfumer Jean-Michel Duriez. One notes that sadly Madame Rochas and Femme are now officially only listed in Eau de Toilette concentrations, not their best incarnations....
Continue reading "Rochas Have a New Website, with Notes on Madame Rochas & Femme Concentrations {Fragrance News}" »
 We have the scoop on exciting celebrity fragrance news from French label Etat Libre d'Orange. As we indicated early on in the process, indie perfume brands have become increasingly interested in the celebrity fragrance market, just like the big dogs, so to speak (Coty, Avon, Parlux, Elizabeth Arden/Unilever...). You have to realize that this is a fun way to take a second, closer critical look at the notion of being an "independent" niche house, when you see that the movement was initiated by major fragrance labels first and that indies followed the lead. But as noted earlier, indies tend to pick celebrity personalities that are relatively more underground and quirky (as compared to Britney Spears, still quirky admittedly, and JLo)... 
Continue reading "Etat Libre d'Orange will Release Tilda Swinton & Josephine Baker Perfumes {Fragrance News}" »
 Yesterday night at the Chambre de Commerce de Versailles, perfumer Olivier Polge (left on the picture) was the recipient of the 10th Prix International du Parfum.
The jury was composed of members of ISIPCA, a major (external) school
of perfumery. The prize was handed to him by Baroque music conductor
and founder of Les Arts Florissants William Christie (center of the
picture)...
Continue reading "Olivier Polge Receives the Prix International du Parfum {Fragrance News}" »
 Singer Fergie of Black Eyed Peas has been signed up by Avon to be the inspiration for their next celebrity fragrance. It is arguably a bolder move than usual as Fergie is not exactly someone you would think of painting in soft pastel shades. But Boom Boom Pow being at the top of the charts for several weeks has convinced Avon that techno hip hop sounds and hard leather notwithstanding, Avon customers would appreciate a bit of a departure from the standard nice girl type that is their usual safe bet. Avon's stable of thoroughbred fragrances has grown more and more since 2006. The brand sees the Derek Jeter franchise which debuted with Driven as a turning point in this career path...
Continue reading "Fergie of Black Eyed Peas Signs up with Avon {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Perfume}" »
 Sisley launched a limited-edition bottle of their classic Eau du Soir (1990) for the Holidays 09. It is now all decked in vivid turquoise and coral with the cap imitating a sculptured branch of red coral. The flacon looks even better in person plus one can appreciate the fact that the bottle now being light-proof can be left on a dresser without having to worry about perfume spoilage. Eau du Soir is a classic chypre fragrance. I realized after smelling it from the cap recently that it smells especially good when fresh, i.e., with the citrus notes nice and sparkly. It might stand a chance after all compared to the newer Soir de Lune (2006) which I felt had upped the sophistication factor compared to its predecessor (and my vintage-y incarnation of it with the citrus notes suffering a bit from exhaustion.)
 Lola by Marc Jacobs is soon going to be available in a new incarnation, a flashy cocktail ring topped with the same enormous soft plastic flower as found on the cap of the bottle. The flower part is 1.5" in diameter and 1" tall. Ring size is 7. This is a limited-edition priced at $42 and currently only available to Sephora Beauty Insiders. Notes: Pink Peppercorn, Pear, Grapefruit, Rose, Peony, Geranium, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Musk.
 Yes, you read the title right. The City Exclusives by Le Labo will be all reunited for just one month in the City of Lights Perfumes at Le Labo counters and boutiques to, I don't know, bitch about the stringent regulations that prevent them from organizing family reunions more often. This is just a colloquial way of saying that probably because the Holidays are coming and shoppers will no doubt be hesitating between several must-sniff brands, that Le Labo and Colette people wanted to do a riff on the idea of exclusivity to attract more potential customers to their fragrance counters...
Continue reading "Le Labo City Exclusives All Available for 1 Month {Fragrance News}" »
 The flacon of Opium by Yves Saint Laurent is instantly recognizable in its exceptional, both literalist and glorified borrowing of the shape of a Japanese Inro case. Over the years it has undergone a number of redesigns for limited-editions like a black lacquer version here or a simplified graffiti look here. In the fall of 2009, the eau de parfum is bottled in a 90 ml semi-transparent, semi-opaque all-glass flacon that is very eye-catching. Not only that, but when you hold up the bottle to the light to admire it in detail, you have to gasp a little more when you see that the inside of the flacon contains a tautly twisted black rope in its center. Then it becomes hard to take your eyes away from the unexpected meeting of gold liquid, coiled black silk or silk-look alike and frosted glass in cinnabar red. It looks much better in person than in the picture. It is a beauty and one of the most luxurious variations to date.
 L'Eau d'Issey is going to be bottled in a limited collector edition created to pay homage to architect and designer Ettore Sottsass. The design is directly inspired by one of his drawings which make up an important body of works that was published in part in the book Ettore Sottsass: 700 Drawings. The flacon is made mostly of handblown glass. According to WWD, technical obstacles had to be surmounted which led to the release of this homage only subsequent to the death of the designer in December 2007. Edition Ettore Sottsass will be available at select points of sale like the Galeries Lafayette in Paris (50 copies) and the Issey Miyake boutique on rue Royale. It is priced at 300€ or about US $442.
 Procter and Gamble have set up a dedicated space for inviting consumers to try their hands at online perfume designing with the tag line, Express yourself. It's simple. There is perfume designer Kavin Morgan who guides you through the different steps. You could be the name behind the next Downy Simple Pleasures scent. Last year, the approach was to ask hand-picked young fashion designers to create clothing inspired by the Downy Radiance Collection. This year, the angle is clever in that it allows to poll consumers' olfactory preferences. He reminds visitors that every Downy scent starts with an emotion, so you have to select one on a colored nebulous scale, then you move on to choosing one top, mid and base note amongst a selection where each is explained in psychological terms. Pick one you like, have fun. Morgan even gives advice on how to appreciate perfume. Smell your clothes like you would wine and to try to decipher the various olfactive layers that are found in the perfume scenting your clothes...
Continue reading "Online Perfume Design with P&G Downy Simple Pleasures: Be a Nose! {Fragrance News}" »
 "Judging from besteller lists of fragrances around the world, shoppers
prefer scents created by or associated with their compatriots.
Fair enough. Here is an article in the fashion section of The Independent today entitled Trendwatch: Global beauty customers are patriotic with their customers, that wants to demonstrate that consumers prefer to shop for national brands when it comes to electing their favorite scents (or that they at least tend to instinctively gravitate towards made-in-their-home-country blends.) In fact, we know that perfumes are often custom-sized to general cultural preferences and attempt to fit snuggly within a certain national or regional market like in the case of the well-known, well-publicized Asian predilection for light perfumes. But this article states as facts things that do not make sense and might lead you to think that, perhaps, the desire to prove a theory or to sell a product was stronger than the facts themselves. The piece says that in the US currently (at Sephora at least), the top 3 fumes are American brands: Michael Kors Very Hollywood, Marc Jacobs Lola, and... Leslie Blodgett's Perfume Diaries Bare Skin!!! The exclamation points only apply, for the moment, to the latter. The problem is that the perfume has not officially launched yet. I, in fact, am aware of this as I received a mail today outlining the dates of the upcoming launch and telling me the dedicated website just went up. The perfume is currently only available to Beauty Insiders at Sephora and the article is saying that it's a national trend!..
Continue reading "Strange Article on Patriotic Bestseller Perfumes: Discuss {Fragrance News} {Scented Thoughts}" »
 Lulabie have launched a line of scented teddy bears that have been studied to release the aromatherapeuthic benefits needed to help babies, toddlers and consequently parents go to sleep. Being sympathetic to one of the hardest experiences of early parenthood, sleep deprivation (yes, nobody told us about that ordeal in advance -- now you know, if you didn't already know) is certainly going to garner them some good will. Lulabie is a brand owned by The Scent a Brand group, a company that specializes in scenting all sorts of surfaces and objects from key chains and trays to toothbrush holders, jewelry and shoehorns, with the promise that it will last up to a year. The teddy bears are scented with a Sleep-Well blend of "... lavender oil, orange, thyme and cardamom, a blend that aims to release fatigue, calm and relax the child,"... 
Continue reading "Lulabie Aromatherapy Teddy Bear is Good for Babies & Parents {Fragrant Shopping} {Fragrance News}" »
 According to British mass-market chain Superdrug, the Britons hold celebrity brand fragrances dear to their hearts. The *estimated*, rather massive figure quoted in an article in Hello Magazine, which specializes in celebrity coverage, is that out of £600 being spent annually on feminine perfumes, more than 40% would be going to celebs perfumes, an estimation that seemingly does not include simply celeb-endorsed fragrances where famous faces just grace the ads....
Continue reading "The Brits Love their Celebrity Fragrances {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Scents}" »
 After announcing in June 2007 that the Jimmy Choo brand was planning to launch a feminine fragrance in the spring of 2009 with Selective Beauty, the project seemed to have stalled. Yesterday, Jimmy Choo announced that they have signed a new agreement and will now develop fragrances with Inter Parfums SA over a period of 12 years from January 1, 2010...
Continue reading "Jimmy Choo Perfumes Back in the Race {Fragrance News}" »
 The judging panel from the TV show the X Factor which includes Cheryl Cole, Danni Minogue, Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell have signed an agreement to develop a quatuor of fragrances which is set to be released for Christmas this year. They are just now going to meet this week to start working on the perfumes. You can just guess the level of attention and originality that is going to go into these by looking at the time frame: it sounds like blitz krieg perfume-making,...
Continue reading "X Factor Perfumes in the Making, will be Ready for Christmas {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Perfumes}" »
 Baudelaire by Nadar, 1855
Here are some upcoming and recently released fragrances not mentioned previously on the blog. For more details, you can go to the index of new perfumes for 2009 which is listed alphabetically by perfume brand. • Berdoues, the specialist of the violet from Toulouse, have released two new flankers: an extrait or pure parfum and a richer and deeper version called Violette Divine. The first one is housed in an amphora-shaped flacon with a topper reminiscent of a drop and the second one comes in the usual retro atomizer bottle. I only had a quick sniff of the latter but came away with the impression of a dark fruity violet. Their perfumes tend to be better the more concentrated they are. • Byredo after launching already two perfume portraits this year, one inspired by Josephine Baker, Bal d'Afrique, and the other, Blanche, by an unnamed personal acquaintance will issue a new fragrance this fall continuing to take the route of personality referencing with a perfume inspired by a founding father of olfactory musings, Baudelaire . The scent is simply called Baudelaire and will be found at Barney's in the US...
Continue reading "New & Upcoming Perfume Launches for Fall/Winter 2009 & Beyond {Fragrance News}" »
 Some people like Justin Timberlake and Emma Watson simply hate the idea of offering their perfume incarnations to the public, but singer Cheryl Cole of Girls Aloud begs to differ. Like several other WAGS before her (hubby is football player Ashley Cole), a typical British tabloid phenomenon, she thinks it would be "amazing,"...
Continue reading "Cheryl Cole Just Got Hired by L'Oreal & Would Love To Have a Sig Perfume {Fragrance & Beauty News} {Celebrity Perfumes & Beauty}" »
 London department store Selfridges in Oxford Street has been granted the worldwide privilege of housing the largest collection of makeup color by Dior ever to have been displayed in one location. On October 1, 2009 when the equally record-breaking largest Dior beauty counter in Europe opens at Selfridges, it will offer the richest library of colors you can feast your eyes upon and test...
Continue reading "Selfridges will House Largest Dior Color Collection in the World + An Ultra Exclusive Edition of J'Adore: The Amphora {Beauty News} {Fragrance News}" »
Dita Von Teese and
Designer Elie Saab attend the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon
d'Armenonville on January 29, 2009 in Paris, France.
 Couturier Elie Saab, well-known for his lavish, glamorous designs and ensuing popularity among show biz people who regularly carry his style on the red carpet, has signed a 10-year contract with Beauté Prestige International, a division of Shiseido to develop perfumes under his own name...
Continue reading "Elie Saab To Launch Signature Fragrance {Fragrance News}" »
 Australian niche perfumery Libertine Parfumerie have opened their second store in Brisbane. The boutique is co-directed by Nick Smart, Jason Carlton and Joel Morehu-Barlow whose goal it is to bring exclusive niche perfumery to their country. The trio also heads a niche distribution company named Agence de Parfum. Nick Smart said, "Libertine Parfumerie, coupled with agence de parfum, are dedicated to filling a void for niche perfume houses in the Australian market. "
"Some of the most coveted fragrances in the world are created by niche perfumeries and until now, Australians have had only limited if any access to such high-end brands.
"With the exception of a handful of stores, niche perfumery has not been well represented in Australia and we felt it was time to overcome this and give Australians the opportunity to learn about some of the rarer, prestige fragrances on the market," he said...
Continue reading "New Libertine Parfumerie in Brisbane, Australia {Scented Paths & Fragrant Addresses} {Fragrance News}" »
NEW YORK, September 21,
2009 -- The Paris-based CREED royal perfume house has signed
a lease to open a 400 square foot boutique in the landmark building at 794
Madison Avenue on the northwest corner of 67th Street in New York City in time
to serve its American clientele for the 2009 holiday season. It will be
CREED's only stand-alone store in America. Among the more than 40 CREED
fragrances and other goods the store will offer men and women will be
Windsor, the fragrance CREED made for the Duke of Windsor in
1936...
Continue reading "Creed Opens Store in New York City Right on Time for the Holidays 2009 {Fragrance News} {Scented Paths & Fragrant Addresses}" »
 In an effort to restructure the Estée Lauder companies in an efficient manner, their beloved brand Prescriptives developed in 1977 and founded in 1979 by Estée's second son, Ronald Lauder, will cease being in existence. Its first, ex-director, Sylvie Chantecaille said, "It was a great introduction for young
women. It changed the face of makeup. Everyone learned from
Prescriptives about warm and cool."
One of the early factors explaining Prescriptives's demise are seen in retrospect to have been the rise of the makeup-artist brands in the mid-nineties with Bobbi Brown and M.A.C which made it appear less edgy... 
Continue reading "Adieu Prescriptives, but Calyx Stays -- Update {Beauty News} {Fragrance News}" »
 After hearing on September 15, 2009 the announcement that an upcoming Beyoncé perfume would be developed by Coty, Abercrombie & Fitch were quick to react to the news by preemptively lodging a trademark complaint in order to protect their own perfume called Fierce. Although Coty said that the name of the singer's fragrance was as of yet unknown, the clothing brand is considering it a likely possibility that Beyoncé might use the name of her stage alter-ego, Sasha Fierce, to baptize it....
Continue reading "Beyonce Can Have a Perfume, But Not Sasha Fierce -- Update {Fragrance News}" »
 Noah Mills and Carmen Kass in the Mario Testino commercial. Voice-over is by Lauren Hutton.
Leading up to the September launch of Very Hollywood by Michael Kors, a gardenia scent, the brand has set up a website to let you explore their universe. You can go to veryhollywood.com and check out the commercial, the behind-the-scenes, an interview with Michael Kors himself etc. Now is also your opportunity to participate in two contests to win the chance of receiving the red-carpet treatment...
Continue reading "Your Chance to Win 2 Contests with Michael Kors Very Hollywood {Fragrance News}" »
 To fête the popularity of its masculine fragrance 1 Million, Paco Rabanne has decided to launch a luxurious limited-edition suitcase containing a flacon of the cologne covered with 18 carats gold and inserted with a 0,3 carats diamond (yes, it is not solid and they don't say what metal is underneath the gold). The travel suitcase decorated inside like a bank vault with its own lighting is covered with galuchat. There are three drawers for your 3 refills...
Continue reading "Paco Rabanne 1 Million: The 18 Carats Edition: You Must be Kidding Me" »
 Did you know that celebs might be transparent, invisible to consumers? A survey conducted with Linkedln members shows that 78% of respondents were left unmoved by the presence of a celeb on a billboard endorsing a product. At least when it came to buying, as opposed to noticing, the perfume, beauty cream or underwear that was advertised. The article points however to possible denials and inhibitions in acknowledging the influence as the concept is still marred by a certain cheesiness. While it is easy to see that it would not make one buy more readily a product that was lacking, it is hard to deny that celebrity advertising has the overall beneficial effect of attracting publicity for the brand as a whole and helping them surmount competition. Otherwise they don't know what they are doing. It is also suggested that a celeb product is a tribal thing: if you haven't purchased a product based on a famous personality, it is because you haven't encountered the one with which you identify and that will sway you. But this is just one survey whose results do not explain in the end why the celeb trend in beauty remains prolific despite the cries of the Cassandras...
Continue reading "Celebs in Ads Found to Have Neutral Effect by Survey {Fragrance News}" »
 Fragrance expert Michael Edwards was inducted into the Australian Fragrance Foundation Hall of Fame on August 5th 2009. "Over 120 industry representatives attended the cocktail event held in the heritage-listed Westpac Bank Building in Martin Place, Sydney. The special evening included two performances by classical music quartet, Accent Strings. Edwards has classified more fragrances than anyone else in the history of perfumery. He works with every brand and perfumer to check the accuracy of his classifications and work. Today, he divides his time between Sydney, Paris and New York to keep ahead of the avalanche of new fragrances...
Continue reading "Author Michael Edwards Inducted Into the Australian Fragrance Foundation Hall of Fame" »
 The Jardin or Garden series which includes Jardin en Méditerranée, Jardin sur Le Nil and Un Jardin Après La Mousson is now available in a new format of 200 ml which is meant to be used as a bath & body product. In French it is called Eau d'Abondance Parfumée (Perfumed Water of Plenty) like an invitation to be liberal with the scent as you step out of the shower. In English they are called All-Over Sprays. They smell like the originals with perhaps a slightly lighter, more aqua orientation as far as I could tell from the bottle. The text on the packaging mentions some hydrating and softening virtues. A 200 ml bottle is priced at 91€ or $130 at current exchange rate.
 DIESEL
ONLY THE BRAVE AND
GRAMMY-WINNING ARTIST COMMON
HOST A PRIVATE RED
CARPET PERFORMANCE
In
partnership with Macy's, Diesel Only The Brave is giving consumers the
opportunity to celebrate bravery with Common, the face of the brand's courageous
fragrance, at a intimate live performance at Capitale on Wednesday, August 26th,
2009.
Beginning
August 10th, the first 500 people to make a Diesel Only The Brave purchase of $117.50
or more at Macy's in Herald
Square and
other select locations will receive TWO general admission tickets to this
exclusive concert...
Continue reading "You Can Win 2 Tickets to a Private Red-Carpet Event with Diesel Only The Brave & Common" »
 Claudette Colbert in Cleopatra (1934) by Cecil B. DeMille: What to wear this morning? I can't concentrate with all these ladies in waiting swarming about me.
Perfume history buffs will appreciate the effort put out by Japanese company Kanebo and in particular its chief perfumer Ryoichi Komaki in attempting to recreate two fragrances that Cleopatra would have loved to wear in her days. This historical-reconstitution project was undertaken to add a layer of sensory depth to the touring exhibition Egypt Sunken Treasures, now in Yokohama...
Continue reading "Two Cleopatra Perfumes by Kanebo" »
 Guerlain aficionados can expect to see several fragrances by the brand offered to their attention and proposed as new additions to their collections. Upcoming are two new Aqua Allegorias in the works under the names Flora Nymphea and Bouquet Numéro 1...
Continue reading "Upcoming Guerlain Perfumes {Fragrance News}" »
 Elizabeth Arden Chairman
and CEO Scott Beattie and Catherine Zeta-Jones cut the ribbon to reopen
the Elizabeth Arden Flagship Store on Fifth Avenue in New York CIty on
March 6, 2008.
Elizabeth Arden announced last month that the brand will refocus on color cosmetics and skincare and do less perfume business for growth, which would translate in less quantitative development but be replaced by more qualitative focus on the preexisting perfume brands. These news come in the context of a seemingly ever-growing yearly perfume output and popularity of celebrity perfumes. The brand has developed a handsome fragrance portfolio including several celebs brands:...
Continue reading "Elizabeth Arden to Trim Fragrance Business {Perfume News}" »
 According to Bloomberg, the core idea of a ratio of luxury goods including perfume that would be available for sale on the internet vs. brick-and-mortar stores has been approved by the EU commission examining complaints from the industry. Luxury brands LVMH and Chanel have been battling to control the flow of their products on the internet with eBay being a prime target of their actions...
Continue reading "Attempts to Apply Selective Distribution Principle to Online Luxury Sales {Fragrance News}" »
 An efficacious technology developed for the fragrance Nautica Oceans, a perfume carried by water instead of alcohol has been recognized by the Fragrance Foundation with the FiFi Technological Breakthrough of the Year Award. The advance in this case has been to enable a water-based perfume to be more highly concentrated in oils - with apparently no limits put to concentration - while minimizing the use of surfactants and thus keeping "...a continuous aqueous medium" instead of weighing down the solution....
Continue reading "The Future of Fragrance is Water-Based: Mane, Dow Receive FiFi Technological Breakthrough of the Year Award {Fragrance News} " »
 It's really hard to find a picture of Amy Winehouse which does not come across as you hating her and wanting to make her appear her worst. So, finally found a shot where she does not just look like an opaque, dense drunk or semi-articulate rehab escapee. If you want to wear the perfume this lady represents, expect to see one possibly appear on the perfume counters. According to the Daily Star,..
Continue reading "Amy Winehouse is Looking for a Perfume Deal but Refuses to Sell It {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Scents}" »
 Aeger of the Bright Star group will reintroduce the classic English Lavender by Atkinsons in Brazil, a descendant of the lavender waters of pre-modern Europe. The date of birth of Atkinsons English Lavender is usually given as being 1910 but the perfume existed before that year under the name Atkinsons Lavender Water as appears in 19th century sources. Here the article cited gives the date of 1799 as its date of creation. What remains certain is that lavender waters were very popular household items, on a par with Eau de Cologne...
Continue reading "Atkinsons English Lavender Relaunched in Brazil {Fragrance News}" »
 I have to confess that I have not been following the perfume awards this year very assiduously as each time I glanced over the list of winners I started feeling a sense of unspeakable dullness and near-narcolepsy overcome me and could not get to type in the results. I thought that the selections this year were particularly stilted or it may just be the natural feeling of cynicism I experience in my fourth year as a perfume blogger. Maybe it's the recession effect. Maybe I ought to elaborate a bit more and perhaps I will. For now, I happened on the inaugural Cosmopolitan Awards for 2009. The reason why I am posting about their selection is not because I think the list is more groundbreaking but because I noticed two things. The first one is that they use less standard categories of appreciation like "sexiest perfume of the year" or "freshest perfume of the year"...
Continue reading "The Cosmopolitan Awards 2009: First Edition: Best, Sexiest, Freshest Perfumes {Fragrance News}" »
 Last January we heard some exciting news from Balenciaga about a revival of their perfume brand. As the February 2010 deadline for the fragrance launch approaches, the news have come through now that French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, the daughter of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, and most importantly the recent recipient of the prize for best actress at the Cannes Festival will be the face of the new Balenciaga perfume. Although from a French standpoint, this may appear like a good choice given Charlotte Gainsbourg's recent exposure to the limelight and more generally her popularity, it is not exactly a mainstream choice. She earned her acting prize for a very difficult role in Lars Von Trier's movie Antechrist which contains some particularly shocking scenes. Even the audience of critics was reportedly aghast. This may explain a certain reserve you can feel in Coty's Catherine Walsh's comment on this selection. As it turns out, Gainsbourg's friendship with Balenciaga's artistic director Nicolas Ghesquière is key in understanding this choice...
Continue reading "Charlotte Gainsbourg to Front First Balenciaga Perfume by Nicolas Ghesquiere {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Perfume}" »
 Aramis, a brand owned by the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc, will introduce a new revamped collection of its men's classics issued between 1974 and 2006 in September-October 2009 called the Gentleman's Collection. The idea behind the line is to offer a wardrobe of scents " each one for a different day, for a different mood." Aramis sees this venture as being in tune with the trend of fragrance collections and multiple launches while at the same time constituting an opportunity to attract new Aramis wearers. The collection comprises 8 perfumes: Aramis 900 (1974), Devin (1977), JHL (1981), Tuscany Per Uomo (1984), New West for Him (1988), Havana (1994), Aramis Life (2003) and Aramis Always for Him (2006)...
Continue reading "Aramis Gentleman's Collection (2009): Relaunching the Classics {New Perfumes} {Fragrance News}" »
 In attempts to compensate for the lack of olfactory intrigue of a Kindle, two different companies have come up with the same idea: to artfully re-inject the scents of books in order for your electronic device to not approximate the scent of a watch. You can now choose between an air-freshener shaped like a car-freshener called New Book Smell or explore a line of "aerosol e-book enhancer(s)". British brand Smell of Books has come up with a range of five atmospheres for the book-smell connoisseur including, going beyond the smell of pages, a fragrance appropriate for a Jane Austen novel which includes notes of violets, horses and potpourri... 
Continue reading "New-Book-Smell Air Freshener & Smell of Books Aerosols: from the Scent of your Grandma's House to that of a Jane Austen Novel {Fragrance News}" »
 A new perfume development computer game called Passport to Perfume by Play First is appearing this July. Perfumer Yosh Han was consulted to make the game feel more realistic. " Passport to Perfume is a PC/Mac game that offers players the
chance to engage in an end to end perfumery experience where you play
the role of Sophia, a young adventure-seeker, perfume maker and shop
owner in the 1940's.... 
Continue reading "Passport to Perfume: New PC/Mac Game {Fragrance News}" »
 As a fore taste or rather smell of the upcoming 2010 World Shanghai Expo ( Exposition Universelle Shanghai Chine 2010) which will take place from May 1, 2010 to October 31, 2010, four fragrances, two French and the other two Japanese, were created to honor the official flower of the city of Shanghai, white magnolia. L'Eau de Parfum Pavillion France and Shanghai Bouquet are to be introduced soon, in order to help build up anticipation for the event. L'Eau de Parfum Pavillion France is a duo for women and men whose flacons are shaped after the French Pavilion. Alain Delon is the official god-father to the pavilion. "Ylang-ylang, jasmine, plumeria rubra, peony, lilac, rose and musk were
included for women, to represent "irresistible charm," while cardamom,
mandarine, lotus, patchouli and sandal were used for men to reflect
persistence and strength."...
 Zhu Yonglei, directeur général adjoint du Bureau de coordination de l'Expo universelle de Shanghai ainsi que d'autres officiels présentent les nouveaux parfums.
Continue reading "Upcoming 2010 World Shanghai Expo Inspires L'Eau de Parfum Pavillon France & Shanghai Bouquet (2009): Homages to Magnolia {New Perfumes} {Fragrance News} " »
 A new Guerlain museum is in the making. To begin to discover it, there is an exhibition which should delight Guerlain collectors and followers which opened on June 27, 2009 in the city of Eu near Dieppe in the Normandy region called " Du Bousillé...au musée Sylvie Guerlain". It will run until September 6, 2009. The goal of this exhibition is to reveal to the public both the works of local glassmakers who would use leftovers from molten glass to practice during their breaks and to offer a first look at the reportedly fabulous Guerlain collection of Sylvie Guerlain a descendant of the family of perfumers. The link to glass-making is more generally meaningful also because it is in this region between Rouen and Amiens in the vallée de la Bresle that is located La Glass Vallée (Glass Valley), the world leader in the production of luxury flacons. The site covers 80% of the global production of fragrance bottles in the sector of luxury...  The place for the temporary Guerlain exhibit
Continue reading "Du Bousille au Musee Sylvie Guerlain: Presentation of New 2011 Guerlain Museum June 27 - September 6, 2009 {Fragrance News} {Scented Paths & Fragrant Addresses}" »
 Picture courtesy of the MET. Wedding casket (1500-1530) from Ferrara or Venice decorated with pastiglia made of "musk paste", a mixture of white lead paste, binding egg white and scented musk. "The scent was thought to have aphrodisiacal properties, which added to the casket's value as a marriage gift." ( Note: this picture is not from the book.) A new cultural history of perfume will appear in October 2009 in English entitled Earthly Scents - Heavenly Pleasures: A Cultural History of Scents by Dr. Günther Ohloff. The author has also previously published a book in German consecrated to perfume called Düfte: Signale der Gefühlswelt (Perfumes: Signs of the World of Sensations). The new book covers the periods ranging from the antiquity to the end of the pre-modern period offering a glimpse into the emergence of the modern era through a study on the Eau de Cologne...
Continue reading "Earthly Scents - Heavenly Pleasures: A Cultural History of Scents by Günther Ohloff: New Book {Fragrance News} {Fragrant Reading} " »
 Today TSS learned that First Lady Michelle Obama was presented with the gift of the upcoming new fragrance by the house of Creed called Acqua Fiorentina (Florentine Water) to be launched in September in the US. Queen Rania of Jordan and President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner were also honored with the new fruity floral inspired by Tuscany and Renaissance Italy. Michelle Obama has already revealed her personal taste for perfume by reportedly purchasing three Boadicea fragrances in London, and as a child noted at another time during a public visit, by betraying a liking for cherry scent. According to Creed, "..premier bottles of CREED Acqua Fiorentina were delivered to the
office of the First Lady (six bottles!), Queen Rania of Jordan and President Cristina Fernandez de
Kirchner of Argentina,
by request of Olivier CREED."...
Continue reading "Creed Acqua Fiorentina (2009) Presented to Michelle Obama & More Information {New Perfume} {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Scents} " »
 Perfume and cuisine, perfume and beverages, the possibilities are endless as taste and smell are so inter-dependent. Gourmand perfumes, fragrances with a wine or spirits note tentalize the senses. Perfumer Jean-Michel Duriez composed once a cocktail directly inspired by Joy by Patou. More recently mixologist T ony Conigliaro devised a cocktail based on Chanel No 5. In September, visitors to Paris will be able to taste an original concoction called Bombay Bahia created by perfumer Céline Ellena of Charabot together with the director of the bar of the Plaza Athénée in Paris, Thierry Hernandez...
Continue reading "Celine Ellena & Thierry Hernandez Mix & Blend Bombay Bahia for Bombay Sapphire {Fragrant Recipe} {Fragrance News}" »
 UNHCR Goodwill
Ambassador Angelina Jolie attends the 2009 World Refugee Day at the
National Geographic Society on June 18, 2009 in Washington, DC.
Hot off the wires. Actress Angelina Jolie has been announced as the face of the next Armani perfume. The advertising campaign is said to kick off later this year in 2009. Jolie recently was listed as celebrity # 1 by Forbes Magazine, which could only have helped Armani wade through the candidates' list...
Continue reading "Angelina Jolie to be Face of New Armani Perfume: The Big Charisma Campaign {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Perfume}" »
 Didier Ludot, the little black dress expert and designer, will launch a new fashion line called DL Palais Royal that will be previewed at Under Le Louvre from June 26th and debut at Colette on July 6th and run until July 18th 2009. This is to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the label. The collection consists in...
Continue reading "DL Paris L'Eau Blanche by Francis Kurkdjian, Terre d'Hermes L'Extrait, Top 5 Men's Perfumes in France {Fragrance News} {Fashion Notes}" »
 Following a previous announcement on the upcoming feminine fragrance by Armani, Idole, it has now been made official that model Kasia Smutniak will be the face of the perfume. Giorgio Armani said he chose the young woman because, "I chose Kasia to be the face of my
new fragrance, IDOLE d'ARMANI, because she has a fresh and modern
appeal which combines true feminine sensuality and rare beauty with
inner strength of character. She embodies the spirit of the IDOLE
d'ARMANI woman perfectly",
Sources: ladepeche.fr; sfilate
 Guerlain held a presentation of their upcoming women's perfume Idylle on June 17, 2009 at their Champs-Elysées boutique with fragrance spokesperson actress Nora Arzeneder and designer Ora Ito who conceived the bottle (he is on the right)...
Continue reading "Guerlain Presents Idylle with Nora Arzeneder & Ora Ito {Fragrance News} {Perfume Images}" »
 Claudia Schiffer at the Amend Charity
Luncheon with Michelle Yeoh at the Hotel Du Cap during the 62nd
International Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 2009 in Antibes, France.
Model Claudia Schiffer will be the spokesperson for the new Alberta Ferretti perfume developed with Elizabeth Arden, Inc. one of the major labels specializing in celebrity fragrances. This is not her first perfume venture as there already was a Femina by Alberta Ferretti launched in 1993 which is currently not advertised in the press spiel from the brand electing to stress the novel feeling of a debut fragrance, just like the preferred spin was for Christina Aguilera in the past. Proteo Parfumi, Procter and Gamble have launched Alberta Ferretti fragrances in the past. The launch this time is more high-profile though. The latest perfume which remains unnamed thus far will launch in the fall of 2009 with an advertising campaign shot by Mert & Marcus. Ferretti chose the ex-Karl Lagerfeld muse for her iconic character, her brand of sensuality and most importantly for her sense of identity,... 
Continue reading "Claudia Schiffer to be Face of Latest Alberta Ferretti Perfume - Update {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Perfume}" »
 Interesting new way to perfume yourself. Michael Kors has launched a collection of tinted solid creams to be applied onto your legs perfumed with the signature Michael Kors fragrance, a heady and clean tuberose scent. From a purely olfactory point of view, there is some virtue in wearing your fragrance on your legs as the scent will waft up towards you. In fact, the pulse spot behind your knees is one that you are often advised to use, as well as ankles just so as to sexy them up. If you can add some shimmer to your gams at the same time, it is all benefit to you...
Continue reading "Michael Kors Fragrance Leg Shine Collection (2009) {Shopping Tip} {Fragrance News}" »
 Attention perfume bottle collectors and greens! Calvin Klein will release a special edition of CK One this summer which is part of an ecological initiative conducted together with the association Planète Urgence....
Continue reading "Calvin Klein CK One Collector: The Ecological Edition (Summer 2009) {Fragrance News - New Packaging}" »
 Following the mobilization of professional associations of rosé wine-makers as well as of the State in France, the European Commission has decided to back down on its intention to have the European Union adopt what traditional wine-makers consider to be sheer mercantilism: the production of rosé by cutting or blending red wine with white wine. The pink color of rosé traditionally results from the prolonged contact of grape juice with grape skin...
Continue reading "Rosé Wine Will Not Be Changed by EU Legislation {Fragrance News - Wine}" »
 The essential news here is that Viktor & Rolf will unveil a new women's fragrance in July 2009 in Paris. Beyond that, all lips are sealed at this point on the details of the launch...
Continue reading "Viktor & Rolf To Launch New Women's Perfume in July 2009 {Fragrance News}" »
 Harajuku Lovers before and after
Gwen Stefani will offer a sartorial twist on the Harajuku Lovers collection of cute-and-cuter little dolls containing perfumes. In September the girls are back as the Snow-Bunnies pack. The fragrances remain the same but the wardrobe evolves to feature winter clothes. It could all go in the direction of the Barbie concept applied to perfume bottles. Price will be $30 for a 10 ml flacon.
 Martin Margiela looks
As previously announced, fashion designer Martin Margiela is set to launch his debut scent. It's now reported that it is a women's eau de toilette to be unveiled to the public in October 2009 in Paris....
Continue reading "Martin Margiela's Upcoming Perfumes {Fragrance News}" »
 The beauty event organized by Perfume Expo America is now going to take place from June 30th to July the 2nd 2009 at the Hilton Americas New York instead of June 11-12 for those who might be able to make it at those new dates. Registration is free and open until June 15 here. For more information please contact ana@perfumexamerica.com (305) 868-9383 or (305) 310-3721
 Bond No. 9 have selected 5 finalists for their Brooklyn perfume bottle design contest. They would like to appeal to the popular vote and have people weigh in. Pick your top choice and send an email to contactus@bondno9.com. For more background information, please check our previous announcement about the rules of the contest.
 As reported about last March 23, Kate Moss was sighted on a photo shoot in Paris identified as one for Yves Saint Laurent. The buzz started on the internet (blogs) and was confirmed 6 days later by Women's Wear Daily (non-open source) with the following statement, "Kate Moss, who was in Paris during fashion week, stayed on for a
modeling assignment. Early last week, the supermodel did a shoot in
Place de la Concorde for a future women's fragrance for Yves Saint
Laurent, wearing looks from Stefano Pilati's pre-fall collection for
YSL."...
Continue reading "More Kate Moss Celebrity Fragrance News: The Next YSL Perfume {Fragrance News}" »
 Kate Moss let transpire at a press conference that her next perfume to be introduced in September 2009 is inspired by her love of vintage clothing and accessories...
Continue reading "Kate Moss's Next Perfume Inspired by Vintage Fashion {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Perfume}" »
 After the authentically faux Louis Vuitton perfume ad that was circulated some time ago, we now have the official faux and authorized fragrance ad for Mo by Britney Spears. The singer recorded a TV ad for the NewNowNext awards to pay homage to her reportedly significant gay following by acting in a pastiche of her own perfume ads for Curious, Believe and In Control which are portrayed as steps of progressive self-realization leading her to the Mo revelation...
Continue reading "Britney Spears's Faux Gay Perfume Ad for Mo {Fragrance News - Perfume Images}" »
 Well, it's hard to resist the selling line for new kid in town perfume molecule Ambranextra although the pitch mainly targets perfumers and fragrance developers. But see what is the promise held by this new aromachemical which smells unique (and if you thought only a perfume reviewer could take off on flights of fancy, think again. It all starts in the labs)...
Continue reading "Ambranextra by Moellhausen {Fragrance News - New Molecule}" »
 Kiehl's have released a revamped and more extensive collection of their Essence Oils which total up to 122 different scents. They have selected 10 essences for the 2009 lineup. A neat detail is that each essence is now dated with its year of introduction, an excellent way to know how a particular decade smelled!...
Continue reading "Kiehl's Essence Oils {Fragrance News - New Packaging} {Perfumista on a Shoestring}" »
A study conducted in Russia by consulting agency L'Agence de Lux concludes on an optimistic note regarding the effect of the recession on perfume-consuming behavior. Yep, there is an upside. It is all bound to encourage loyalty towards old brands and encourage people to be pickier thereby favoring a push towards higher quality in the end, according to the thinking heads at L'Agence de Lux....
Continue reading "Recession in Russia Seen in Positive Light for the Future of Perfumery {Fragrance News}" »
 Chanel have announced that they will soon be offering the line of the 12 Les Exclusifs fragrances online on Chanel.com, date to be confirmed. This is a significant perfume marketing decision to take a boutique-exclusive collection to the internet to offer it greater visibility and accessibility online. "A virtuoso collection of rare fragrances created by Chanel master parfumeurs. Twelve pure forms, twelve identical bottles. Luxuriously simple."
In other words, "niche" is going to be more about style than the distribution policy and a hyper-constructed constructed sense of luxury....
Continue reading "All Twelve Chanel Les Exclusifs To Be Available Online Soon {Fragrance News} {Shopping Tip}" »
 • Following up on Paris Hilton Teaser # 1, here is PH Teaser # 2. We can now reveal that...drum roll please...the next perfume by Paris Hilton, Siren, is a "creamy tropical floral" to be released in "June-July" (via press release)...
Continue reading "Paris Hilton Siren Teaser 2, Parfums 137 Hollywood Stromboli 1950 {New Fragrances - News Bites}" »
 Like each year the Lilac Festival of Rochester takes place and with it comes the year's vintage edition of the perfume Highland Lilac of Rochester created in 1967 under the impulse of Dan Morgan. The fragrance was reintroduced in 2003. It is dubbed an American classic and reportedly was presented to a number of first ladies. Lilac does not yield its perfume by classic methods of extraction and so its bouquet must be recreated as an illusion, but in this case it appears that the perfumers at IFF attempt to reproduce each year's particular notes.... 
Continue reading "Highland Lilac of Rochester: The 2009 Harvest Edition {Fragrance News} {Scented Paths & Fragrant Addresses}" »
 Dior in order to reach out to new, younger consumers as well as to help older generations reminisce is offering a twist on their next Eau Sauvage campaign. They have decided to take the unusual step of using a celebrity's face, French actor Alain Delon's, but as that person appeared when much younger. This has been done for Liz Taylor before for her signature fragrance Diamonds, but it is far from common a practice, especially when applied to a brand different than one's own...  Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale, April 2009
Continue reading "Alain Delon To Be Face of Dior Eau Sauvage: A Twist on Young & Famous {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Perfume}" »
 I am so glad. Guerlain have finally revamped their website! I used to visit it episodically wishing each time to see some improvement, then ceased frequenting it because it was not very practical, and now it's happened. I could not quite understand why in the context of luxury brands proposing sophisticated websites, why on earth Guerlain seemed not to care about their online presence. The previous website was very static merely acting as a catalogue, not even a comprehensive one at that. Things have changed as you can see by visiting the new destination (in French, English, Japanese and Chinese) at Guerlain. The site looks stylish. It offers information even about their exclusive niche fragrance lines; they give a number of perfume-applying tips, perfume workshop information, fragrance consultations, historical outlines on their creators, associated artists, raw materials etc. You can even register to have your own space there and receive advance notices about new releases. It's still not an e-commerce site though...
 Paris Hilton is now from all available evidence the darling of the celebrity fragrance world. She is going to take home a FiFi celeb of the year award, as previously posted about. Parlux is moreover thanking her with a 5-year renewal contract. We just learned that her next baby is called Siren, a logical step after Fairy Dust.
The next one after that could be called Nymph or Enchanteress or
Sorceress or Vamp -- oh, the endless possibilities! We think that Paris
is going to be able to take a long-view approach now to cover all the
feminine repertory of archetypes. So far, the news have been
confirmed but mum is the word. You will have to wait a bit before
getting loud and clear details about Siren. Stay tuned...
 Mona di Orio has introduced a new perfume called Chamarré and will be launching another new fragrance this year in September 2009 called Jabu. A Mona di Orio creation is always something one can look forward to as her perfumes seem to be able to preserve a raw original force to them. The word that comes to my mind first and foremost is "authenticity", before "harmony", "beautiful", and "balance" although they contain all of those qualities but as if subordinated to an instinct for something more elemental. Chamarré, is a French word designating something richly adorned and rutilating, with this idea that the sumptuous surfaces capture a changing, variegated and shimmering light with probably a dominance of golden color and diamond sparkle...
Continue reading "Mona di Orio Chamarre (2009) & Upcoming Jabu (2009) {New Perfume - Fragrance News}" »
 If you never bought the Dior lingerie on sale at Filene's Basement in Boston back when it was still open for business because it immediately looked suspect and less upscale, well you were wrong or maybe not so wrong, depending on what level you think Dior will always be Dior. Is it because the label is technically authentic or because it comes with an aura that seems to dim considerably once found on the racks of a popular discount store? The European Union's Highest Court made a decision last Thursday in favor of Dior who think that their "prestigious image" will be damaged by discounters and who do not want to see their licensees pass on their merchandises freely, especially as the recession puts pressure on those...
Continue reading "EU Court Allows Dior to Protect its Luxury Capital by Barring Resales in Discount Stores {Fragrance News}" »
 Parfums Givenchy sent a press communiqué three days ago as they wanted to clarify some mistaken assumptions about the arrival of Uma Thurman as their latest fragrance spokesperson. Apparently and as far as I was able to check on some boards and celebs site, some of those turned the event into some kind of mud-wrestling contest between Thurman and Liv Tyler. At TSS, I assumed Givenchy was rather happy to have one more celebrity face and was not going to curtail their efforts in this thriving field. It's like adding one more diamond to your crown these days if you consider the examples of Coty and Parlux. But new details have surfaced at the same time, so for the fans of Uma Thurman, here is what you can expect...
Continue reading "Givenchy Worried about Miscommunication around the Arrival of Uma Thurman {Fragrance News - Celebrity Perfumes}" »
 The decision to axe Fendi Palazzo was announced on February the 10th 2009 by Women's Wear Daily. The perfume had benefited from glamorous advertising shot by Karl Lagerfeld, a bottle design to be remembered with its Mod representation of the Fendi Palazzo and was part of a new generation of fragrances said to be closely supervised by François Demachy who insisted that under his tenure his team would offer better quality control...
Continue reading "Fendi Palazzo Discontinued After 18 Months {Fragrance News - News Bites}" »
 • Lorenzo Villoresi creator of the best-seller Teint de Neige has released the name of his new fragrance to be introduced in September 2009: it is titled Malenostrom Mare Nostrum...
Continue reading "Upcoming New Perfumes in 2009 {Fragrance News - News Bites}" »
 • Breaking news: Actress Uma Thurman is going to be Givenchy's next celebrity face for an upcoming feminine fragrance to be launched in September 2009. Givenchy is part of the Louis-Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy group (LVMH) and has already worked with celebs Marie Steiss - the eldest daughter of former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin - for Ange ou Démon, Justin Timberlake for Play, Liv Tyler for Very Irresistible and much earlier on in the past, Audrey Hepburn for L'Interdit. (WWD 4/10/09)... 
Continue reading "New Celebrity Perfume Spokespersons {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Fragrances} " »
 Comme des Garçons are launching new incarnations of two favorites from the brand. Avignon from the Incense series is now available in their original medium, so to speak, in incense sticks, and Hinoki now comes in two sizes of home candles sheltered by black glass.
 Fragrance samples are very popular amongst perfumistas, you can guess why. So I am glad to be able to report that Keiko Mecheri parfums have set up a brand new sampling program through their recently-launched website. You have three main options: 1) you can order samples of all 30 fragrances from the collection for $48. They come in " a large coffer with blotter cards for smelling the scents. This is accompanied by a beautiful bound booklet explaining each scent and the philosophy of Keiko Mecheri."...
Continue reading "Les Parfums Keiko Mecheri Offer a New Perfume Sample Program {Shopping Tip}" »
 White Bergamot by Berkeley Square Cosmetics Co., is part of their Natural Couture collection, a library of scents that aims to appeal to both the sophisticated sorts and the green-minded. The collection was developed together with the Victoria & Albert Museum and features the stylish fashion photographies of John French (1906-1966) on the packaging. But even beyond that, the scents from the collection, which also includes White Amber and White Muguet, were inspired by the photographies displayed at the exhibition on French's work, The Golden Age of Couture...
Continue reading "Berkeley Square Cosmetics Co. White Bergamot (2008) Nominated for the UK Beauty Awards {Fragrance News} {Green Products}" »
 Yesterday, I got a lovely email from Daneen Baird of Spoiled Pretty letting me know that The Scented Salamander had been featured in Vogue Russia. An adorable Russian reader of hers did a scan of the article and sent it to Daneen who was featured in the article as well. Galina found the article in the May 2008 edition as she was reading through back issues. I translated the text about The Scented Salamander in both English and French. Many thanks to both Daneen and Galina for the news and the scans! Author: perfume critic Marie-Hélène Wagner Specialty : New perfumes and cosmetics Updated : almost every day Why should you read it : for industry news and new releases in niche perfumery. On the blog you learn for example that Barbara Bui is going to resurrect her perfume line, that architect Jean Nouvel has redesigned the bottle of L'Homme by Yves Saint Laurent. There is information about rare perfumes. The blog is well organized ; you can look up new releases by categories: celebrity perfumes, shopping ideas, reviews of new products, articles. Auteur : la critique de parfum Marie-Hélène Wagner Spécialisation : nouveautés en parfumerie et cosmétiques Mise à jour: presque chaque jour Pourquoi il faut le lire: pour les nouvelles sur l'industrie du parfum et les nouveautés en parfumerie de niche. On apprend par exemple sur le blog que Barbara Bui va ressusciter sa ligne de parfums, que l'architecte Jean Nouvel a retravaillé le design du flacon de l'Homme d'Yves Saint Laurent. On y trouve des informations sur les parfums rares. Le blog est bien organisé: on peut rechercher les nouveautés par catégories : parfums de célébrités, idées shopping, comptes rendus de nouveautés, articles. 
 The probing of Rochas's intentions regarding the development of their perfume business under the new aegis of in-house perfumer Jean-Michel Duriez sheds light on the philosophy of the fragrance brand. As the perfume brand is preparing to launch Eau Sensuelle in April 2009, a flanker to Eau de Rochas, WWD got some interesting quotes from the people involved in the project... 
Continue reading "Rochas Fragrances Look towards the Future but by Relying on the Past {Fragrance News} More on Eau Sensuelle (2009) {New Perfume}" »
Forbes is running three stories about luxury bespoke perfumers in recession times as part of their series "Thriving in the Downturn" and amongst those there is a video-reportage about Francis Kurkdjian's work...
Continue reading "More about Maison Francis Kurkdjian {Fragrance News} {Perfume Images}" »
 Next month will take place in Milan, Italy, the first professional fair show dedicated to niche perfumery called Esxence, The Scent of Excellence and tagged " The event of art perfumery". The show was organized by Celso Fadelli et Silvio Levi and aims, among other things, at promoting a new form of international distribution for niche perfume brands. 85 brands are said to participate to this inaugural edition. From the 2nd to the 5th of April, 10.00 AM - 7.00 PM
By invitation only
Spazio Pelota
VIA PALERMO, 10 - MILAN, Italy
info +39 02 34538354 (Via FashionMag.fr)
 IFRA is organizing a seminar entitled "A Choice Worth Making? The pros & cons of modern fragrance", to be held in Brussels on March 31st, 2009:
09:30hrs Welcome coffee 10:00hrs Introduction - Jean-Pierre Houri, IFRA Director General
10:15hrs Scents and their Psychophysiological Effects - Professor Tim Jacob, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Wales...
Continue reading "IFRA Seminar: The Pros & Cons of Modern Fragrance, March 31st, 2009, Brussels {Fragrance News}" »
  Kate Moss was reportedly seen shooting a perfume commercial for an upcoming new women's fragrance for Yves Saint Laurent. The paparazzi were there. Moss is holding a rose, Eiffel Tower in the back. According to WWD, "Early last week, the supermodel did a shoot in Place de la Concorde for
a future women's fragrance for Yves Saint Laurent, wearing looks from
Stefano Pilati's pre-fall collection for YSL."
More (non-photoshoped) pictures at Hot Celebs...
 The increased scarcity of sandalwood and Mysore sandalwood in particular, considered to be the best of sandalwoods, has become the bane of the perfume industry. Fragrance supplier Symrise has now announced through perfumer Jean-Claude Delville that they were able to create a more natural-smelling sandalwood accord thanks to two newly designed synthetic molecules from the company: Sandal 80 and Sandranol, "With Sandalwood being extremely expensive in India, and
of varying qualities and accessibility elsewhere, the company created Symrise
Sandal 80 and Sandranol, innovative new synthetic materials which bring a more
real and natural effect,"...
Continue reading "New Sandalwood Odorants: Sandal 80 & Sandranol by Symrise {Fragrance News - Raw Materials}" »
 Interparfums have announced a number of new perfume launches to watch out for in 2009 and 2010 (I only mention the ones that were not featured on the site yet): • Féérie by Van Cleef & Arpels in an eau de toilette version (spring 2009) • Paul Smith Men (Summer 2009) • The Collection Extraordinaire by Van Cleef & Arpels (fall 2009)...
Continue reading "Upcoming Perfume Launches by Interparfums in 2009 & 2010 {Fragrance News} {New Perfumes}" »
 The first stills from the new commercial by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet for Chanel No. 5 have been released featuring actress Audrey Tautou and model Travis Davenport. The story manages to allude to the universe and era of Gabrielle Chanel in a number of indirect ways by situating the narrative on the Orient-Express with its Art Deco aesthetics, and showcasing an Audrey Tautou dressed in an atemporal manner yet reflective of Chanel's casual style and liking for sailmen's trousers for example, an outfit she wears on several known pictures of hers. In less allusive ways and very symbolically present, one finds the number 5 interpersed in the images of the movie which ends on the famous two intertwined Cs logo. Less obviously night-time glamorous and glitzy than the ad shot by Baz Luhrman with Nicole Kidman five years ago, the TV commercial nevertheless makes a point to convey the idea that Chanel is all about ultimate luxury even when the tone has become more intimate. Jean-Pierre Jeunet who already did Amélie with Tautou was quoted as saying that "Even in the world of advertising, it can be said that the house of
Chanel works in an unparalleled level of comfort, which allows you to
go to the absolute limits,"...
Continue reading "New Chanel No.5 Ad with Audrey Tautou by Jean-Pierre Jeunet {Fragrance News} {Perfume Adverts}" »
 Persimmon will be en vogue in 2009
Analysts have looked at recent data plus wiped their crystal balls clean to bring you several forecasts. The trend will apparently be driven by the kind of logic under which Frutarom will operate themselves, "Part of this year's budget is being channeled into developing
cheaper products that offer the same taste and smell sensations
as costlier alternatives."...
Continue reading "Fashionable Scents & Aromas in 2009: It's The Recession, Dummy {Fragrance News}" »
CPL Aromas is anticipating the growth of the organic green market and wants to participate in it. They have now launched a collection of organic (not just natural) raw materials which were available beforehand but were deemed not sustainable to introduce commercially. One caveat though at this point: the fine-fragrance market as we know it today will probably be not as interested in them as the personal-care market due to its increasingly sophisticated reliance on synthetically designed molecules ...
Continue reading "CPL Aromas Has Introduced a Range of 100% Organic Fragrance Ingredients {Fragrance News} {Green Products}" »
 Parfumerie Générale, a niche perfumery founded and led by perfumer Pierre Guillaume, will now be showcased in a brick-and-mortar store in Paris, France called Aépure from April 2009. Update: it is not the first flagship store of the brand as the announcement seemed to imply a bit ambiguously, just another selling point for PG that is going to open soon...
Continue reading "Parfumerie Generale Will Be Carried by Aepure - Update {Fragrance News} {Scented Paths & Fragrant Addresses}" »
 We have a special blog giveaway to announce today. Fans of Tom Brady and the Patriots, football fans or simply plain patriots (arguably) can enter a giveaway to win a collectible autographed bottle of the latest Stetson fragrance, All American, signed by Tom Brady. The football quarterback has been the spokesperson for Stetson since 2007. You just need to leave a comment below and you will be entered in the draw. (Only US-based readers please.) Results will be announced next week. Some information about the perfume: "All
American Stetson is a fresh, modern, new addition to the Stetson
fragrance family. Best described as an aromatic woody fragrance, All
American Stetson features notes of black suede (spokesman Tom Brady's
self-professed favorite), cedar leaf, ginger, musk, and fresh water
ferns. Developed by master perfumer Harry Fremont of Firmenich, All
American Stetson is for the fun-loving, athletic, adventurous and
rugged "All American" guy. The fragrance is available now at mass
retailers and retails for $14.50 - $26.00."...
Continue reading "Signed Bottle of Stetson All American Giveaway {Fragrance News} {Celebrity Perfume}" »
 Paris Hilton at her birthday bash on March 8, 2009 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada
Paris Hilton, the celebrity that everyone loves to hate, has been picked as the Celebrity of the Year by The Fragrance Foundation. She will receive a FiFi in person at the The Downtown Armory on May 27, 2009. This prize is a reinstated Celebrity FiFi Award that was given to J Lo in 2003 and then discontinued...
Continue reading "Paris Hilton Named Celebrity of the Year by The Fragrance Foundation {Fragrance News}" »
 Le Labo has launched a range of silicone-based perfumes of their library of scents called Balms. They are available at Colette.fr (which has gone web 2.0) in 10 ml basic spray containers in keeping with the spare lab atmosphere of the brand. "This new alcohol-free silicone blend is simply a new way to perfume yourself. A more intimate, delicate and personal gesture that suits people who per [that part is missing]..."
Each balm is priced at 70 € or $ 89.50
Vous pouvez lire l'article en français sur Anthropologie du Parfum
 Lee Cooper, the legendary jeanswear brand which feted its 100th anniversary in 2008 have announced that they will launch their first fragrance at the beginning of 2010. The denim brand has partnered with the Jacques Bogart group specializing in cosmetics, skin care and fragrances to design their upcoming scents. Some of the other brands covered by the group are: Jacques Bogart, Ted Lapidus, Faconnable, Jeanne Piaubert, Stendhal, Bugatti, Chevignon, Naf Naf. Sources: FashionMag.fr; Wright Reports
Photo credit: Lee Cooper
 Bond No. 9 is looking for talented graphic designers or just plain simply talented people to enter a design for their new perfume Brooklyn (flacon pictured there). They already have launched it with an original design but would like to use the surface of the bottle as an art street scene, if you will, a blank surface to be filled in. It does NOT have to be inspired by art street though. So how should a bottle of perfume about Brooklyn look like according to YOU? Deadline is March 31st, 2009, "When
we introduced our latest fragrance, Brooklyn, last month, its
breakthrough street-art surface design brought praise and a barrage of
responses. Well, we already knew that aficionados of the borough of Brooklyn can be opinionated.
But so many strong opinions reached us about what a Brooklyn bottle
could look like that we realized we'd better offer more options if we knew what was good for us.
So throughout March 2009, Bond No. 9 invites everyone--amateurs and artists alike--to join our Brooklyn Bottle Design Competition and create additional visuals for this contemporary male-oriented cardamom-cedarwood eau de parfum."...
Continue reading "Bond No. 9 Perfume Bottle Design Contest for Brooklyn {Fragrance News}" »
 The Cosmetic Executive Women Awards (CEW) have published their entries for 2009. The lists in the different perfume and beauty categories are very comprehensive so I will only highlight a few of the scents and invite you to visit their pages, the Viewbook in particular. There is only one category for "Men's Scent" while women's perfumes are represented in "Women's Scent Mass" and "Women's Scent Prestige". The bulk of the entries are displayed in beauty categories. In Men's you find colognes ranging from Avon Unscripted to Brooks Brothers New York Gentlemen, a niche brand, and including prestige fragrances such as The Essence by Porsche Design, Davidoff Adventure, Cartier Roadster, Guerlain Homme, Juicy Couture Dirty English, Prada Infusion d'Homme and more. There are five "celebrity fragrances" entered in the competition: Sean John I Am King, Unscripted fronted by Patrick Dempsey, Armani Diamonds for Men whose ads were enlivened by the presence of Josh Hartnett, Arden 9IX Rocawear developed with Jay-Z and Davidoff Adventure fronted by Ewan McGregor...
Continue reading "2009 CEW Awards Entries {Fragrance News}" »
 The luxury bathroom and bath specialists Czech and Speake are preparing to re-launch three old favorites from their perfume, or as they prefer to phrase it, " Aromatics" line inaugurated in 1980. A perennial favorite is No. 88 (1981), a dark incense-y rose composition beloved by men, which has remained in production. Now another variation on this theme of the slightly Gothic Brontëan masculine British rose scent worthy of a Heathcliff character will be developed anew with Dark Rose originally introduced in 2003. A lighter, greener Rose dating back to 1985 joins the collection again too, as well as a different floral homage, the sunny Mimosa (1st version, 1986). Dark Rose, is " A rich and intense perfume. The spicy note of saffron is combined with
an elegant bouquet of Bulgarian Rose in the top note. Middle notes
feature a mixture of exotic woods, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Oudh
unveiling a dry down of liquid amber and white musk."...
Continue reading "Czech & Speake of Jermyn Street To Re-Launch 3 Old Favorites: Rose, Mimosa, Dark Rose (2009) {Fragrance News} {New Perfumes}" »
 As previously reported, the iconic Marcel Duchamp Dadaist perfume bottle Belle Haleine Eau de Voilette where Duchamp appears dressed as Rrose Sélavy and is photographed by Man Ray, was up for sale at the historic Christie's auction for the Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé Collection. WWD reports that in a context of defied expectations for a number of lots, " Then Duchamp's rare work "Belle Haleine Eau de Voilette" sold for 7.9
million euros, or $9.9 million, versus a high estimate of 1.5 million
euros, or $1.9 million."Belle Haleine Eau de Voilette has been recently in the news as one of the protagonists of a short film by Roman Polanski commissioned by Italian video artist Francesco Vezzoli. The new owner has not been named. Read more in WWD...
 The German branch of The Fragrance Foundation has announced its list of nominees for the Duftstars or best perfumes for 2009. The 8 competing categories are: Masculine and feminine in Classics; Masculine and feminine in Luxury Fragrances; Masculine and feminine in Niche; Masculine and feminine in Lifestyle. Kategorie: Klassiker - The Classics
Damen - Women
Bulgari - BVLGARI pour femme
Chanel - Allure
Clinique - Aromatics Elixir
Jean Paul Gaultier - Classique
Jil Sander - SUN
Herren - Men
Azzaro - Azzaro pour homme
Bulgari - BVLGARI pour homme
Chanel - Egoiste
IsseyMiyake - L'Eau d'Issey pour homme
Jean Paul Gaultier - Le Male...
Continue reading "German Duftstars 2009: Finalists for Best Perfume {Fragrance News}" »
 The annual FIFI Awards organized by The Fragrance Foundation will take place on Wednesday May 27th 2009 at The Downtown Amory in New York City. This year, the added news are that 3 new award categories have been created. The newborn categories are: Unique Boutique, Best In Blog (a story in excess of 500 words), and Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year 2008 ("recognizing the actual 'juice' of a fine fragrance"). For the latter, " Judging is based upon depth & staying power, innovation (new, unusual or groundbreaking raw materials), creativity (new approach to perfumery), craft (unusual structure), signature (unique identity). Rochelle Bloom President of the Fragrance Foundation said, "We have created three additional award categories this year to
showcase and encourage the new, the inventive, the original, adding to
the spirit of the evening, " notes Rochelle Bloom "including Unique
Boutique honoring visionary entrepreneurs, Best in Blog embracing our
newest information highway and Perfume Extraordinaire recognizing the
actual "juice" of a fine fragrance."
Continue reading "The 2009 FIFI Awards: When, Where & New Award Categories {Fragrance News}" »
 It will reportedly be possible to get an idea of how the Etruscans scented themselves, or their dead, as a funerary Etruscan perfume vase made of alabaster excavated in 2005 contains enough perfume oils to be analyzed and reconstituted. The vase is currently part of an exhibition in Chiusi, Sienna and belongs to the funerary trousseau of a woman dating back to the 2nd century before the common era. Via wuz.it
 Mitsouko Fleur de Lotus
Although some people expressed misgivings regarding the creation of a new flanker to the classic Mitsouko by Guerlain (1919), titled Mitsouko Fleur de Lotus, featuring an all-too-audacious aquatic floral note, the field report is that the new aqua blue impersonation of the famous perfume did not wait for the recognition of critics to fly off the shelves of the flagship Guerlain boutique in Paris. And this, in a matter of just a few days...
Continue reading "Mitsouko Fleur de Lotus: A Hit {Fragrance News}" »
 Perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, author of Le Mâle, Fleur du Mâle, Le Sillage de la Reine, Indult fragrances, and so many other fragrances in varied sectors of perfumery will be honored by the French government with the decoration of the Chevalier dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He has already received the distinction of being awarded the prestigious Coty prize in 2001. His eponymous perfume house Maison Francis Kurkdjian is expected to open by summer of 2009. Via FashionMag.fr; pic from Wikipedia
 Hilary Duff promoting her sequel fragrance, Wrapped With Love, on MTV on April 29, 2008 Got this contest announcement in my mailbox. Your chance to win Hilary Duff's debut perfume With Love (it's pretty good) and a lip gloss: With Love...Hilary Duff wants you to write a love poem for your special someone
and share it on Facebook!
You
can post your poem on the wall anytime between February 12-15, 2009.
Ten lucky winners will receive a With Love...Hilary Duff Fragrance Rollerball
or With Love...Hilary Duff Fragrance Rollerball and Lip Gloss Duo...
Continue reading "Hilary Duff Love-Poem Contest for Valentine's Day, 12-15 Feb 2009 {Fragrance News}" »
 Caron established in 1904 by Ernest Daltroff and now under the guidance of the Alès Groupe is reporting a growth in its fragrance business despite the downturn of the economy in general. This is especially apparent in the French market, its main perfume market although total sales have progressed internationally 5,2%... Caron Montaigne in the Volez-Le (Steal It) 2008 limited-edition flacon.
Continue reading "Caron Is Beating The Recession With Ales Groupe {Fragrance News}" »
 Following the launch of his debut signature perfume under his own label, John Galliano EDP, designer John Galliano has created a bracelet called the Rose Gold Charm Bracelet...
Continue reading "John Galliano Rose Gold Charm Bracelet {Fragrance News - Perfume Jewelry}" »
 Top: Compacted Gray with Clear and Ribs by Tom Patti. Bottom: Unforgivable by Sean John Four years after the launch of the blockbuster fragrance for men Unforgivable by Sean Diddy Combs (2005), a lawsuit alleges that the perfume flacon is a plagiarism of two works by glass artist Tom Patti...
Continue reading "Sean Combs' Unforgivable Allegedly Plagiarizes Art Glass by Tom Patti {Fragrance News}" »
 There are some fragrances you love so much that you are glad when you can rhapsodize further about them by laying another variation of them on your dressing table. Unconditionals of Shalimar will be pleased to learn that this spring, they will have one more, nay, two more reasons to re-buy their beloved fragrance. Guerlain will release two new limited-editions of Shalimar Eau de Parfum and Eau de Shalimar called Fleurs de Shalimar - Shalimar Flowers. The limited-edition collection wishes to pay a design homage to the vanilla blossom so characteristic of the Guerlain signature by decorating the flacons with white and black etched orchids. This floral motif is also one that is richly illustrated in the arts in general and will be of interest to orchid collectors. "Among all the marvels of the Gardens of Shalimar, vanilla is one of the most bewitching and sensual. Protective of its own rarity, it only blossoms for a few hours at sunrise. To celebrate this quiet, intimate moment with vanilla flowers and to capt |
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Claridges have partnered with Christian Dior to offer a supplementary luxury room service with the creation of the Dior Dressing Tables. 
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