The lush complexity of tuberose is bewitching: the intense sensuality of its aroma; the surprising layering of green, mineral and creamy notes; the contrast between wet petally and ripe fruit facets. Although perplexing and challenging, this flower off…
A few years ago, I attended a dance performance that was a mixed bill of classical and modern. After the audience was treated to two long modern pieces, in which dancing was somehow secondary to scenery, it let out a collective sign of pleasure and rel…
Before I write about Boxeuses, I would like to discuss Bas de Soie, a fragrance which joins the ranks of the Serge Lutens export collection. “Silk stocking,” as its name translates from French, Bas de Soie certainly conveys a rustling, shimmering s…
This post first appeared in October 2009, but I would like to remind you of this refreshing, fuschia tinted drink, which is perfect on these hot summer days. I have also been making it lately with Thai basil, which produces a lovely peach colored liqui…
Fragrances that can truly go from morning to night are quite rare, especially if one would like a sheer, understated sillage. Either one is wrapped in a thick scent veil all day long, or else there is hardly anything left by the end of the workday. Jo …
The aroma that set the imagination of Middle Eastern poets and Sufi mystics aflame is a fascinating product of the process that via slow deterioration brings immortality. Oud is a resin released by Aquilaria tree species in order to protect themselves …
Until I started working in the fragrance industry, I automatically assumed that the terms “niche, expensive, Paris-exclusive” guarantee quality, originality and elegance, while the big designer brands and mass market would offer exactly the opposite. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Some niche brands do indeed spend a lot of effort on fragrance, as do some large popular brands, while others spend less money on scent than do detergent companies. And believe me, it is quite little for fine fragrance. In this light, it is liberating to forget about labels and simply look for interesting discoveries in venues other than high-end boutiques. My most recent discovery of this sort is Bath & Body Works Velvet Tuberose. Bath & Body Works has an overwhelmingly large collection of fragrances, and while not everything deserves attention (Sun-Ripened Raspberry is a…
Any perfume aficionado with a taste for details and history knows about the story of Chanel No 5 and can describe the meaning of chypre. Some of us comb libraries for old perfume books and auction sites for forgotten vintage gems. We collect raw materials and analyze their nuances. When we start talking about accords, sillage, drydown and composition to “regular” people, their eyes glaze over. If you have a mischievous streak to your personality, take this talk to the perfume counter at your local department store. You will be rewarded with a look of total incomprehension. Therefore, when I came across a fragrance quiz that has been devised by British perfume writer Nigel Groom in July 1996 for Mastermind, I thought that I would share it with you. Nigel Groom thought that these are the things a perfume lover…
Whether fashion or fragrance, Thierry Mugler is among the most avant-garde designers, capable of creating unique and memorable experiences. Consider this one fact—while most new launches wilt as soon as they hit the counter, Angel has maintained a strong following and a top position in the market for more than a decade. Even the numerous Angel clones could not undermine its allure. Of course, such success is extremely difficult to replicate, as Alien proved quite patently. Womanity is the newest release from Mugler, a pink potion that tries “to encompass energy, tenderness, and sophistication at the same time.” The composition of Womanity is based on the contrast between the sweet fig flesh and the salty caviar, which the house describes as the new savory gourmand concept. The crisp, effervescent opening of the composition leads straight into this accord. If the…
A couple of weeks ago, I finally took a break from travel, work, email, and everything else that could distract me from the most elusive of goals—rest and enjoyment of our languorous summer days. I stayed at home, breaking my previous traditions of vacations far away from home. Instead, I cooked leisurely meals, went for long runs along the nearby river, took my tea and books on the patio, which was overtaken by mint and jasmine thanks to the tropical weather we have experienced. It finally felt like summer, and I vowed that even in my busy, hectic, always on the run (well, who is not in NYC?) routine, I will make time for these small pleasures. Above all, I enjoyed rediscovering some fragrances that I have not been wearing for ages. In general, my picks for the summer fall…
While any Russian will find an ironic reference in my title to the Soviet era film “Seventeen Moments of Spring,” for me it has less to do with Russian spies improbably masquerading as German officers than with a sense of nostalgia I feel around this time. As I watch cherry blossoms wilt in the puddles, I already miss their delicate pink haze. As I feel the sun burning my skin, I crave the chill of snow. As spring unfolds with all its holidays, I miss people who cannot celebrate them with me. Therefore, my scent palette this spring reflects my yearnings and moods with particular poignancy. Exhilaration No holidays strike a deeper chord in me than Easter and Nowruz. Although they come from different traditions, their message of rejuvenation, hope and freedom is exhilarating. How magical is the smell of…
I’ve been craving spring for weeks now. The snow blanketing the landscape after yet another false promise of spring arriving at one point started to seem unbearable. I was desperate for the cool, green scent of new buds, the feeling of mild breeze on my bare legs, the splash of color amidst New York greyness…. These past few days have been wonderful: sunny, warm, caressing. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the spring is here at last. To celebrate the coming of spring and to be inspired by it, I would like to hold a prize draw. You can participate by sharing in the comments whatever tends to put you into a spring mood : wearing particular fragrances, experiencing other scents, reading certain books, watching movies, listening to movies, cooking, etc. In other words, tell me about anything that…
With all the new launch samples piling up on my desk, I instead find myself reflecting upon my old favorites. I have always admired the work of Isabelle Doyen for Annick Goutal, whose contributions range from the startling simpilicity and power of Eau du Fier, to the ethereal beauty of Eau de Ciel, and to the baroque richness of Songes. Un Matin d’Orage feels like yet another page in the Annick Goutal album, a rendition of gardenia that blends the starkness of photorealism with the mystery of abstract art. Given the difficulties in capturing the capricious beauty of gardenia in liquid form, it is not surprising that there are only a few successful renditions on the market: my favorites being, the gauzy gardenia of Marc Jacobs Perfume and the dark Velvet Gardenia by Tom Ford. For a gardenia lover, Un…
My new year has started with an Indian adventure, in which the romance of a wedding was punctuated by the typical stress of wedding planning and last minute arrangements. There were aspects that I never expected in my romantic vision: air travel mishaps, packs of wild dogs, naughty milk stealing monkeys. The tailors who insisted on leaving extra fabric were not always helpful — “but you cannot stay this thin after marriage, you will gain weight, how will you wear it then!” And the Indian concept of time as an infinitely stretchable resource required considerable patience. Yet, amidst all the unpredictable and sometimes amusing scenarios, everything turned out be to be even more splendid than we had anticipated.This was mostly due to our friends and family who actively participated in every part of the ritual and made our wedding special…
Forever And Ever Perfume by Christian Dior, 50 ml Eau De Toilette Spray for Women
Forever And Ever Perfume by Christian Dior 1.7 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for Women. Tender, Soft, Elegant Is Forever And Ever By Christian Dior Was Introduced As A Limited Edition Fragrance. Never To Overpowering, Forever And Ever Is A [...]
Miss Dior Cherie Perfume by Christian Dior, 1.7 oz Eau De Parfum Spray for Women
Miss Dior Cherie Perfume by Christian Dior 1.7 oz Eau De Parfum Spray for Women. A New Spin On A Timeless Classic, Miss Dior Cherie By The Design House Of Christian Dior Introduced This Elegant Modern Fragrance In 2005. The [...]
Dior Homme Cologne by Christian Dior, 4.2 oz Cologne Spray for Men
Dior Homme Cologne by Christian Dior 4.2 oz Cologne Spray for MenTop Notes Of Lavender, Sage, And Bergamot; A Heart Of Iris, Cocoa, And Amber With A Vetiver, Patchouli, And Leather Drydown.
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Eau Sauvage Cologne by Christian Dior, 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for Men
Eau Sauvage Cologne by Christian Dior 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for MenLaunched By The Design House Of Christian Dior In 1966, Eau Sauvage Is Classified As A Refined, Fruity Fragrance. This Masculine Scent Possesses A Blend Of Rosemary, Lemon, [...]
Jadore Perfume by Christian Dior, 1.7 oz Shimmering Eau De Parfum Spray (Gold Supreme Limited Edition) for Women
Jadore Perfume by Christian Dior 1.7 oz Shimmering Eau De Parfum Spray (Gold Supreme Limited Edition) for Women. Launched By The Design House Of Christian Dior In 2000, Jadore Is Classified As A Refreshing, Flowery Fragrance. This [...]
Dune Perfume by Christian Dior, 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for Women
Dune Perfume by Christian Dior 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for Women. Launched By The Design House Of Christian Dior In 1991, Dune Is Classified As A Refreshing, Oriental, Woody Fragrance. This Feminine Scent Possesses A Blend Of Amber, Wallflower As [...]
Poison Perfume by Christian Dior, 1 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for Women
Poison Perfume by Christian Dior 1 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for Women. Launched By The Design House Of Christian Dior In 1985, Poison Is Classified As A Luxurious, Oriental, Floral Fragrance. This Feminine Scent Possesses A Blend Of Amber, Honey, Berries, [...]
Jadore Perfume by Christian Dior, 1.7 oz Eau De Parfum Spray for Women
Jadore Perfume by Christian Dior 1.7 oz Eau De Parfum Spray for Women. Launched By The Design House Of Christian Dior In 2000, Jadore Is Classified As A Refreshing, Flowery Fragrance. This Feminine Scent Possesses A Blend Of Floral Orchids, Violets, Rose [...]
Carolina Herrera Cologne by Carolina Herrera, 100 ml Eau De Toilette Spray (Tester) for Men
Carolina Herrera Cologne by Carolina Herrera 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray (Tester) for MenLaunched By The Design House Of Carolina Herrera In 1991, Herrera Is Classified As A Sharp, Oriental, Woody Fragrance. This Masculine Scent Possesses A Blend Of [...]
Ch Carolina Herrera Perfume by Carolina Herrera, 1.7 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for Women
Ch Carolina Herrera Perfume by Carolina Herrera 1.7 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for Women. An Oriental/floral For Women, From The Creative Minds Of Fashion Designer Carolina Herrera And Perfumer Oliver Cresp. An Intriguing Fragrance Mysterious And Complex Opening With [...]
Carolina Herrera Perfume by Carolina Herrera, 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for Women
Carolina Herrera Perfume by Carolina Herrera 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray for Women. An Exuberant, Richly Floral, Elaborately Layered Scent. The Essence Of A Woman Who Is Tailored By Day, Brilliant By Night. Evokes The Freshness Of A Moment, The [...]