More limited edition collector fragrance bottles, with the usual disclaimers: in most of these cases, the juice is unchanged, just the bottle is “special” (or not, as the case may be), and some of these may not be available in the US.
Another day, another limited edition from Jean Paul Gaultier. This one is the Classique Charm Edition 2010…
Diptyque will launch Eau Duelle, a new unisex fragrance and a ‘unique interpretation of vanilla’, this September…
Vetyverio is the latest fragrance release from French niche line Diptyque. They reportedly “had a fun time blurring the lines by blending perfumery’s archetypal raw materials, namely masculine vetiver and feminine flower bouquets”. In other words, it’s a unisex, although Diptyque, like many fragrance companies, prefers not to use that particular word, stating simply that it is neither masculine nor feminine.
Vetyverio starts out bright and fresh and energetic, with peppery citrus and leafy green notes (the notes: mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, bergamot, ylang ylang, Turkish rose, geranium, vetiver, carrot seeds, nutmeg, apricot, clove, cedar and musk). After that, it’s an exercise in subtlety: everything, from the florals to the vetiver to the spices, speaks in muted tones…
Spring! Finally. It isn’t summer, but it’s almost summer, and if, like me, you detest the cold, that’s very nearly the best thing about it. The absolute best thing, of course, is the flowers. My list is heavily weighted towards the “pretty floral” fragrance category, and it’s also heavily weighted towards niche, and expensive. Sorry, it just worked out that way. Hopefully, my fellow bloggers did a better job on the diversity front: see Bois de Jasmin, Grain de Musc, Perfume Posse and Perfume Smellin’ Things for more top 10 lists. Meantime, here’s mine:
CB I Hate Perfume Black March: the smell of spring, and the perfect thing to wear on a warm, rainy April day, although there’s something about it that can tend towards the melancholy. If you can’t afford it, you can make do with Demeter Dirt — someone called Black March the high def version of Dirt, and that’s apt. For an entirely different take on springtime melancholy, there’s always Guerlain Après L’Ondée.
Christian Dior Diorissimo: what is spring without lily of the valley? And what’s the point of wearing a lily of the valley other than Diorissimo? Even if you disagree with me…
For the mom who loves figs (uh, that would be me!), Diptyque’s Philosykos Addict Coffret: “The Coffret contains a Philosykos eau de toilette (50ml), Philosykos scented shower gel and body lotion (both 2.5 fl oz each), a Philosykos scented soap (3.5 oz) and a travel candle in Figuier (2.4oz).” $135 at Luckyscent…
Diptyque will launch Vetyverio, a new unisex fragrance featuring “a blend of masculine vetiver and feminine flower bouquets”, in May.
The notes include mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, bergamot…
If you’ve read even a tiny selection of my articles on this blog, you probably know I adore benzoin. My love affair with benzoin began with incense. Long ago, I bought benzoin-scented incense cones from a company that supplied incense to churches, and I enjoyed the benzoin fragrance so much I purchased Siam benzoin “tears” (appropriately named since a wounded tree produces the scented resin). I still heat benzoin tears in little tin cups on an electric burner to release their smoky-sweet aroma throughout my house.
Diptyque’s Benjoin candle is strongly scented; even its empty box (a month after purchase) is perfuming a large closet in my bedroom. Diptyque Benjoin is a simple benzoin perfume; it reminds me of Papier d’Arménie, and it also brings to mind Guerlain Bois d’Arménie (but with less complexity, of course). Unlit, Benjoin smells like vanilla bean liqueur aged in old wooden casks…
From Diptyque’s Holiday 2009 collection, the (gorgeous) Benjoin candle: “Its smokey note of benzoin gives off a mysterious yet warm and cozy aroma.” The design is inspired by