I can’t think of a title either
A short film for the new Martin Margiela Untitled fragrance.
Celebrity fragrance news: Jennifer Aniston, P. Diddy
Jennifer Aniston, one of last megawatt Hollywood stars not to have her name on a fragrance, is expected to reveal shortly that she has signed a deal with the Falic Group to launch a scent, perhaps later this year.
— From Jennifer Aniston Said in Fragrance Deal at Women’s Wear Daily…
A past that would take some time to explain
Opium was born middle-aged, and all the better for it. From day one, it was the come-hither perfume of the tanned woman in furs who is beginning to look a great deal more beautiful than her husband. Naturally, young women loved it because it suggested a past that would take some time to explain.
— Luca Turin in Notes from the nose — Opium at NZZ Folio.
Never let you forget you’re a man
By request, the 70s commercial for Enjoli by Charles of the Ritz — the 8 hour perfume for the 24 hour woman. Poor video quality.
If need be, you might want to check out Fighting an earworm makes it worse: study at ABC News.
NST Giveaway (anywhere but US) ~ Ilari
What is it: One 10 ml bottle of Ilari perfume oil. This is a roll-on bottle, and I tested it once on the back of a clean hand.
Who can win: Any registered reader who has already left at least one comment on the site before today (see rule #1 below), who does NOT live in the US (see rule #2 below) and who has not won an NST giveaway in the past 6 months.
Update: we have a winner, congrats to Scentme!
NST Giveaway (US Only) ~ Donna Karan Iris
What is it: One 100 ml bottle of Donna Karan Iris. I decanted several large samples, perhaps as much as 10-15 ml (I keep the samples, you get the bottle).
Who can win: Any registered reader who has already left at least one comment on the site before today (see rule #1 below), who lives in the US (see rule #2 below) and who has not won an NST giveaway in the past 6 months.
Update: we have a winner, congrats to Minnie!
A happy scent
Which bring us to the question: What is a happy scent? [Charles] Spence wrote a paper on “Sensism,” as he calls it, on the benefits of aromatherapy: According to Spence, lavender aids relaxation, roses and heliotrope have a sedative affect, cucumber and green apple help with claustrophobia and citrus has been shown to have invigorating properties that aid concentration and boost spirits. “Citrus is an alerting essential oil and mood enhancer,” Spence says.
— From Finding happiness in a bottle — of perfume at the LA Times. The article also includes a round-up of new perfumes for spring 2010. Many thanks to Joe for the link!
$1 million in high-end perfumes
A posse made up of two NYPD cops, a retired officer and six other bandits roped in 16 unwitting day laborers and set out for a major score — unloading $1 million in high-end perfumes from a New Jersey warehouse, federal prosecutors said yesterday.
— Read more at Eau de ‘rogue cops’ at the New York Post. Thanks to SarahN for the tip!
From wax to certain flowers
Balenciaga’s Nicolas Ghesquière talks about the new Balenciaga Paris fragrance. In French with English subtitles.
Capturing the idea of romance and freedom
“It’s all about capturing the idea of romance and freedom at any age, but it’s hard to do that in just one word,” says the source.
— An unnamed source talks about Jennifer Aniston’s difficulty in coming up with a name for her debut perfume, in OK magazine.
It tanked
A Huntingdon Valley company’s lawsuit against superstar recording artist Prince can proceed, a New York Supreme Court judge has ruled. [...] Revelations Perfume & Cosmetics sued Prince last year, claiming the singer failed to promote a perfume Revelations had developed in conjunction with his 2006 album. The company said it spend $2.5 million developing and marketing 3121, but it tanked when Prince refused to make appearances or do anything else on its behalf.
— Read more at Judge: Company can sue Prince at Philly Burbs.
Charming and very fresh
A “making of” for the print ad for Tous Man Sport. The model is David Miller.
Win a chocolate perfume from Roxana Illuminated Perfume
Roxana Illuminated Perfume wants to give one lucky reader (from anywhere in the world!) a solid chocolate perfume from her collection at Etsy. There are now 11 fragrances in the series, and the winner gets to choose the one they’d like to receive.
Update: we have a winner, congrats to Janice! Don’t forget to email me your address and the name of the fragrance you’ve chosen…
Hunting down tiny artisan perfumers
Smart Londoners don’t want to smell like everyone else. We’re busy hunting down tiny artisan perfumers and niche brands. From colognes at Santa Maria Novella on Walton Street to contemporary artisan perfumers at Les Senteurs in Belgravia, we’re looking for a new hit. And we’re very territorial.
— From Perfumistas are the new cool-hunters at the London Evening Standard, with many thanks to Pigoletto for the link!
Perfume in the magazines, March 2010: Allure, Details, Elle, GQ & more
Perfume coverage in the March issues of Allure, Details, Elle, GQ, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Vogue, Glamour and Lucky; please comment on any fragrance-related coverage you’ve seen in other fashion & beauty magazines:
Allure
Cover: Jessica Simpson
Scent strips: Chloé…
Happy Birthday, Chopin
Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Chopin. In Warwaw, the newly refurbished Chopin Museum opens at the Ostrogski Castle. The multimedia displays include one room where visitors can smell Chopin’s favorite flower, the violet. You can read more at the museum’s website or at Poland’s official travel website.
Many thanks to Sophia for the news!
The delicious aroma of Chanel’s latest exclusive juice
At the Paris couture collections, the delicious aroma of Chanel’s latest exclusive juice, say, fills the air – a marketing opportunity that the big fashion houses are unlikely ever to miss. At London Fashion Week the smell of fish pie is a more likely olfactory experience. While no one should complain that the sponsors behind the latter event attempt to feed invitees – food! How refreshing! – or that said food is invariably delicious – thank you, Topshop, for that – there are those who might suggest that such potent gastronomic delights are unlikely, ultimately, to sell many clothes.
— From Ready to Wear: Curiosity rarely extends to what the fashion fraternity might smell like at The Independent.
NST Giveaway (US Only) ~ La Via del Profumo Mecca Balsam
What is it: One unused 55 ml bottle of La Via del Profumo Mecca Balsam. Plus, 7 runners-up will get a sample of the fragrance.
Who can win: Any registered reader who has already left at least one comment on the site before today (see rule #1 below), who lives in the US (see rule #2 below) and who has not won an NST giveaway in the past 6 months.
Update: we have our winners! Congrats to RusticDove, who gets the full bottle. Samples will be going out to CynthiaW, Ajuarez, Boojum, Smokeytoes, Royal, DannyAngel and Jaqsyd. Don’t forget to claim your prize by sending me your mailing address…
New York in pink
Behind the scenes at the photo shoot for Sarah Jessica Parker’s SJP NYC. No sound, which makes it rather dull unless you really like looking at pictures of a) shoes, b) dresses and c) Sarah Jessica Parker.
Message in a bottle
Art direction in fragrance is under-estimated. A perfume is a message in a bottle. It’s not a smell. It’s an impression, an idea. Great fragrances are usually made by a perfumer, and an art director, who says, ‘I want it to be like this.’
— Luca Turin, talking about Amouage’s Christopher Chong, in Oman’s royal family scents global profit in luxury perfumes at CNN.
Potent olfactory and gustatory implications
Smell and taste are known to converge to produce the best and worst of culinary experiences, but new research suggests that information received through the nose can also be altered by noise. If confirmed, this newfound union could have potent olfactory and gustatory implications.
— From Making Scents of Sounds: Noises May Alter How We Perceive Odors at Scientific American. (found via Ben Young at Twitter)
Ernesto Neto’s Navedenga at MoMA in New York
Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto (remember anthropodino at the NY Park Armory last year?) has another scented sculpture on display, this time at MoMA. Navedenga is scented with cloves, and 2 visitors can enter the space at a time…
Three by Bruno Aveillan
Three perfume commercials from director Bruno Aveillan. First, Guerlain Mahora. Below the jump, Lanvin Oxygene and Eau de Rochas.