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.
From Hermès, Terre d’Hermès in a limited edition 100 ml Eau de Toilette decorated with an H. €76.50…
I’ve never referred to myself as a “chocoholic.” I enjoy chocolate, but I’m an equal-opportunity sweets lover, and I’m usually more likely to seek out cookies or ice cream or a really good piece of apple pie than a cocoa-based dessert. Today, however, I rounded off my lunch with a slab of chocolate cake. I think the last long weeks of winter have finally gotten to me. In this spirit of unexpected cravings, I’ve rounded up a handful of chocolate-fragrance body products for your delectation.
I’m fond of Villainess’ vaguely steampunk aesthetic, not to mention its range of unusual scents. Its Dulces en Fuego (“fire candies”) blend mixes cocoa with cinnamon and black pepper and a touch of musk. The dense, sugar-based Smooch! Warming Body Scrub actually does seem to give off heat when it’s first applied to the skin, and the matching Dulces en Fuego soap (shown above) looks dangerously dark before it foams. The scent of Dulces en Fuego reminds me of the tiny cups of rich, spiced “Aztec” chocolate served at Mariebelle in New York, although it probably doesn’t taste as good…
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.
From Estee Lauder, a solid perfume pendant in the Bronze Goddess fragrance…
Roxana Illuminated Perfume has launched “the second tier” in their series of natural chocolate perfumes (see the first set here):
Figure 7: Pétales ~ “The classic combination of Chocolate and Roses…”
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.
From Annick Goutal, Ninféo Mio (above left) in a limited edition butterfly bottle “which bears images of the Garden of Ninfa, the breathtaking locale from which the fragrance takes its name”. £150 for 100 ml Eau de Toilette at Harrods in the UK…
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.
From Estee Lauder, the Sensuous Collector’s Edition with bulb atomizer…
Artemisia Natural Perfume has introduced two new fragrances, Ondine and Rayon Vert:
Ondine (shown) ~ “Cool and soothing, the essence of water. Essences of narcissus and myrrh and sweet kewda attar relax the senses and unlock memories of river, lake and pond.”
Rayon Vert ~ “Deep green moss, wet roots, dark licorice. Intricate mosaic of scents…”
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.
From Jean Paul Gaultier, Le Mâle in “The iconic Le Male Gaultier bottle, with original scent, stars in a comic book-inspired story as Super Le Male…”
Leslie Blodgett of Bare Escentuals has launched the second fragrance in her limited edition Perfume Diaries series (see vol 1, Perfume Diaries Bare Skin), Santa Barbara:
Picture yourself sipping a cool drink on the pier…
Roxana Illuminated Perfume has launched six new natural chocolate perfumes in solid format, and plans to release more before Valentine’s Day:
A decadent and sensual delight for the senses has been debuted by Roxana Illuminated Perfume…
I recently complained about fragrances like Dolce & Gabbana Rose The One that disappoint me when they rely so heavily on predictable gimmicks of celebrity, sex appeal, and the status of a designer label (often to the neglect of the perfume itself). Companies like Crazylibellule and the Poppies, on the other hand, delight me when they present their fragrances with some light-hearted and allusive story-telling, an interest in the connection between scent and memory, and the reminder that you can wear fragrance just to please yourself.
The Les Bâtons de Parfum collection from Crazylibelulle is positioned (and priced) as a higher-end range, and its three scents are thematically linked with three times of the day. The Bâtons are twice the size of Crazylibellule’s core collections, the Crazysticks (10 grams, rather than 5 grams), and they’re packaged in nicely weighted metal tubes that close with a satisfying clicking sound, like high-end lipsticks. Their perfume solids are very slightly pearlized, to leave the faintest trace of shimmer on the skin…
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.
From David Yurman, David Yurman Eau de Parfum in the Luxury Jewel Case edition…
This will be the last in the 2009 series of holiday gift posts. If you’re still shopping and missed any of the earlier entries, here they are: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 (budget gifts), part 5, part 6 (for men), part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10.
Before anyone hyperventilates (and I nearly did when I saw the one in the center), these are NOT perfume bottles. They’re limited edition porcelain figurines from Lanvin, to celebrate the brand’s 120 anniversary…
From By Kilian, the Edition Artistique de Carole Midy. The limited edition set includes a box and refillable bottle with the By Kilian fragrance of your choice. The set was designed by Carole Midy of Pietra Dura and features onyx and hematite cabochons. Available at Bon Marché in France, 1000€…
My guess is that most obsessive perfume samplers have the equivalent of Robin’s purgatory basket. As someone who suffers from chronic indecision, I have a large collection of scents I just can’t decide whether I like or not, separated into a series of elegant “snack-sized” plastic freezer bags. Every couple of months I retrieve all of these baggies and place them on my bed, along with two larger plastic tubs, which house, respectively, fragrances in the current rotation (scents in good standing) and samples that I see every couple of months when I perform this ritual (the tub of no return). I spread the contents of the purgatory bags over my duvet and begin picking through the vials and atomizers, sorting them into piles: judgement rendered, cult favorites that need one more try, scents that have somehow eluded skin-testing. Like Robin, I always end up with a pile of scents that stubbornly resist categorization and tubbing. As my spouse looks on with bafflement and mild disapproval, I return these fragrances to the twilight, limbo land of the snack bag.
The firmer, sterner souls among you probably agree with my husband. With multiple new fragrances being launched every single day, why does anyone bother trying to puzzle out their complicated relationship with one? Well, my problem is that I often prefer the interesting to the simply likable…
From Tauer Perfumes, limited edition handmade Thuja wood treasure chests from Morocco, containing 50 ml bottles of Le Maroc Pour Elle or L’air du Désert Marocain. 135 or 130 Swiss Francs respectively, available directly from Tauer Perfumes…
From Narciso Rodriguez, Essence in a limited edition (200 were produced) set with a 1 liter mirrored bottle plus a 10 ml refillable purse spray. 1400€ at Sephora in France. Or Cartier Roadster in a limited edition black bottle, £61 for 100 ml at Harrods…
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 wycinanki, the Polish folk art paper cutouts. $65 for 190g at Aedes…
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.
From Viktor & Rolf, the 2009 holiday limited edition of Flowerbomb…
From Kat Von D, the solid perfume ring for her recent Saint & Sinner fragrances (shown above left). Comes with two interchangeable pans and a velvet pouch, $30…