Sephora Scents

If you haven't tried products from Sephora's bath and body line, you really should. They are just scented enough and really good quality.

The two new scents offered this summer are Lime Blossom and Peach Blossom. The Lime Blossom smells more floral and the Peach Blossom smells just like fresh peaches. Peach especially is the scent of the season so if you're having a hard time deciding, I'd go with that one.

Victoria Secret Very Sexy Now

Today I cover a new summer scent.

This one is super-accessible and one that you will be able to find easily - it's from Victoria Secret and it's called Very Sexy Now.


I have the scent in a shimmering body oil, and though it's super-fruity, I like it a lot. Top notes of green apple keep it super fresh instead of sickeningly sweet and that's a must for the summer scent.

New from Bond No. 9

If you've stopped into Holt Renfrew recently, you may have seen the brand new Bond No. 9 display and wondered about the perfume line.

Well wonder no longer - Bond No. 9 perfumes take their inspiration from aspects of New York. Sometimes it's areas of New York, such as Bryant Park which is where Fashion Week goes down, or they take inspiration from ideas that have to do with New York, like my favourite fragrance, Scent of Peace.

Each perfume is rich, unique, and comes in its own iconic bottle.

A while ago, the Andy Warhol Foundation approached Bond No. 9 and asked them if they'd like to do perfumes based on the artist and his work. Of course, the brand was thrilled at the prospect of working in the memory of an artist that was so "New York" just like Bond No. 9!


So last year, we saw the launch of Silver Factory, the first in a series of perfumes. The bottle is inspired by the Warhol Campbell Soup Can Silkscreens and the scent itself is a smoky blend of incense, amber, and cedarwood. I adore smoky fragrances so this one had my heart right from the beginning.

This year, Bond No. 9 has released Union Square, which is quite different because it's a floral. Again, the bottle design is inspired by Warhol's work.

The scent's top notes are Lily of the Valley and it eventually dies down to a mix of Freesia, amber, and musk. It's a nice scent that's floral but sweet at the same time. Like all Bond No. 9 bottles, this one has a heft to it and looks unique compared to everything else that's on your counter.

Warhol had actually made 10 screenprints entitled Flowers and so to commemorate his work, Bond No. 9 is also going to be producing 10 Union Square bottles, each with a different print on it, and sold as a set.

If you want something new and unusual to add to your fragrance wardrobe, head over to the Bond No. 9 counter at Holt Renfrew. You may find something that you weren't looking for but love.

New From Armani Prive

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you already know that I absolutely adore Armani Prive fragrances. They’re luxurious, smoky, and very unusual, especially in an era that’s filled with candy-inspired confectionary scents that are hit or miss.

For me, every Armani Prive perfume is a hit. I wear each one for days and I never tire of them. They always smell worn in at the beginning of the day, and fresh at the end.

Until now, the Armani Prive collection has been available in Parfum incarnations, but this year two new Eau de Toilettes were introduced.

Rose Alexandrie is the most popular and perhaps most highly anticipated. It’s an old-world rose that’s classic at first sniff and overwhelmingly fresh. It smells familiar but of course, it’s nothing you’ve smelled before.

Last check at my local counter that sold the Rose Alexandrie one - it was sold out.


But my favourite wasn’t, and that’s the Vetiver Babylon.

If you had spoken to me before I tried this scent, I would have told you that Vetiver was the one note I absolutely hated. It tingled my nose in a way I couldn’t stand and irked me. Vetiver to me was like going to the same party as someone you hate. You’re forced to tolerate their presence while you mingle with the more pleasant guests, but the spited member remains in your peripheral vision. This is how I felt about vetiver.

No longer. I absolutely love the new Armani Prive Vetiver Babylon and can’t get enough of it. It’s more of a smoky Vetiver and doesn’t have the bite of regular vetiver.

Try these scents (Canadians can find them at their local Holt Renfrew, just ask for Armani Prive), and there’s a chance that you’ll be smitten with at least one. They’re not as smoky as the regular Armani Prive but they’re still very unique.

Lise Watier Desirable

Lise Watier just launched a new fragrance: Desirable. Check out the bottle: yes, in real life it is just as pretty as the pictures.

The inspiration for the fragrance is supposed to be femininity and seduction which accounts for the lighter top notes of this fragrance that give way to a more woody base. On me this fragrance was mostly a fruity floral blend that's perfect for spring. I could definitely smell the sweet apple and the lily of the valley, and the sandalwood notes showed up just as the party was ending.

Canadians can find the Lise Watier products very easily (at most department and high-end drugstores) but no matter where you are, head on over to the Lise Watier locating site to find a retailer close to you.

Armani Code

Armani Code is my perfume of choice most days of the week these days. To be honest, I can't smell anything particular in the opening notes, but the drydown is a warm musky vanilla that's not at all sweet. I've seen this described as a powerful fragrance better suited for night, but I think that you wear scents depending on your mood and these days I always feel like wearing a warmish scent.

Armani Code comes in an Eau de Parfum so it really does last a long time. It gets better and better as it wears too, so make sure you try this for a day. Chances are that at the end of the day, you will absolutely love it like I do. It's easily available at drugstores, department stores, and other perfume retailers.

Ralph Lauren Romance Special Edition Bottle

Something that I don't think you know about me, dear readers, is that the first perfume that I ever purchased was Ralph Lauren Romance. This was before I had a clue about notes and drydowns, and to me, it smelled pretty and lasted a long time. I actually still have my original bottle and it has maybe an inch of perfume left in it - that's how much I've used it.


In any case, Ralph Lauren now has a Collector's Edition bottle of this iconic Eau de Parfum. It comes with a locket that can be worn on its own and the bottle is a pretty frosted glass. It would be a great gift for anyone who already loves Ralph Lauren Perfumes. It is available everywhere - drugstore, department stores, and Sephora. Sephora online also has a version with a ring on it but I like my pink bottle better.

Ralph Wild

Yes indeed, I got my hands on a bottle of Ralph Wild by Ralph Lauren. I love it.

Top notes are fruity - I smell a lot of strawberry but it's not overly saccharine sweet and remains fresh. The dry down consists of sandalwood and musk, and reminds me a lot of the dry down for Diesel Fuel for Life, which I adore. Ralph Wild has impressive staying power - even the top notes last for most of the day, and at the end of the day, hints of this eau de toilette are left. It's already on counters everywhere.

Victoria's Secret Ooh La La

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Victoria's Secret is launching a new perfume called Ooh La La! It comes in a cute bottle and is supposed to smell of Vanilla, Cherry Blossoms, and Mandarin. I have to say that on myself all I could really smell was the cherry. This may not be an entirely bad thing, and if you like the fruity fragrances, check this one out.

Frederic Malle Perfumes

I found this awesome video about Frederic Malle - watch it. I wish I had had more time in NYC to go through his entire line of perfume, but it just wasn't meant to be. Next time, perhaps. I do like his system of classifying perfumes. I think that describing it in ways that are familiar to you can be more helpful in finding something you really love.

You can also read a little more about Frederic Malle here.

Penhaligon's of London... In New York

On my last day in New York, I had a chance to wander the streets at my leisure. After checking out Barney's I walked up Madison Avenue just to see the sights, and lo and behold, I ended up finding the Penhaligon's store! It was, without a doubt, the highlight of my weekend.

Buying perfume at a regular department store can be grossly overwhelming. There are so many choices, and too many people around waiting for you to make a decision. Sometimes, it seems that the worst thing that you can say is that you don't like something after hearing about its royal origins or celebrity perfumer. Asking for a sample is almost out of the question.


That's why Penhaligon's has its loyal customers and stellar reputation. While I was in the store the phone was ringing off the hook with regular customers placing orders.

The woman who was managing the store asked me what scents I normally wore and allowed me to sample a few. Then she looked at me, adjusted her glasses, and said: "You look like a Violetta - lets try that on you." It smelled amazing and was just what I was looking for.

I almost bought the bottle on the spot - and declared it was my favourite, but instead of pushing me to buy it, the woman at the Penhaligon's store said: "I think I have a sample...." So then she handed me a few little vials, told me to try them, and then come back. She also reminded me that I could place my order over the phone and that they delivered.

Shopping at the Penhaligon's store was a unique experience and one that I really enjoyed. Shopping at the store, you're not at all overwhelmed by the choice, and you know that you're a welcome customer there. You'll also find something that you like and you might even become a regular.

Perfume of the Day

This morning, I dabbed on Coco Mademoiselle - it's not too strong and I've never met anyone that doesn't like how it smells so I thought it would be fitting for a day when I'd be surrounded by so many new people.

Will it now forever be the smell of a disappointing day?

(I'm taking this whole flight cancellation thing in stride, aren't I?

Dream

Dream is the newest scent by Sharon Bolton Scents and it smells amazing. So good, in fact, that I like to wear it even when I'm not going anywhere. I just like catching a whiff of it every now and then, and the scent is perfect for the winter weather.

The notes include amber and sandlewood but there's also bergamot, white freesia, and mimosa to keep the scent fresh and wearable.

Sharon Bolton Scents introduced this for the holiday season, but it's been such a huge hit that they are adding Dream to their regular lineup. If you would like a sample of the perfume oil, email info@sharonboltonscents.com and mention Canadian Beauty in your email!

You can also order the scent by emailing that address, and it is $42 US for a 1/8 oz of perfume oil.

Also, if you missed it, I mentioned Sharon Bolton Scents in my Best Beauty Products of 2007.

Kate by Kate Moss

I've finally had a chance to sniff the new Kate Moss fragrance. I had high expectations from this one because it's widely known that Kate likes to wear Penhaligon's Bluebells, which is a captivating and very British scent.

Unlike the illusive Penhaligon's, Kate Moss's Kate is available easily at the department store or drugstore, though it isn't exactly cheap. It's meant for mass consumption, and that, more than anything else, surprises me about the line.

Moss has been a model for Chanel, Burberry, Missoni, Dior, and Bvlgari, among others, yet it seems that she's not above shilling for the likes of H&M, and Rimmel London. When she introduced her own line of clothing, it was available at H&M - a retailer that's known for being trendy and accessible.

And her perfume is accessible as well. It's nothing different like Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely, and it's definitely not higher end either.

In any case, the scent is floral but has peppery top notes which makes it interesting. I had to say that on the first day I wore it, I kind of thought that I smelled expensive. As I wore the fragrance more, I realized that this may have been because everything in the perfume was so well blended and the scent wasn't overly sweet or cloying. It's a nice scent, and one that I'd even buy for my grandmother. I liked it.

Estee Lauder Pure White Linen

This spring, Estee Lauder is introducing Pure White Linen Light Breeze. It's a fresh fragrance that's a blend of floral and citrus (but mostly floral to my nose). The one thing that surprised me was that although it's fresh, it's strong and I found one spray to be more than enough. The lasting power is also impressive - I could smell it all day long. White Linen fans (and I know there are many) will enjoy this, I bet.

L'Etat Libre D'Orange - Vraie Blonde

I haven't talked about a perfume in a while, and it's mainly because I've been sticking to a few favourites. Life's been busy, so I've been spritzing and running out the door. Nonetheless, I finally pulled out something I'd been meaning to try for some time. It's a perfume by L'Etat Libre D'Orange, a very original perfume company from Paris.


The scent that I'm testing out today is called Vraie Blonde and it is smoky. So smoky that I wonder why the scent is called "real blonde" when it smells so masculine. In the first hour of wear, the perfume smells just like the scent that fills my house when I burn some wood in the fireplace; however, later on sweeter notes reveal themselves. I can definitely smell the white pepper, amber, and patchouli in this perfume, and I have to say that after a few days of trying it, I like it a lot.

That said, I find it to be very similar to the Armani Prive Bois D'Encens, and the Costume National Scent Intense, both of which I also love.

This scent is supposed to remind one of the blonde screen sirens of yesteryear, because it's mysterious, dramatic, and unconventional.

Scent Counts for More Than You Think

Interesting article from msn.com.


Sniffing out likability, one person at a time
07/12/2007 1:55:05 PM
Sniffing someone out has taken on a whole new meaning.

Scientists have discovered that others' perceptions of a person's scent can make it or break it for them socially. In a new study, they've discovered that if a person dislikes your scent, even though it registers subconsciously, they're more likely to dislike you, and vice-versa.

"We evaluate people every day and make judgments about who we like or don't like," Wen Li, a postdoctoral fellow in the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine in Illinois, and lead author of the study, said in a release.

"We may think our judgments are based only on various conscious bits of information, but our senses also may provide subliminal perceptual information that affects our behaviour."
Li and his colleagues' findings are published in the December issue of the journal Psychological Science.

Study participants were asked to smell three scents contained in three bottles.

Lemon was the "good" scent, sweat was the "bad" scent and an ethereal scent was considered neutral. The scents were administered in different concentrations.The study participants were given the scents to sniff and then shown a picture of a face with a neutral expression. They were asked to rank the face on a scale ranging from extremely likable to extremely unlikable.
In participants who were conscious of the odour they were sniffing, scent bias didn't come into play and they could rank the faces independently of smell.

The researchers found many of the study's participants were not aware of many of the odours in very low concentrations. However, an increase in their heart rates showed their bodies were registering the scent regardless.

In those participants unaware of the scent they were registering, negative scents correlated strongly with negative ratings of the pictures shown. That meant that if a person was sniffing a bad odour, they were more likely to accord the face a low likability ranking.

"The study suggests that people conscious of the barely noticeable scents were able to discount that sensory information and just evaluate the faces," Li said. "It only was when smell sneaked in without being noticed that judgments about likability were biased."

Diesel Fuel for Life

I got my hands on this scent a couple of weeks ago and since then I've been wearing it non-stop. It smells fruity at the offset and then drys down to something much earthier. It's not too sweet and not overly feminine either. Love this scent.

The Perfume Conundrum

Dear Readers,

A couple of weeks ago I was ill. Being the trooper that I am, I refused to let myself stay home in bed and pushed through the illness.

Each morning as I got dressed, I would spritz on a bit of my perfume and go out to face the day. I don't usually wear perfume every single day, but I do when I'm having a bad day because it sometimes helps cheer me up.

In any case, now whenever I wear that perfume or even smell it, I remember that feeling of being sick, and start feeling a little ill all over again.

Moral of the story: don't wear perfume when you are sick.

Juliette Has a Gun

For the past few weeks, I have been absolutely smitten by this perfume label. Created by the grandson of Nina Ricci, Juliette Has a Gun boasts two fragrances under its young label and each one has a rose base. The idea is to take the traditional and upgrade it, giving it a rock and roll edge.

Think a younger customer who doesn't want to smell like a candy store or a spa. Think someone who wants something original yet not smell like they work in a garden or a department store. Something unique yet familiar at the same time. In my mind, this is a perfume for the young generation of today and forever epitomizes it.

I have three more words: I love it.


Of the two, my favourite is the kind in the black bottle - Lady Vengeance. It's roses mixed with patchouli and vanilla and is sort of sweet yet mature all at the same time. It reminds me of the heavy Costume National which I love so much, and the Soir de Lune which was spicier but still rosy.


There's also Miss Charming which is a much sweeter blend - lychee and rose. It is well mixed and pretty but not quite my style.

And don't forget the amazing bottles - how pretty are they? Plus, because they're opaque, you know that the perfume will be unaffected by sunlight and will keep for a longer time. You can find this fragrance wherever fine perfumes are sold. Apparently there are going to be three more blends introduced later, and I cannot wait.