This is called a "wrist bag". Do I need this? I do not. But it is mighty cute. Part of the Miss Priss collection at pilgrimdesigns.com.
Fragrance review: Santa Maria Novella Acqua di Colonia
Santa Maria Novella’s Acqua di Colonia is also known as “The Queen’s Cologne”, and was reputedly created for Catherine de Medici. Some sites list it simply as “Santa Maria Novella”. The (vague) notes are: bergamot, citrus, white flowers and spices.
The top notes are very sharp, and heavy on the bergamot. It settles into a nice citrus-floral with lots of orange blossom. It is not at all sweet, but it is less bitter (and less herbal) than Acqua di Parma Colonia. It is a bright scent, and has a sparkling quality, with just a tiny spicy kick…
Another deal on L'Artisan
Bluemercury is another online store that has not yet raised their prices on L'Artisan fragrances. Get'em while you can!
World’s oldest perfumery?
Another very interesting perfume article (link no longer working, sorry) discovered by Karen, this one from the Scotsman. It seems that Italian archaeologists have uncovered a 4,000 year old perfumery on a hillside in Cyprus, and used fragments from clay bottles to reconstruct some of the fragrances made there. From another article on the same subject (link no longer working) in Reuters:
And, archaeologists have discovered, modern preferences are not too different from those of 4,000 years ago.
“I smelt this one and immediately thought, Pino Silvestre!” said Belgiorno…
The People of the Labyrinths (POTL) Luctor et Emergo perfume review
My vote in the “most calming fragrance” category is easy: Luctor et Emergo, released in 1998 by the funky Dutch design house The People of the Labyrinths (aka POTL), and included in Style magazine’s 2002 list of the top 5 cult perfumes. The notes are listed as fresh grasses, various white flowers, vanilla and precious woods.
Luctor et Emergo starts as a slightly smoky, very resinous wood scent, with a touch of incense and a bit of grass or hay. The top notes are very soft and subtle. Over the next 30 minutes or so, it takes on hints of cherries and almonds, and slowly evolves into what is essentially a dead ringer for the smell of Play Doh…