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Browsing by date: 2009

Van Cleef & Arpels Bois d’Iris ~ fragrance review

Posted by Robin on 22 September 2009 118 Comments

driftwood

So yes, I’m jaded, but I don’t think I have a closed mind: if these are wonderful, I’ll be thrilled.

That’s me, commenting on the post that announced the then-upcoming Collection Extraordinaire from Van Cleef & Arpels. That article elicited a number of skeptical comments, including my own, about the glut of multi-scent luxury perfume launches — many of which turn out to be less interesting than the prices and the fancy packaging would suggest — and then a discussion about whether some of us were perhaps a bit too jaded.

I might be too jaded, who knows? It doesn’t seem to me to be an important issue: I say what I like in the comments, but I go right on smelling and looking for beauty regardless. And whatever my original suspicions, I did keep an open mind when I smelled the Collection Extraordinaire, and yes, I’m thrilled. This is a lovely collection. All six are worth smelling, and one, Bois d’Iris, captured my heart thoroughly enough that I laid out the $185 (!!) for it on the spot, thereby blowing my third quarter damage tally, which up until then had been a very gratifying zero.

Bois d’Iris is one of two unisex fragrances in the collection, the other being Cologne Noire.1 It’s a must try for iris fiends…

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Bunch o’ limited edition collector bottles 2009, part 11

Posted by Robin on 22 September 2009 44 Comments

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.

Nina Ricci L'Air du Temps Cristal d'Or editionel-take-out

From Nina Ricci, L’Air du Temps in the Cristal d’Or edition by Lalique (above left). 900 bottles made; 15 ml for 400€…

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Giorgio Armani Idole d’Armani ~ fragrance review

Posted by Angela on 21 September 2009 100 Comments

Giorgio Armani Idole d'Armani

I’ve smelled so much fabulous perfume lately. I’ve already bought a bottle of Laura Mercier Minuit Enchanté, plan on springing for some L’Artisan Parfumeur Havana Vanille, love my decant of Tauer Perfumes Une Rose Chyprée, am enjoying Natori, and am tantalized by Tom Ford Private Blend Oud Wood. I practically can’t sleep waiting to try Amouage Epic. Thinking of my pocketbook, I apprehensively dabbed a few drops of Giorgio Armani Idole d’Armani Eau de Parfum on my wrist. I needn’t have worried. Thank you, perfume gods, for a fragrance I’m not even tempted to buy.

Idole d’Armani launched this month. Perfumer Bruno Jovanovic created Idole, using — and here I lift directly from the Armani cosmetics website: top notes of “dazzling bitter orange, juicy pear, ginger and davana”; middle notes of “audacious rose loukoum and mythical jasmine blended boldly with saffron absolute, creating a honey-coloured subtle spicy note”; and base notes of “unexpected styrax, patchouli and vetiver”. (Let’s just hope the Armani marketing people don’t enter the Prix Eau Faux, or the rest of us don’t stand a chance).

Despite the Armani website’s cheesy description, Idole is built on a foundation that smells Armani perfect…

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Online fragrance shopping

Posted by Robin on 21 September 2009 Leave a Comment

Deal at beautyhabit: buy any Melissa Flagg Eau de Parfum, get a free Melissa Flagg solid perfume tin using coupon code SOLIDGOLD, good while supplies last.

Deal at saksfifthavenue: spend $75 or more on beauty, get a metallic tote with beauty samples using coupon code MEGAWATT, good through 9/27.

Singin in the rain

Posted by Robin on 21 September 2009 28 Comments

The video promo for Guerlain Idylle. The face is Nora Arnezeder, and she is singing a modern version of Singin in the rain (if you watch the version on the Idylle website, you can hear the lyrics). Update: never mind, now here's the version with the lyrics...

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