New at escentual (UK): Lalique Fleur de Cristal.
New at first-in-fragrance (Germany): Puredistance Antonia, Diptyque Vetyverio.
Holiday fragrance gifts 2010, part 8
Tick, tick, tick….
If you need more ideas, check out part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6 and part 7.
From Jo Malone, the Pomegranate Noir Fragrance Chronicle: “Transform Pomegranate Noir with the accords of Raspberry, Casablanca Lily and Guaiacwood to create your own compelling blend of this iconic fragrance for both men and women.” Includes a 30 ml bottle of Pomegranate Noir plus 9 ml bottles of Raspberry Cologne, Casablanca Lily Cologne and Guaiacwood Cologne. $95…
The Italians lead
British men are only beaten by their Italian counterparts in their desire to buy celebrity fragrances. Across the big five European countries, eight percent of Italian men own celebrity fragrance compared with six percent in Spain and just four percent in France and Germany.
— The British tie the Spanish at 6%. More fun facts at Smell it like Beckham: celebrity scents lure UK men at Yahoo News. Note that the article doesn't say men are buying these fragrances, only that they own them.
5 Perfumes for: Holiday Zen
Perhaps, like me, you’re finding the mall especially trying lately. Maybe it’s that my family had a recession-friendly homemade Christmas in 2009 or maybe it’s because I now have a breastfed infant to accompany me, but the shopping trips I’ve made during the last few weeks have turned me into a sweat-soaked, cuss-word-using, stroller-ramming fanatic. Our visit for the annual Christmas photo happened to fall on Pet Day and the woman in front of us spent half an hour and more than $100 on many, many photos of her dog with Santa. Afterwards, I felt like spray-painting anti-consumerist slogans on mailboxes….except I didn’t have any paint and the craft store was at the other end of the mall. ‘Tis the season for none of the elevators to work and a shopping cart to be abandoned in the last parking space and for the exact Zhu Zhu Pet you need to be sold out when you’re not even sure what a Zhu Zhu Pet is. (Here.) On Monday evening, as my children looked on with alarm, I collapsed into an incredibly rare seat in the food court and vowed with a grimace: Enough. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. I will go home to make a donation to MSF/Doctors Without Borders, warble along festively with Yoko Ono and spray on something beautiful that I already own.
In truth, I love this time of year and the smells I associate with it: pine, mandarin oranges, mulling spices, incense, smoke, peppermint, wet wool, candle wax, lemon and brandy sauces, latkes or donuts frying in oil…
Xerjoff Richwood & Damarose ~ new fragrances
Niche brand Xerjoff has launched two new fragrances in their XJ 17/17 range, Richwood and Damarose, and has introduced the entire XJ 17/17 line in 100 ml Eau de Parfum spray bottles (see above)…