
Prada will launch L’Eau Ambrée, the latest in their series of amber-based perfumes (see Prada Eau de Parfum, Prada Intense, Prada Eau Tendre and Prada Amber Pour Homme), in September. The new fragrance promises to modernize traditional amber…
Posted by Robin on 68 Comments

Prada will launch L’Eau Ambrée, the latest in their series of amber-based perfumes (see Prada Eau de Parfum, Prada Intense, Prada Eau Tendre and Prada Amber Pour Homme), in September. The new fragrance promises to modernize traditional amber…
Posted by Robin on 24 Comments

Ermenegildo Zegna has launched Zegna Colonia, the line’s latest fragrance for men:
With Zegna Colonia, the brand unveils its personal vision of ‘la Dolce Vita’. A parenthesis of peaceful happiness bathed in the warm embrace of the Italian sun. A snapshot of an elegant silhouette and the entrancing eyes of a man dressed in white linen, captured in the space of an instant…
Posted by Robin on 116 Comments

Prada’s new Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger is the first in a projected yearly series of limited edition “Ephemeral Infusion” fragrances drawing on fragrance notes from the harder-to-find (and more expensive) Prada Exclusive scents. According to Women’s Wear Daily, the Ephemeral Infusion fragrances are designed to “evoke a light memory of the original ingredient”.*
I adore the Prada fragrance line, most or all of which (including this new one) was developed by perfumer Daniela Andrier. I adore Prada Infusion d’Iris, which along with Prada No. 4 Fleur d’Oranger was listed as a progenitor of Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger. Another iris + orange blossom combo, Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile Eau de Toilette, is one of my favorite spring/summer fragrances. So while I didn’t tempt fate by assuming I’d adore Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger, I was pretty sure I’d at least like it.
Nope. I do like it for about 15 seconds…
Posted by Robin on 52 Comments
Prada will introduce Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger, a new limited edition fragrance, this coming March. It is the first in a projected yearly series of “Ephemeral Infusion” fragrances.
Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger was developed by perfumer Daniela Andrier, and is described as a “descendant” as of Prada Infusion d'Iris and Prada No. 4 Fleur d'Oranger…
Posted by Kevin on 47 Comments

I bet lots of Now Smell This readers can relate to the following scenario: you’re in, say, Paris (somewhere “foreign,” far from home) and you find yourself in one of those shops that sells expensive little rarities — red silk Chinese lanterns with hand-painted calligraphy, tiny porcelain monkey figurines from Thailand, gold-and-horn letter openers from Kenya, babouches from Morocco — and you come across a gorgeous box of soap; each hefty bar of soap is wrapped in handmade paper and tied with a heavy ribbon. The scent of the soap is lovely but you don’t recognize the manufacturer, have never heard of or seen this delightful product before. The enticing perfume rising from the box of soap makes you imagine using it back home: it will make you feel confident and happy, it will remind you of your trip, it will make you feel rich and glamorous. You look at the price tag: the box of soap is $120 — $40 a bar!
In shock, you put down the box of soap and start wandering around the shop. You think: “This is outrageously priced!” “Decadent!” You attempt to gauge how long the box of soap will last…a month? six weeks? “So each bath will cost.…” As you pace around the shop, listening to Shirley Bassey singing Diamonds Are Forever on the sound system, your mind becomes calmer, your thoughts clearer…