Ten gift ideas under $50:
From Gianni Rose, 4 pear-shaped soaps: “Enjoy the scent of freshly picked pairs [sic] with these 4 French-milled soaps, enriched with moisture-rich buttermilk and exfoliating oatmeal.” $33 at Caswell Massey…
Top 10 Fall Fragrances 2009
As it is for many people, fall is my favorite time of year. Perhaps this is because around here it is the most fragrant season: the cool, damp leaves send up a sweet, cidery rot, I could swear there is always a tinge of woodsmoke in the air, and the evergreens seem sharper and straighter as the deciduous competition flames out. Early every morning, after bumping around and out of my pitch-dark apartment, I take a deep draw of cool air and wonder if this smell is a regular olfactory hallucination, since I live in an urban neighborhood with bylaws against bonfires and no apple orchards for miles. Whether I am susceptible to seasonal scent suggestion disorder or not, I love the colors and skies of autumn, and the weather is often invigorating enough for me to look fondly upon the hooting, rowdy herds of schoolkids that suddenly appear on every sidewalk. Even if fall doesn’t make you feel this disgustingly cheerful, you can still spend your season of mists and mellow fruitfulness in gorgeous perfumes. Please comment with your own fall favorites and let me know if you’ve sampled the new Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles. I haven’t tried it yet, and am wondering whether it will be added to my current autumn Lutens rotation of Chêne, Santal Blanc and El Attarine.
Etro Shaal Nur: Rather like a more contemplative, citrus-tinged Habanita, this is an airy, incense-smoke version of Molinard’s classic vetiver-vanilla. While not being particularly strong — it’s better sprayed than dabbed — Shaal Nur has impressive projection…
Bunch o’ limited edition collector bottles 2009, part 11
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.
From Nina Ricci, L’Air du Temps in the Cristal d’Or edition by Lalique (above left). 900 bottles made; 15 ml for 400€…
News flash: Prescriptives Calyx will not be discontinued
Many of you have already heard that Estee Lauder is discontinuing the Prescriptive brand. Distribution will cease in January 2010, after which products will continue to be available on the Prescriptives website while supplies last. Prescriptives Calyx, however, is safe: it will continue in production and will be distributed under the Aramis fragrances division beginning February 1st, 2010. (via email from Estee Lauder)
Tropical Duo: Lauder Men Brasil Dream for Him and Issey Miyake a scent by issey miyake ~ fragrance reviews
Labor Day has come and gone, and here in Seattle we’re headed into autumn fast; this weekend was chilly and rainy. But down south (in the Southern Hemisphere) spring is about to arrive, and this winter many of us in the north will vacation in warmer climes to escape cold weather at home. As I sampled Lauder Men Brasil Dream for Him and Issey Miyake a scent by issey miyake this weekend, I was reminded it’s always toasty somewhere, and summery scents like these not only travel well to beach-y destinations but remind us of summer no matter where we are or what type of weather we’re enduring.
Lauder Men Brasil Dream for Him is reminiscent of older Comptoir Sud Pacifique fragrances (those developed before the Great Vanilla Wave splashed into every Comptoir Sud Pacifique perfume vat); Brasil Dream for Him reminds me of L’Eau du Gouverneur…but with more complexity. Brasil Dream for Him (perfumer unknown) contains kumquat, bergamot, coriander, cardamom, white pepper, neroli, nutmeg, cinnamon, oregano, patchouli, labdanum, jalapeño pepper, pimento and leather.
Brasil Dream for Him starts with the most delightful (but most fugitive) of citrus notes: kumquat…