Gant will launch Gant Silver, a new fragrance for men, later this month. Silver's herbal citrus juice was developed by perfumer Richard Herpin:
The objective, according to Herpin, was to choose ingredients “that would strike the right balance between the crispness of the outdoors and the mysterious yet elegant nature of the Gant man.”…
My childhood was spent on land situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, and I’ve lived in New York City, Los Angeles and Seattle, so water and water activities have always been a part of my life, but since I can’t swim, I have a certain “fear of the water.” When it comes to perfumes, I have a fear of ‘water’ too, the type called “marine fragrances” that are drenched with ozone and aquatic notes. I’ve always wished perfumes could capture the scents of the open sea and the winds blowing over the ocean, but perfumes are better at replicating the oceanic “sideshow” — scents of sand/damp earth, the dry, reedy smells of vegetation growing at the seaside, the mineral scents of shells, the bracing aroma of salty seaweeds, the odors of tarry wooden wharves or outboard motor exhaust fumes.
I usually avoid all fragrances with marine/H2O themes, but armed with a perfume “life preserver” (soft-bristle scrub brush and unscented detergent), I decided to face my fears and sample three Bond no. 9 fragrances that are named after places at, or near, the ocean…
Last week I sat down to try Usher She and Sean John Unforgivable Woman. She went on one arm; Unforgivable Woman on the other. Within an hour I’d forgotten which was which and had to put them on again, but pretty soon I forgot all over again. It isn’t that they smell exactly the same, but they feel the same, that is, it is pretty clear that they’re reaching for the same audience.
So, a face-off. First, the facts. Usher She is designated for “a woman of mystery and confidence”, and was created by perfumers Honorine Blanc and Richard Herpin. The notes: red currant, pink freesia, apple blossom, frangipani, apricot nectar, jasmine, passion rose, amber wood, musk, cashmere wood, vanilla orchid and incense. Sean John Unforgivable Woman is a “sensual, creamy floral” by perfumer David Apel, with notes of bergamot, orange, neroli, cassis, grapefruit, apple, cucumber, piña colada, orange flower, jasmine, violet, muguet, freesia, cyclamen, amber, tonka beans, coco de mer, vanilla tears, cedar, sandalwood, oak moss, patchouli, vetiver and iris.
Freshly applied: Usher She is juicy and fruity and sweet, with just a touch of tartness. It has a slightly creamy feel right from the outset. Unforgivable Woman is also fruity and juicy, but it is not nearly as sweet, and it has a nice warmth to it…
My fearless leader and the creator of Now Smell This, Robin, has done her duty from the start and boldly ventured into celebrity fragrance territory. Robin has reviewed perfumes released under the names of Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Hilary Duff, Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, Prince and Sean John.
Until today, I have reviewed zero celebrity fragrances. I am a perfume snob. I look at a bottle of celebrity fragrance and think: “Ew! Who wants to be associated with him?” I’m not celebrity-obsessed and even though I’ve seen my fair share of celebrities up close, I’ve never asked any of them for an autograph. Aren’t celebrity fragrances a form of ‘autograph’? Wearing David Beckham’s Instinct is (almost) the same as hanging a poster of Becks on my bedroom wall — right? If I use Sean John’s Unforgivable, won’t people assume I admire Sean John and not just his cologne?
I recently realized my stance on celebrity fragrances is ridiculous…
Lancôme has followed up on 2005’s Hypnôse with a new limited edition summery version, Hypnôse Sheer Eau Légère.
Created by perfumers Annick Ménardo and Thierry Wasser…