As I stood in the aisle of Duane Reade and reached for a tube of The Healing Garden’s Sensual Therapy Passion Rose All Day Moisture Body Crème, I reflected on the endurance of my obsession with rose fragrance. I have been wearing rose-based perfumes for much of my life, and I own a selection of favorites. Since I also like rose body products, to wear with the perfumes or on their own, I habitually scan the shelves of stores ranging from Takashimaya to Target for rose-scented body lotions, many of which I eventually buy and try. However, unlike the dozens of rose perfumes that have won my heart over the years, rose lotions typically disappoint me…
Scented body products: Malin + Goetz Peppermint Hair Shampoo and Cilantro Hair Conditioner
The streamlined product list of Malin + Goetz includes “paired performance systems” of cleansers and moisturizers for body, face, and hair, as well as fragrance and candles. Peppermint Hair Shampoo and Cilantro Hair Conditioner are quintessential Malin + Goetz products, embodying the brand’s philosophy of “Natural Ingredients. Performance Technology”: they combine botanical extracts with gentle synthetic ingredients, and they are packaged in the company’s trademark minimalist bottles, labeled with ingredients and instructions in no-nonsense type. Founders Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz developed their business as a union of science and style, and the products sold by their “modern apothecary” are intended for both men and women of all skin types.
At first this one-size-fits-all strategy made me feel skeptical. My hair, for example, is somewhat hard-to-please: it’s wavy, slightly dry, and thick but easily weighed down. However, both products were pleasant surprises for me…
Scented body products: Claus Porto Alface (Almond oil)
Claus Porto is a Portuguese soap manufacturing company that, since its inception in 1887, has become one of the most prestigious soap makers in Europe. As of recent years, they have began to offer their products to American consumers in fourteen fragrances ranging from Favorito (Red Poppy) to Lelite (Orange Amber) and Ilyria (Honeysuckle), all encased in the most beautiful vibrant art deco packaging.
Being somewhat of an almond addict, the first scent I had to try was Alface. As Kevin found in his experience with the Alface candle, it is actually quite an unusual almond fragrance…
Lush Bathos Bubble Bar
The violet is traditionally associated with the qualities of shyness, modesty, and loyalty. The Bathos Bubble Bar from Lush, however, is not the proverbial shrinking violet. Lush’s catalogue, Lush Times, frequently mentions that violet is the favorite fragrance of Lush’s creator and owner, Mark Constantine. It was also the signature scent of none other iconic personality than Napoleon Bonaparte, who wore violet cologne, gave bouquets of violets to Josephine on their wedding anniversaries, and inspired his dedicated followers to wear the flower as well. The Bathos Bubble Bar, stamped with a glittery capital “B,” aspires to a similar romance and charisma…
Ormonde Jayne revamps bath line
Ormonde Jayne has spent over a year reformulating their bath and body line. The new range is available in seven fragrances: Ormonde for women, Frangipani Absolute, Osmanthus, Ta'if, Tolu, Sampaquita and Champaca. Products include:
Essential Bathing Oil with orchid oil extract, vitamin E and 15% pure essence in a glass decanter 100 ml, £48.
Replenishing Body Lotion with added vitamin E, shea butter and water lily extract 200 ml and 3% pure essence, £34…