The Report: Weekly Highlights of the Fragrance World: May 24 - 30, 2009

I cannot believe that so much newsworthy information has been reported this week. Since I have limited space and time, I cannot list everything. So, instead of giving you a brief summary, I've decided it is best for you to go straight to The Report and read it. I know you will love this week's news.

• Calvin Klein will launch its newest men's fragrance, CK Free, in September. “This scent is about casual, everyday living — and living life without boundaries," according to Charlotta Perlangeli, global vice president of marketing for Calvin Klein Fragrances at Coty Prestige.
• Creed has introduced a new fragrance for women. Called Rosalie, the perfume features English rose, jasmine, lily, lemon, bergamot, coriander, pepper and berry.
• Davidoff will launch Hot Water in September. It is described as a sensual oriental. The notes feature in this fragrance are absinthe, red basil, pimento, patchouli, styrax and benzoin.
• Diesel's Fuel for Life Unlimited for women will be available as an eau de toilette. This lighter version will smell fresher than the original perfume.
• The FiFi Awards were presented on March 27 at the Armory in New York City.
• Floris's newest creation, Madonna of the Almonds, is named after and based on Marina Fiorato's latest novel. This fragrance is a fruity floral.
• Kate Moss will introduce a new fragrance in September. According to Marie-Helene Wagner, the blogger of the Scented Salamander, it will be inspired by Vintage Fashion.
• Kiehl's has added 10 new oils to its Essence Oils line. There are now 122 oils in this collection.
• Lancome will introduce Hypnôse Senses, the “little sister” of Hypnôse. The main notes of this perfume are osmanthus, rose, patchouli, cistus labdanum, benzoin and tonka bean.
• Molinard newest fragrance for women is now available to purchase. This fragrance is called 160, which celebrates the house's 160th anniversary. Hyacinth, lily of the valley, cyclamen, ylang ylang, cedar, sandalwood and oakmoss are the primary notes of this perfume.
• Vanilla & Anise is Jo Malone's newest fragrance. Cosmetics International mentions that it “explores different aspects of vanilla, blending it with white flowers and spices.”

Source: Cosmetics International, Fragranceman.com, Now Smell This, Scented Salamander and WWD

Testing Perfume Skin Allergies: Fragrance Video Education

"Some perfumes can cause skin irritations. Learn how to test perfume for allergies in this free video clip about picking the right perfume for you." -- eHow.com


Testing Perfume Skin Allergies -- powered by eHow.com

Source: eHow.com

Red for Men by Giorgio of Beverly Hills: An Original Review

Fragrances are like miniature time machines. Their notes can take you back to great movements or places in human history – the spices of the Ottoman Empire, the fragrant herbs of Ancient China, the scents of the royal courts of France and the power fragrances of 1980s America. Fragrances can also take you back to important or special moments in your life. For instance, when I sold scents in my defunct online department store, Soir de Paris by Bourjois was my bestselling perfume. Many customers wrote that it reminded them of their mothers and grandmothers. This beautiful scent evoked lovely memories of the women in their lives.

Red for Men by Giorgio of Beverly Hills smells like the eighties even though its origins can be traced back to 1993. It has the same feel as the eighties power fragrances. It is luxurious and strong. Its green, spicy and woody notes reminds me of the drama of wealthy families during that decade, the kind of characters that you would see on Dallas, Dynasty and Falcon Crest. Red also reminds of my father during the 1980s. A big man with a huge personality, he was a manager that worked for a major corporation and the leader of my family. He wore colognes that used very masculine and strong chords. These scents represented his powerful aura.

The nostalgic feel of Red is a major characteristic of men's fragrances of the 1990s. Many nineties colognes took scent lovers to their past lives. In addition, men's fragrances of this decade evoke the natural elements: earth, fire, water and wind. In the case of Red, it has an earthy scent; it smells like a spicy forest.

As a woody-chypre fragrance, most of the notes in Red are spicy and very green, which makes it a very masculine cologne. As a wearer of this fragrance, it does have good lasting power on my body. Also, I suspect that most people would expect me to wear this very manly scent. I am a very large and masculine looking man who happens to be 35+, and colognes like Red are expected to grace my body. I love this cologne and it will always belong in my fragrance wardrobe.

Red begins with caraway, artemisia, basil and bergamot. Its heart is juniperberry, wormwood, geranium and thyme. It finally dries down to patchouli, oakmoss, leather, and cedar. Its juice is housed in an architecturally streamlined bottle.

This fragrance is very rare. If you see it, I highly recommend that you buy it. You may never get a chance to purchase it again. It can be found in limited supply at many online perfumeries. It is available as a 1.7 oz eau de toilette and a 3.4 oz eau de toilette. I highly recommend Red for men with mature and nostalgic taste.

Source: Osmoz.com

Fragrance News Special: Celebrity Fragrance Designers at the FiFi Awards

"Stars by day, perfume designers by night: Paris Hilton, Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Mary J. Blige celebrate their elegant fragrances at the 37th annual Fifi Fragrance Awards." -- Voxant



Source: Voxant

A Literary Fragrance -- FYI

Based and named after Marina Fiorato's latest novel*, Madonna of the Almonds is Floris's newest creation. According to Basenotes.net and Floris, this fragrance is "fresh zesty citrus notes of bergamot and lemon, so redolent of Italy, mingle with the delicate floral accord of almond blossom, jasmine and hint of the bitter almond kernel. Counterbalanced by the sweetness of vanilla and a secret mix of fruits and spices this fruity floral fragrance is underscored by incense, sandalwood and musks." It is available as a 100ml limited eau de parfum for £75.00.

Source: Basenotes.net, Floris and Marinafiorato.com

*More info on the novel:

The Madonna of the Almonds by Marina Fiorato

"The year is 1525. A gifted young artist, Bernardino Luini of the Da Vinci school, is commissioned to paint a religious fresco in the hills of Lombardy. His eye is caught by the beautiful Simonetta di Saronno, recently widowed by the Italian Wars.

Captivated by her beauty and her sadness Bernardino paints her likeness, immortalizing her as the Madonna in his famous work which can still be seen in the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazia in Saronno.

As the sittings progress artist and model fall in love, and Simonetta reciprocates Luini's genius by creating a work of art of her own. She makes a drink for her lover from the juice of almonds – still enjoyed to this day as Amaretto di Saronno.

But as the fresco and the liqueur near their completion the couple's affair distils into a heady brew of religious scandal which threatens their love; and ultimately their lives." -- Marinafiorato.com

Note: Post revised for clarity on 5/29/09 at 5:40 p.m.

New Men's Fragrance from Calvin Klein -- FYI

Calvin Klein will launch its newest men's fragrance, CK Free, in September. Charlotta Perlangeli, global vice president of marketing for Calvin Klein Fragrances at Coty Prestige, mentioned to WWD that “this scent is about casual, everyday living — and living life without boundaries." CK Free begins with Thailand star anise, jackfruit, absinthe and juniper berry; its middle notes are suede, tobacco leaves, coffee absolute and South African buchu; and it dries down to patchouli absolute, oakwood, Texan cedarwood and Costa Rican ironwood. It will be available in three sizes as an eau de toilette -- 1 oz for $32, 1.7 oz for $47 and 3.4 oz for $62.

Source: WWD

EDT Version for Fuel for Life Unlimited -- FYI

Diesel's Fuel for Life Unlimited will be available as an eau de toilette. This lighter version will smell fresher than the original formula. According to The Moodie Report, "the floral/woody/citrus juice features notes of cinnamon, mandarin, freesia, gardenia and praline." This fragrance will be housed in a pink frosted flacon.

Source: The Moodie Report

Award Winning Fragrances: The FiFi Awards 2009

The 37th Annual FiFi Awards has commenced at The Armory. According to many reports, it was a star-studded event. Here is a complete list of the winners of this coveted prize :

Fragrance of the Year — Women’s Luxe:
Harajuku Lovers Fragrances: Love, Lil’Angel, Music, Baby, “G” by Coty by Gwen Stefani — Coty Prestige

Fragrance of the Year — Men’s Luxe:
I Am King by Sean John — Sean John Fragrances

Fragrance of the Year — Women’s Popular Appeal:
American Beauty Beloved — BeautyBank

Fragrance of the Year — Men’s Popular Appeal:
McGraw by Tim McGraw — Coty Inc.

Fragrance of the Year Unique Boutique:
Private Blend Champaca Absolute by Tom Ford — Tom Ford Beauty

Fragrance of the Year Women’s Nouveau Niche:
Chloé Eau de Parfum — Coty Prestige

Fragrance of the Year Men’s Nouveau Niche:
The Beat for Men by Burberry — P&G Prestige Products Inc.

Fragrance of the Year — Private Label/Direct Sell:
Sexy Little Things Noir Eau de Parfum by Victoria’s Secret — Victoria’s Secret Beauty

Hall of Fame:
Marc Jacobs

Female Celebrity Fragrance of the Year:
Paris Hilton

Fragrance Hall of Fame:
Cool Water by Davidoff — Coty Prestige
White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor — Elizabeth Arden

Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year:
Mane for à Travers Le Miroir by Thierry Mugler — Clarins Fragrance Group (Perfumer: Alexis Dadier, Mane Paris).

Editorial Excellence in Fragrance Coverage: Women’s Scent Feature:
“Uncommon Scents” by Lindsy Van Gelder in Allure

Men’s Scent Feature:
“This Year’s Model: What a Boy Wants” by Maggie Bullock in Elle

“Scent Bite” (short feature):
“Advanced Chemistry” in Elle

Blog:
“Scents of Cities: Kiev” by Bois de Jasmin

Technological Breakthrough of the Year:
Mane USA for Aquafine

Bath and Body Line of the Year:
Angel “Les Parfums Corps” by Thierry Mugler — Clarins Fragrance Group

Interior Scent Collection of the Year:
Nest Fragrances Collection Candles — Candela Group

Best Packaging of the Year Women’s Prestige:
Harajuku Lovers Fragrances by Gwen Stefani — Coty Prestige
Ma Dame by Jean Paul Gaultier — Beauté Prestige International

Best Packaging of the Year Men’s Prestige:
91X by Rocawear — Elizabeth Arden

Best Packaging of the Year Women’s Popular Appeal:
Bond Girl 007 by Avon — Avon Products Inc.

Best Packaging of the Year Men’s Popular Appeal:
McGraw by Tim McGraw — Coty Inc.

Best Media Campaign of the Year Women’s:
Sensuous — The Estée Lauder Cos.

Best Media Campaign of the Year Men’s:
Dirty English From Juicy Couture — Elizabeth Arden

Retailer of the Year:
QVC
Tova Borgnine

C.F.S.S. Top Scorer of the Year:
Carlos Fernandez — Velasco, business manager, Thierry Mugler Parfums, Clarins Fragrance Group, Saks Fifth Avenue, NYC

Source: Allure, Elle, The Fragrance Foundation, Osmoz.com and WWD

FiFi Awards Today -- FYI

The FiFi Awards, the Academy Awards of the fragrance industry, will happen today! Follow this annual award ceremony on Twitter -- twitter.com/TheFragranceFdn.

More Details about the FiFi Awards

The FiFi, created by the Fragrance Foundation, recognizes the most outstanding and creative ideas of the fragrance industry. It was conceived 35 years ago by Anette Green, President Emeritus of The Fragrance Foundation. The FiFi awards are currently held in six countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. The main ceremonies are held in New York in late spring.

When:
Wednesday May 27th 2009
Award Ceremony & Celebration from 6 p.m.

Where:
The Downtown Armory
26th Street & Lexington Avenue
New York City

Source: Fragrance Foundation

A Perfume Garden: An Interesting Fragrance Fact

A perfume created for Queen Elizabeth I inspired one of the show gardens at the Chelsea Garden Show that occurred from May 18 - 23. Garden designers Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins created the Perfume Garden, “an olfactory journey through time from the earliest of perfumes to the modern day." Red Cedar formed the "base" of the garden. "All the other plantings [had] roles in fragrance creation, including lavender, rose, fern and rose root. Pine, fennel, geranium, iris, sage and thyme [were] also present, as [were] hyacinth, lily and narcissus," according to Cosmetics International.

Source: Cosmetics International

How to Design Your Own Perfume Bottles: Fragrance Video Education

"When designing perfume bottles, use a photo editing program, such as Photoshop, to create a logo and label information in compliance with FDA regulations. Design a label on water-proof label paper for perfume bottles with helpful advice from a natural perfume producer in this free video on perfumes." -- eHow.com


How to Design Your Own Perfume Bottles -- powered by eHow.com

Source: eHow.com

The Report: Weekly Highlights of the Fragrance World: May 17 - 23, 2009

This week's news is very interesting as usual. Armani and Cacheral create fragrances inspired by influential women. Avon, The Body Shop, Cartier, Kenzo, Nicole Miller and Ermenegildo Zegna have launched and will introduce new fragrances. Finally, Le Labo sells a fragrance that is meant for your clothes. For more details, read The Report below.

• According to Now Smell This, Cacheral will launch a new perfume that refers to Scarlett Johansson and Scarlett O'Hara, the protagonist of Gone With The Wind. The new perfume will be simply named Scarlett. The main notes of this scent are tea leaves, citrus, pear, jasmine, orange blossom, honeysuckle, white musk and sandalwood.
  
• Avon has launched Chic in White. It is a floral-woodsy fragrance.


• The Body Shop introduces White Gardenia to the fragrance market. It is a floral-musk scent.


• Cartier will launch the Les Heures du Parfum (The Hours of Perfume) collection in the U.S. this fall.


• Do you need a luxury detergent to clean your clothes? Niche and upscale perfumer Le Labo has come out with a scented laundry soap called The Laundress. "A nose in your laundry! Why should the finest perfumes always be condemned to a glass spray bottle? Why should even high- end laundry products merely smell fresh and clean? We know you don't know and neither do we. The Laundress and Le Labo have hence decided to unite and address these incongruities. The idea? La crème de la crème of all- purpose detergent formulas perfumed with Le Labo's best-selling fragrance. The result? Your favorite sweater or shirt comes out of the wash clean, with the delicate and ultra- sensual smell of Rose 31," according to Le Labo's website.


• Giorgio Armani will launch a new perfume that will be inspired by the women in his life. It is called Idole d’Armani, and it is a spicy floral fragrance.


• Kenzo has added the fourth fragrance, Eau de Fleur de Prunier, to its "Eau de Fleur" collection. This spring fragrance is an "almondy floral scent."


• Nicole Miller and Parlux will come out with a new perfume in August. This new fragrance is called Frenzy, a modern chypre.


• Zegna Colonia will be Ermenegildo Zegna's newest fragrance for men. Zegna Colonia begins with Sicilian bergamot, neroli and cardamom. Its heart is iris and galbanum, and it dries down to musk, benzoin and cedar.

Source: Fragranceman.com, Le Labo, Osmoz.com, Now Smell This and WWD

The House of Guerlain: A Post-Documentary

Guerlain traces its origins back to 1828. Founded by Pierre-François Pascal Guerlain, the fragrance house has created some of the world's most famous and classic scents. It currently operates over 20 boutiques through out the world, and approximately 60% of its revenue comes from fragrance sells. Moët-Hennessey Louis Vuitton (LVMH) completely acquired Guerlain in 1996. The heir of the Guerlain dynasty, Jean-Paul Guerlain, still plays a creative role in the development of the house's fragrances.


The Guerlain Story



Interview with Jean-Paul Guerlain



Past and future of Guerlain



Selected Ads of Guerlain's Fragrances

Champs Elysées



Insolence



L'Instant Magic



Samsara



Shalimar




A Selected Chronological List of Guerlain's Fragrances

• Eau de Cologne impériale, 1853
• Fleur d'Italie,1884
• Skine, 1885
• Rococo, 1887
• Jicky, 1889
• Excellence, 1890
• Belle France, 1892
• Cipricime, 1894
• Eau de Cologne du coq, 1894
• Jardin de mon curé, 1895
• Voilà pourquoi j'aimais Rosine, 1900
• Mouchoir de Monsieur, 1904
• Champs Élysées, 1904
• Après l'ondée, 1906
• Kadine, 1911
• Heure bleue, 1912
• Mitsouko, 1919
• Shalimar, 1925
• Liu, 1929
• Vol de nuit, 1933
• Vega, 1936
• Ode, 1955
• Vetiver, 1956
• Chant d'aromes, 1962
• Habit Rouge, 1965
• Chamade, 1969
• L'eau de Guerlain, 1974
• Parure, 1975
• First, 1976
• Silences, 1978
• Nahéma, 1979
• Jardins de Bagatelle, 1983
• Derby, 1985
• Samsara, 1989
• Héritage, 1992
• Petit Guerlain, 1994
• Un air de Samsara, 1996
• Champs-Élysées, 1996
• Guerlinade, 1998
• L'Ame d'un Heros, 1998
• Terracotta, 1999
• Belle Epoque, 1999
• Cherry Blossom, 1999
• Aqua Allegoria, 1999
• Philtre d'amour, 2000
• Aqua Allegoria Floria Nerolia, 2000
• Too much, 2000
• Météorites, 2000
• Coriolan, 1998
• Mahora, 2000
• Purple Fantasy, 2001
• L'Instant de Guerlain, 2003
• Cuir Beluga, 2005
• Bois d'Arménie, 2006
• Insolence, 2006
• L'Instant Magic, 2007
• My Insolence, 2007
• Iris Ganache, 2007
• Cruel Gardenia, 2008
• Aqua Allegoria Figue Iris, 2008
• Guerlain Homme, 2008
• My Insolence, 2009

Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 23, Wikipedia and YouTube.com

Note: Post revised for clarity on 5/24/09.

Zegna Colonia by Ermenegildo Zegna - FYI

Zegna Colonia will be Ermenegildo Zegna's newest fragrance for men. It is expected to be launched in July or August. This fragrance is inspired by "La Dolce Vita." "'La Dolce Vita' is above all a state of mind, a way of looking at life: joyful, warm, positive and free. It also means enjoying the fine Italian life style. It immediately conjures up images of charismatic, intelligent and refined men accompanied by a radiant woman. A life filled with pleasure, sophistication and long summer days, la vita è bella!," said Anna Zegna, Image Director for the fashion and fragrance house.

Zegna Colonia begins with Sicilian bergamot, neroli and cardamom. Its heart is iris and galbanum, and it dries down to musk, benzoin and cedar. It will be available as an eau de toilette in two sizes -- a 2.6 oz bottle for $50 and a 4.2 oz bottle for $70.

Source: Press Release and WWD

Frenzy by Nicole Miller -- FYI

Nicole Miller and Parlux will come out with a new perfume in August. This new fragrance is called Frenzy. This modern chypre begins with cassis sorbet, bright orange and clean aldehydes. Its heart is yellow gardenia, exotic ylang-ylang, orange flower and violet leaf. Finally, it dries down to black patchouli, oakmoss, white cedarwood and amber. Frenzy will be available as a 1.7 oz eau de parfum for $65 and a 3.4 oz eau de parfum for $95.

Source: WWD

Armani's New Perfume -- FYI

Giorgio Armani will launch a new perfume that will be inspired by the women in his life. Called Idole d’Armani, Jean-Pierre Charriton, president of Giorgio Armani Parfums Worldwide, mentioned to WWD that "'he wanted to do a real tribute to femininity, a big thank you to all the women who have inspired him over the years.'" This perfume is expected to be introduced to the market in September. Idole d"Armani is a spicy floral fragrance. It opens with Sicilian clementine, juicy pear, ginger and Indian davana. Its middle notes are absolute saffron, Egyptian jasmine, and loukoum rose, and it dries down to patchouli and vetiver. The shape of Idole d' Armani's bottle is circular and it is inspired by the Art Deco period. It will be available in three sizes as an eau de parfum: 1 oz for $39.50, 1.7 oz for $62 and a 2.5 oz for $75.

Source: WWD

France's Version of the FiFi Awards

The Fragrance Foundation France and Marie Claire held the the Grand Prix du Parfum 2009 in Paris on May 11. It is the French version of the FiFi Awards. These are the winners of the Grand Prix du Parfum. 


Grand Prix du Parfum 2009

Fragrances

Meilleur Parfum Féminin en Distribution Sélective
(Best Women's Fragrance in Selective Distribution)
Chloé / Parfums Chloé

Meilleur Parfum Masculin en Distribution Sélective
(Best Men's Frgance in Selective Distribution)
1 Million / Paco Rabanne

Meilleur Parfum en Distribution Limitée
(Best Fragrance in Limited Distribution)
Collection Onde / Giorgio Armani

Meilleur Parfum de l’année en Distribution Exclusive
(Better Perfume of the Year in Exclusive Distribution)
Collection Les Hespérides / Diptyque

Meilleur Parfum de l’année pour un Parfum distribué sous Enseigne Propre
(Best Fragrance Sold in a Brand’s Own Store)
Collection Notre Flore : Le Jasmin / L’Occitane

Bottles

Meilleur Flacon de l’année pour un Parfum Féminin
(Best Bottle for a Women's Fragrance)
Chloé / Parfums Chloé

Meilleur Flacon de l’année pour un Parfum Masculin
(Best Bottle for a Men's Fragrance)
1 Million / Paco Rabanne

Advertising Campaign

Meilleure Communication de l’année pour un Parfum Féminin
(Best Ad Campaign for a Women's Fragrance)
Ma Dame / Jean Paul Gaultier

Meilleure Communication de l’année Parfum Masculin
(Best Ad Campaign for a Men's Fragrance)
1 Million / Paco Rabanne

Prix de la Rédaction Marie Claire
(Marie Claire Award)
Collection Les Hespérides / Diptyque

Source: Fragrance Foundation and WWD

Note: Post revised for clarity on 5/22/09.

La Nuit de L’Homme by YSL

La Nuit de L’Homme was launched by Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) in March of this year. According to YSL, this cologne is "a story of seduction, intensity and bold sensuality." La Nuit de L’Homme begins with cardamom and bergamot. Its heart is cedar and lavender and it dries down to vetiver and coumarin. It is available as a 1.3 oz eau de toilette spray for $43, 2 oz eau de toilette spray for $55 and 3.3 oz eau de toilette spray for $72. It is available at YSL


YSL - La Nuit de L'Homme



Source: The Moodie Report, YSL Beaute and YouTube

Fragrance News Special: Scent's Bond, Bond No. 9

"Want to rep your borough or neighborhood in a unique way? Try spritzing it on with a perfume from Bond No. 9. This New York-centric perfumery aims to "make scents" of the city's neighborhoods with quirky (and unisex) scents. The brand's latest creation? A wood-y scent named "Brooklyn" that comes in a bright, graffiti-covered version of Bond No. 9's trademark bottle. Find more local shops and services at LXTV." -- LXTV and Voxant

Les Heures du Parfum by Cartier -- FYI

Cartier will launch the Les Heures du Parfum (The Hours of Perfume) collection in the U.S. this fall. Inspired by time and memory, thirteen fragrances will be part of this line. Each one will be available as a 75-ml. eau de parfum or eau de toilette spray for $225.

Source: WWD

Caesars Man Legendary by Caesars World: An Original Review

Drinking shots of a strong cognac, tequila or vodka can be one of the most shocking, exhilarating and pleasing experiences. When I first gulp a shot, I feel a burning sensation down my throat, which makes me gag a little. Suddenly, the experience transforms into pure pleasure. Whenever I sniff my bottle of Caesars Man Legendary by Caesars World, I always get the same feeling as drinking a shot. It is a strong "shot" for my sense of smell. But, before I give you my full opinion, I will first tell you the background of this aromatic fougère cologne.

Named after one of the most powerful men in history, Julius Caesar, this fragrance is a tribute to his spirit. Caesars Man Legendary celebrates the power and strength of this legendary leader. According to the Fragrance Foundation's Fragrance Directory, this fragrance is a rich “combination of armoise, verbena, juniper berry, Italian bergamot, Alpine lavender, and fir balsam then balanced with warm, woody notes of fresh amber, Indian patchouli, treemoss, sandalwood and Haitian vetiver.”

As I mentioned in the second paragraph, Caesars Man Legendary reminds of a strong shot of good liquor. When I spray and sniff this cologne on my body, I am overcome by its intoxicating masculine top notes. I can imagine that it has the same effect as smelling salts. As the cologne mellows, my body feels and smells fresh, clean and natural. It reminds me of Irish Spring except it is more sophisticated.

I must admit that my acceptance of Caesars Man Legendary surprises me since it is an overly masculine cologne. I usually prefer my men's fragrances to have a touch of femininity to them. My experiences, however, with this manly fragrance has been very good. It is the man's man cologne. Of course, this shouldn't be surprising. It is named after one of the most masculine men in history, Julius Caesar.

Caesars Man Legendary is available as a 4 oz cologne spray for $39.50, a 4 oz after shave for $29.50 and a gift set (4 oz cologne spray, 4 oz after shave and 1.7 oz after shave balm) for $45.00. This fragrance is available at The Shops of Caesars Entertainment and other fine online perfumeries. I highly recommend this cologne for men who want to smell like real men.

Source: Fragrance Foundation's Fragrance Directory and The Shops of Caesars Entertainment

The Report: Weekly Highlights of the Fragrance World: May 10 - May 16,2009

I almost thought that this week's news would be dull. But, I was wrong. There were many exciting newsworthy stories in the fragrance world this week. John Varvatos newest scent has a peculiar bottle. Members of the entertainment, fashion and sports elite are becoming faces of new fragrances and beauty products. Chopard and Vivienne Westwood will launch new scents. Finally, white is the new summer color for fragrances. For more details about this week's news, read The Report.

• Artisan is John Varvatos newest scent for men. This fragrance, according to Osmoz, is elegant and fresh. It also has a very unique bottle; it is “covered with caramel-hued, hand-woven rattan. “
• Bond No. 9 is giving away free refills when customers purchase two or more products from the niche perfumer.
• Chopard launched its newest fragrance, Cascade, at Cannes' Eden Roc Hote following the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival. It is an oriental scent that features “notes of the Belle de Nuit, pink pepper, grapefruit, mandarin and orchid” according to Vogue UK.
• Fragrance powerhouse Coty confirms that Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, the daughter of French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld, will be fronting an advertising campaign for the new Jil Sander fragrance that is slated to come out later this year. She has already been the face of “Tom Ford's Black Orchid, denim brand Restoration of the Monarchy and Spanish fashion label Mango” according to Vogue.
• Freida Pinto, Evangeline Lilly and Elizabeth Banks are the newest faces of L'Oreal Paris. L'Oreal Paris is part of L'Oreal, who's portfolio includes Cacheral, Diesel, Giorgio Armani and Viktor & Rolf fragrances.
• The Colognes Collection by Hermes is now a trio. Eau d'Orange Verte, Eau de Pamplemousse Rose and Eau de Gentiane Blanche make up this collection.
• Nicolas Olczyk mentions in Osmoz that white is the color of summer fragrances. “While it’s true that the bottles for summer editions often flaunt pink, blue, green or orangey hues, we still can’t ignore white, the It color this season. Shiseido, for instance, has created a white cube for Zen; Kenzo is garbing Eau Florale Kenzo Amour in crystalline white, and Cacharel has given the Amor Amor bottle a coat of white lacquer. And as for Hugo Boss, they’re proposing the Boss in Motion White Edition for men,” writes Mr. Olczyk.
• Now Smell This mentions that Argentine polo player Nacho Figueras will be the new model for Polo Blue and Polo Modern Reserve. He is already the face for Polo Black.
• Vivienne Westwood has launched Boudoir Jouy. It is a lighter version of Boudoir perfume, which was introduced in 1998. According to Vogue, this fragrance “features fresh top notes of red berries, mandarin and bamboo, blended with peony, jasmine and a mellow cashmere wood.”

Source: Fragranceman.com, Osmoz.com, Now Smell This and Vogue (British Edition)

Flower by Kenzo

Introduced in 2000 by Kenzo, Flower was inspired by poppies. "In a hyper-urbanized technological world, this flower embodies the bond with nature. Poppies grow in most unexpected places, in the heart of the city. Although odorless, they symbolize force of expression and vital energy in Kenzo's flowery fragrance," according to Osmoz. This sensuous floral begins with cassis and hawthorn which leads to jasmine, rose and violet in its heart. Flower eventually dries down to opoponax, vanilla and white musk. It can be used for day or night wear, and it is currently available at many online perfumeries.

Flower by Kenzo



Flower by Kenzo - ShuQi



Flower by Kenzo (2003)



Source: Osmoz.com and Youtube.com

Sicily by Dolce & Gabbana

Launched in 2003 by Dolce & Gabbana, Sicily is a floral-oriental fragrance. According to Perfume.com, this perfume "brings the genuine Italian temperament of the people of this beautiful island with an unforgettable mix of aldehydes, combined with floral notes and warm oriental base." The main notes for Sicily are bergamot, honeysuckle, hibiscus, jasmine, rose, musk, heliotrope and sandalwood. It is recommended for evening wear.


Sicily by Dolce & Gabbana Commercial



Source: Perfume.com

Fragrance Shopping

I did it again. A few days ago, I went fragrance shopping, and I bought tons of them. I couldn't help it! I'm a fragrance and shopping addict. To make myself feel a little better, everything I bought was at a really good price. Many of the scents that were added to my collection were not new to the fragrance world. As a matter of fact, some of them had been selling in the fragrance market for many, many years. Well, here's my list. Enjoy!

Additions to My Fragrance Wardrobe

• Aficionado by Cigar
• Alien by Thierry Mugler
• Ange Ou Demon by Givenchy
• Bvlgari Extreme by Bulgari
• Carolina by Carolino Herrera
• Chanel No. 5 by Chanel
• Daisy by Marc Jacobs
• Ellen Tracy by Ellen Tracy
• Enjoy by Jean Patou
• Femme Rochas by Rochas
• Flowerbomb by Viktor & ROlf
• Giorgio by Giorgio Beverly Hills
• Gucci for Women by Gucci
• Givenchy for Men by Givenchy
• I Love Love by Moschino
• Kelly Caleche by Hermes
• Michael Kors by Michael Kors
• Raw Vanilla by Coty
• Red by Giorgio Beverly Hills
• Sicily by Dolce & Gabbana
• Usher for Men by Usher

P.S. I bought most of these fragrances from Fragrancex.com. This online perfumery has a good selection of older fragrances.

Hermes Trio -- FYI

The Moodie Report mentions that Hermes has extended its Colognes collection. Beginning with Eau d'Orange Verte in 1979, this collection now includes two new fragrances -- Eau de Pamplemousse Rose and Eau de Gentiane Blanche. Eau d'Orange Verte is obviously a citrus based scent. It features orange, lemon and mandarin notes with hints of buchu and mint. Eau de Pamplemousse Rose is a sparkly fresh fragrance. Grapefruit, orange, Rhubofix, rose and vetiver are its main notes. Finally, Eau de Gentiane Blanche is complex and very sophisticated. It is mainly composed of white musk, iris and incense. Their bottles are inspired by carriage lanterns.

Source: The Moodie Report

Blending Aromatherapy Oils for a Nighttime Fragrance: Fragrance Video Education

"How to blend aromatherapy oils to make a fragrance to wear when you go out at night; get expert tips and advice on aromatherapy ingredients and techniques in this free personal health video." -- Expert Village

Blending Aromatherapy Oils for a Nighttime Fragrance -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

Source: Expert Village

Free Refills from Bond No. 9

Get a free refill of your favorite Bond No. 9 fragrances when you purchase two or more products from the luxury perfumer. Free refills are available at Bond No. 9 boutiques and Saks Fifth Avenue. For more details, read the press release below.

The Bond No. 9 Stimulus Package:

Bring us your embarrassingly empty bottles of eau de parfum,

and we’ll give you refills—on us.

Fact: We all need an antidote to the Recessionary Blues. Fact: Fragrance is a fast-acting antidote to Recessionary Blues. Of course, when times are lean we pull back on spending, especially for luxury items. But … here comes another Fact: It has been proven beyond a scientific doubt that those who fail to re-stock on their favorite fragrance will not only suffer more intense Recessionary Blues, but will find that their sense of personal scented worth has been diminished.

Bond No. 9 wishes for its loyal clientele to avoid any psychic losses, ever. So we are taking active measures to restore their sense of scented liquidity. Specifically, during the first two weeks of June, we are giving away free eau de parfum refills—well, free with any two other Bond No. 9 purchases. Those purchases could be our Scented Candles, our I Love New York Double Decker box of a dozen flacons, our Perfumista’s Custom Blending Box, our Bon Bon or Mini Bon Bon Boxes, our Body Silk, our Solid Perfume Token, or any of our eaux de parfum. (And what a good deal this is: Usually when you buy two to get one free, the third item is the lowest in price. Here, it’s the reverse.)

All that’s necessary is for customers to bring their empty fragrance flacons to any of our New York stores or any Bond No. 9 counter at Saks Fifth Avenue. They then make a purchase of any two of the above, and they will receive a quick refill.

To be sure, money is spent in this transaction. But it is also saved. What’s more, the purchase is ecologically as well as economically sound. And the two items purchased can be given as gifts to others—to spare them their own Recessionary Scent Withdrawal. That is Bond No. 9’s idea of sound fiscal policy.

Source: Press Release

Three Rising Stars Become New Faces of L'Oreal -- FYI

Freida Pinto, Evangeline Lilly and Elizabeth Banks are the newest faces of L'Oreal Paris. “We have been won over by their rising careers as actresses, together with their attachment to the values of humanity and diversity,” stated Vianney Derville, international general manager of L’Oréal Paris, to WWD. Pinto is one of the stars of the Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaires." She will also be featured in a Woody Allen movie that will be filmed later this year. Lilly is known for her role in the television series "Lost." She is currently the spokeswoman for Cool Water except in the U.S. Finally, Banks is well known for her starring role as Barbara Bush in "W." According to WWD, she will be featured in "upcoming movies 'The Details,' 'Forever 21' and 'What Were We Thinking.'"

L'Oreal Paris is part of L'Oreal, who's portofolio includes Cacheral, Diesel, Giorgio Armani and Viktor & Rolf fragrances.

Source: Creative Commons License (Image), Wikipedia and WWD

How to Make Natural Perfume Oils: Fragrance Video Education

"When making natural perfume, use sweet almond oil, olive oil or vegetable oil to create a product with anti-inflammatory properties that can be used to reduce swelling and wrinkles. Create natural perfumes for a bath or a massage with tips from a natural healing specialist in this free video on natural health and hygiene." -- eHow.com


How to Make Natural Perfume -- powered by eHow.com

Source: eHow.com

Fragrance News Special: Only the Brave and Common

When I told you all about Diesel's Only the Brave about month ago, I did not know that hip hop artist Common is one of the faces for this cologne. Want more details, watch the videos below.

Common Gets "Brave" With New Fragrance

"HipHollywood.com was in Beverly Hills over the weekend for the release of Common's new cologne "Only The Brave." Go ahead and click the play button to hear Common give us the dish on his new scent and watch his reaction when we ask him about Serena."




Only the Brave Commercial with Common



Source: Voxant, WWD and YouTube