Summer Scent

Seven fragrances appear in Vogue's July Summer Scent selection, and here's what they are.

 

1.Biscotti by Marc Jacobs, part of the Marc Jacobs Splash Patisserie range.

Light Blue - Dolce & Gabbana

There's a two page ad in the front of this month's British Vogue for Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana. Light Blue was launched in 2001 and by all accounts has been an extremely successful fragrance. The perfumer is Olivier Cresp, who's also the creator behind other huge successes including, most notably, Thierry Mugler's Angel and Black XS by Paco Rabanne.

So, I wanted to get a feel for Light Blue and what the fragrance is about.

Santa Maria Novella

I'm currently sampling the two newest fragrances from Santa Maria Novella - Ottone and Porcellana. The Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella has sent me some of their literature. It's got an amazing history, which is fascinating, so I thought I'd share some of the details here.

Atelier Cologne - Cologne Absolue

Some lovely samples from Atelier Cologne arrived this morning. Really looking forward to trying them, particularly Orange Sanguine. Atelier Cologne sets the scene for each fragrance with these little vignettes:

Orange Sanguine

It was the kind of moment you would want to revisit. Everyone was here, gathered on the terrace for breakfast, and the scent of fresh oranges was diffusing in the yellow heat. A symphony of their laughter and waves hitting the cliffs played in the air.

CB I Hate Perfume

Christopher Brosius is the genius behind CB I Hate Perfume. To learn more about CB and his unique perfume house, there's an informative article in today's Wall Street Journal. Here's the link.

Grapefruit Perfume - The Smell of Weight Loss?

Now that skimpy summer clothes are leaping out of the wardrobe, it's not a bad time to shed a pound or two. The zesty smell of grapefruit oil is said to help with weight loss. Here's a list of some to try. As well as (maybe) helping with that diet, citrus perfumes are cool and refreshing for the steamy days of summer. 

Annick Goutal - Eau de Hadrien

Comme des Garcon's Energy C Series - Grapefruit

Demeter - Pink Grapefruit

Floris - Grapefruit and Rosemary

Fresh - Hesperides

Guerlain - Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune

Hermes - Eau de Pamplemousse Rose

Jo Malone - Grapefruit

Kiehl's - Grapefruit Oil

Marc Jacobs Splash - Grapefruit

Moschino - I Love Love

Parfums de Nicolai - Balle de Match

Histoires de Parfums

Sometimes I feel like I'm running to stand still. There are so many lovely perfumes, and many more being released all the time that it's almost impossible to keep up.

Histoires de Parfums have been kind enough to get in touch and send me samples for their fragrances. It will take me a good few weeks to try all of them. So in the meantime, here's a list of everything I'm going to be sampling:

New Fragrance - English Pear & Freesia by Jo Malone

English Pear & Freesia was inspired by the Keats ode 'To Autumn', it's all about the last days of summer, when the weather is beginning to turn cool again.

Combined with a honeyed, liquid note of quince, the pear is undercut with the delicate freshness of white freesias and scrambling wild roses. Base notes of patchouli, white amber and musk add a subtle warm undertone. An unconventional keynote of cool green rhubarb - acidic and at the same time soft - gives an unusual and disctinctively modern sensibility to a classically understated and evocatively English fragrance.

Christine Nagel is the perfumer behind English Pear & Freesia, which will be available from September 2010. Once I've worn it a few times I'll post  a full review.

New Fragrance - Rose Splendide by Annick Goutal

Just had a sneak preview of Annick Goutal's gorgeous new rose fragrance, Rose Splendide . It's an elegant rose fragrance ensconsed in a green landscape.

Fresh and green, this new fragrance is reminiscent of early morning walks through gardens sparkling under the new day's dew... A composition based on the delicate fragile Centifolia Rose, enhanced by the fresh scent of magnolias, musk and a touch of pear, for an incredibly mischievous revelation!

Annick Goutal is supporting AVEC, a French breast cancer association, with a contribution of 5 Euros for every purchase of Rose Splendide, Quel Amour! and Rose Absolue during the months of September and October.

The limited edition rose collection is available at Liberty from 25th July and at selected stores nationwide from 16th August.  The 100ml EdT is £73.

Summer Fragrances from Grazia Magazine

Here are Grazia magazine's top picks for summer.  

CK one Summer

YSL Elle

Emporio Armani Diamonds Summer

Stella McCartney Sheer

Givenchy Very Irresistible Summer Vibrations

DSquared She Wood Crystals Creek Wood

Burberry Summer For Women

Thierry Mugler Alien Sunessence

Pretty by Elizabeth Arden

Ralph Lauren Romance Summer

Aromatics Elixir by Clinique

Marc Jacobs Splash Apple Patiserie

New Blog Name - My Perfume Life

I've just leapt across to a new domain name www.myperfumelife.com. At the same time I've changed my blog name to MyPerfumeLife but you'll still be able to access it from the old address.

Everything else about the blog is the same, so I hope you'll keep reading.  'Signature Scent' didn't feel right any more. I'm not looking for a signature scent, just enjoying trying out all the great perfumes out there. And still loving my favourite perfume, Clinique's Aromatics Elixir.

Thanks to all you readers - I appreciate all the feedback and comments.

Cosmo Competition: Nominate Your Favourite Perfumes

Complete this Cosmopolitan survey about your favourite fragrances and you could win 21 fragrances.

Here are MyPerfumeLife's favourites in all the categories:

Sexiest fragrance for women - Jasmin Noir by Bvlgari

Sexiest fragrance for men - Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
Freshest fragrance for women - Christian Dior Escale a Portofino
Freshest fragrance for men - Jo Malone Nutmeg and Ginger
Best celebrity fragrance for women - Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely
Best celebrity fragrance for men - Antonion Banderas Seduction in Black
Best bottle design for women - Daisy by Marc Jacobs
Best bottle design for men - Cool Water by Davidoff

The survey closes on the 14th June 2010.

Harper's Bazaar Fragrance Tips for Summer

Harper's Bazaar highlights some great fragrances for summer. 

Serge Lutens L'Eau and Voyage D'Hermes are both in the spotlight as 'clean, new scents for this summer'.

Rather than using a perfume for the summer, why not try swapping over to a lotion. The three HB recommends are Annick Goutal's Eau du Sud, Clarins Eau Dynamisante and Jo Malone's Lime, Basil and Mandarin Body Lotion.

Harper's Bazaar also mentions eaudemoiselle de Givenchy, the latest Givenchy perfume, released in April.

Fragrance Review - Caudalie's Fleur de Vigne

Caudalie make lots of claims about their products being natural. And who doesn't enjoy a product more if you believe it's doing you good? The Caudalie cologne, Fleur de Vigne, is no exception. The packet of this fresh lemony spritz says:

Citrus fruits ultra-rich in vitamins lend freshness to this energizing splash. The subtle fragrance is an hommage to the Fleur de Vigne (grape blossom) that only blooms for several days in June, 110 days before the grape harvest. 

I love the image of flowers growing on the vine and then being used for skin and fragrance products. Caudalie's 'anti-taches' skin perfecter makes the following claim on its packaging:

young girls once used the sap from freshly cut grapevine stalks to lighten spots and clarify their complexion.

We mobilized our team of researchers... After 3 years of research, they were successful in isolating and stabilizing a remarkable molecule from grapevine-stalks... with exceptional dark spot-correcting effect.

The image of young Italian girls using vine sap for their skin is just too romantic to pass up. (Needless to say, I use this product every day.) Natural products tick all the boxes for me. Great to feel that you're improving your skin without resorting to harsh chemicals.

By the same token, I'm delighted to wear the Fleur de Vigne fragrance as it's convincingly natural. And the smell is lemony and refreshing.

 

The 10 Best Perfume Bottles

10. Issey Miyake's A Scent Florale is a lovely chunky bottle. The glass has a mild pink hue and the side are frosted. It's like a stylised glass brick.

9. The Marc Jacobs' Splash Range come in oversized 200ml bottles. Simplistic and uncluttered.

8. The packaging for Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. is deeply satisfying. The proportions of the lid and the bottle are inverted, so it has an oversized gold cap. Quirky and individual. 

7. For true girlie appeal, Flora Gucci is fantastic. The angular shape of the bottle and the cord bow around the neck are fun and stylish. 

6. There are two types of Annick Goutal bottle, I love the gold bow and the pretty look of this style.

5. The larger CB I Hate Perfume bottles are distinctively oversized. These functional bottles are super tall so they are slim and easy to hold.

4. For pure kitsch factor, what can beat the miniaturised cocktail shakers of Benefit's Crescent Lane trio?

3. Bond No. 9 have found a way to make all their bottles create a recognised range, but be completely individual in their own right. This vivid Bond No. 9 Chinatown bottle mirrors the shape, but not the colours or style of the rest of the series.

2. Lanvin La Rose is a cutesy new bottle. What's not to love?

1.MyPerfumeLife gives the number one spot to Marc Jacobs' Daisy. It's in a class of its own when it comes to the packaging. What a pretty, unique and recognisable bottle. 

Fifi Men's Luxe Category - Grey Vetiver by Tom Ford

The voting has now closed for the Fifi awards, and the final results will be announced next month. I'm fitting in a few final reviews before the results come out. 

Tom Ford's Grey Vetiver is a delightful resinous fragrance. According to OsMoz the notes are grapefruit, orange flower, sage, nutmeg, pimiento and orris on a base of oakmoss, amber and woods.


The end result is a very classy masculine fragrance, with the individual notes balancing each other perfectly.

Your Aromatic Landscape

Which was your favourite room to play in as a child? Apparently this question is part of Guerlain's individual perfume consultation and the answer has a huge impact on the fragrances that you are drawn to throughout your life.

Did you play with your toys on varnished floorboards with resinous and woody smells? Or did you play in the heart of the house, the kitchen where warm and spicy foods were cooked? Are your best childhood memories of days at the seaside with hot, salty skin? Or did you love playing in the garden surrounded by herbaceous, earthy smells? Was there a specific plant outside your bedroom whose aroma infused your dreams?

Whatever the answer may be, it will most likely have framed the palate of fragrance notes that you identify with and like. As a child I almost certainly didn't come into contact with much strong and spicy food. The English countryside is, in general, fairly mild smelling. Consequently, although I'd love to love amber, incense and strong, heady smells, that's just not the way that my nose is inclined. My preference is for herby and floral smells. For instance, tuberose is one of my favourite flowers and I'm drawn to floral mixtures in perfume, such as the classic Quelques Fleurs L'Original by Houbigant.

The link between smell and memory is well documented. I hadn't made the leap beyond linking specific smells with certain events. In fact, it seems likely that the smells you regularly come into contact with in your early life, will fairly much be the ones that you are drawn to forever.

Before you make your next perfume purchase, take a moment to consider whether you are just following the latest fragrance trend, or if the perfume really resonates with you. It's hugely pleasurable finding perfumes that you love, and that's what I'm hoping MyPerfumeLife helps you with.

As as sidenote, some friends of mine live above Pizza Hut. They converted their loft into a bedroom and moved up there. This meant that the Pizza Hut air vent would be right outside their bedroom window. On the first evening in their new room, they threw open the window and... could smell Tuscany! Fabulous.

Jo Malone Cologne Intense

There are four new fragrances in the new Cologne Intense range by Jo Malone, created by perfumer Christine Nagel. The Cologne Intense range will be available from July 2010.

Amber & Patchouli Cologne Intense

When used in fragrance layering Amber & Patchouli adds a spicy woody accent. One of the notes is white amber, which is chemically synthesized from clary sage. The patchouli note creates a woody balsamic element with earthy undertones. The final note is guaiac wood which is also woody, balsamic and tea-like.

Oud & Bergamot Cologne Intense

The bergamot fruit grows on a small evergreen tree. The oil found in the skin of the bergamot fruit is used in perfume for a sweet, citrus scent with a soft floral accent. Cedarwood is used to balance the smoky nature of oud, which generates a caramelized woody accord.

Rose Water & Vanilla Cologne Intense

Light and delicate rose water is teamed with neroli and petitgrain. Rose Loukoum represents turkish delight for a sweet gourmand element. The base of vanilla, patchouli and musk give this cologne a sophisticated dry down.

Iris & White Musk Cologne Intense

The iris note comes from an orris concentrate, the most expensive ingredient in perfumery, and is floral, powdery and woody. Violet is combined with the iris to provide a crisp, green, sugary accent. The musk base amplifies the top notes of the perfume.

Link Love

Some of my real world friends write great blogs, which I hope you will find interesting.

Gluten Free Mrs D is a new blog by a great friend of mine - it's all about living a gluten free life.

Without doubt, my sportiest friend writes Thoosa Running Girl. I can only aspire to a lifestyle so healthy.

One of my oldest friends and her husband live in Bangkok. You can read about their exploits at the Thai Green Currier.

And finally, a classic fragrance recommendation from MyPerfumeLife, Cool Water by Davidoff. It may be an oldy, but it's still a goody. 

Laugh with me Lee Lee - Crescent Row Collection by Benefit

The Crescent Row Collection fits perfectly within the Benefit brand. The names are fun, the packaging is incredibly creative and the perfumes are cute and likeable. It's great to have some lighthearted fun with perfumes that don't take themselves too seriously.

Each perfume in the Crescent Row Collection comes in its own mini-house. Put together, the three boxes look like a little crescent shaped road. Even the bottles are novelties - shaped as cocktail shakers. Laugh with me Lee Lee is the first one that I've tried - it's a cute fruity floral. It's not going to push back any boundaries. But on the other hand its relatively smooth, isn't jarring and is very easy to wear. 

Laugh with me Lee Lee is would be a great gift. It's something fun, from a brand with a great reputation, and it's as much about the packaging as the actual juice. Benefit have even developed a cute little website for the range. You can visit it here.

Perfume Portrait at Ormonde Jayne with Linda Pilkington - Part Two

The process of the Perfume Portrait is hugely enjoyable. If, like me, you're not keen on beauty treatments because of their fleeting nature, then the Perfume Portrait is the perfect antidote. You will find out about smells and fragrances that naturally please your palate and your perfume 'prescription' may be a fragrance that you wear forever. 

To begin with Linda Pilkington and I chatted generally about perfumes that I like and don't like; what I usually wear and what aromas appeal to me. This is interesting as it made me identify my favourite smells, which are generally flowers and foliage. My nose can rarely be tempted away from greens and florals, although I'm appreciating a wider variety of scents these days.

Then Linda has a sort of magic drawer, which has oils representing many of the individual notes included in Ormonde Jayne fragrances. Linda told me not to try to identify these individually. As she held each oil to my nose I gave a visceral reaction to whether I liked it or not. I wish that after the process I had made a note of the specific oils. But largely they are classic fragrance ingredients that you would expect, such as cedar, pink pepper, jasmine, vanilla etc. 

During the Portrait, Linda talked about reactions she had had from others to various oils. Some scents appeal to a large proportion of people, whereas some are hugely unpopular. Apparently the oakmoss note is one that is almost universally disliked. It's an intensely musty smell - like an old cupboard that has got damp and never dried out.

What was most fascinating was Linda's huge knowledge of the perfume industry at large. We talked about Ormonde Jayne's recent entry into Harrods and the impact it has had on her business. We talked about other perfume companies and their profile on the blogsphere and elsewhere. Linda also has some great insights on some of the key personalities in perfume, largely confirming the picture that I've built up through reading interviews and comments on the internet.

At the end of the process Linda recommended Champaca and Ormonde Woman for me. Trying one on each arm Ormonde Woman was my favourite. The Ormonde Jayne website gives the notes as cardamom, coriander, grass oil, black hemlock, violet and jasmine on a base of vetiver, cedarwood, amber and sandalwood.

Overall it was a hugely enjoyable experience. Not least because Linda Pilkington is lovely. I would highly recommend it.

The Classics Eaux Parfumees by Miller Harris

My other treat today was a meeting with Miller Harris at their Bruton Street tea rooms. I know, life is just too good.

I sampled virtually every Miller Harris fragrance as well as trying out their newest range - The Classics Eaux Parfumees. This is a series of colognes based on the four original Miller Harris scents - Citron Citron, Coeur de Fleur, Terre de Bois and Fleur Oriental. These are milder colognes to be used liberally. The Eaux Parfumees come in iconic 200ml bottles so that they can be generously splashed on.

For some reason I can barely smell Coeur de Fleur. I'm not sure why. In particular the Coeur de Fleur Eau Pafumee just doesn't register on my nose. Of the others, I would say that Terre de Bois is my stand out favourite. Citron Citron is beautifully zesty, but I appreciate it much more as a handwash, (which I incidentally also tried out today).

The team at Miller Harris were really informed told me loads of great stuff about Miller Harris and perfume in general. We also talked about Lyn Harris's bespoke service, which I have been pretty scathing about in the past. But actually they made a pretty convincing case for it, and I'm softening towards the idea despite the hefty price tag.

Perfume Portrait at Ormonde Jayne with Linda Pilkington

The lovely Linda Pilkington, Ormonde Jayne's founder and perfume creator, spent an hour and a half with me today. Linda has got so much to say about perfume creation plus a wealth of information about well known people in the industry. It was captivating talking to her, I had to tear myself away. 

I came away from the Perfume Portrait with a bottle of Ormonde Jayne's signature fragrance, Ormonde Woman. This is probably not the fragrance I would have selected from the collection. But part of the idea of the Perfume Portrait is to push you out of your comfort zone and try new things. 

I feel blitzed today after so much fragrant excitement. Tomorrow I'll describe Ormonde Woman in detail along with the process of the Perfume Portrait. 

Bronze Goddess by Estee Lauder

Bronze Goddess is a very mild and easy to wear summer fragrance. It's "inspired by a tropical beach under the constant heat of the sun."

There's been a lot of hype about the limited edition Bronze Goddess Solid Perfume Pendant. I haven't seen one of these yet, but am on the look out, as the general consensus is very positive. 

If you like the idea of a solid perfume, here are three solid perfume recommendations from Stylist magazine. MyPerfumeLife has some other recommendations for summer scent. Or you can read more about other Estee Lauder fragrances.

Benneton Verde, Rosso, Blu and Giallo

Benetton have just launched four new fragrances. Red and yellow are the female fragrances; green and blue are for men. I haven't tried these, but below are the descriptions of these new scents.

Benetton Rosso

a cocktail of lush, juicy fruit notes – mandarin, citron and passion fruit...with a tender floral heart of elegant peony, delicate syringa and quintessentially feminine jasmine sambac. The intimate, comforting dry-down mingles soft notes of patchouli heart and storax, while vanilla surrounds the harmony with its warm, sweet embrace. 

Benetton Giallo

vibrant top notes of water fruit, red fruit and anis, refreshed by a crisp hint of spearmint. The bright floral heart blends the charms of fresh, transparent lotus, pure, modern rose and the soft powdery notes of violet, balanced by a touch of velvety peach. The dry-down is an addictive harmony of tonka bean, vanilla and musks, whose sensuality is underscored by radiant white woods.

Benetton Verde

In the top notes, tangy grapefruit contrasts with the spiciness of cardamom and the
unexpected sparkle of juicy melon. In the heart, the timeless masculinity of green violet leaves and aromatic geranium are energized by an unmistakable dash of nutmeg. The warm, comfortable base notes are infused with the classic dry signature of cedarwood, rounded out by charismatic gaiac and mellow benzoin.

Benetton Blu

.. top notes combine the sparkle of lemon with an innovative cool air harmony to liberate the senses, while lavender evokes peace and tranquility. The aromatic heart asserts the resolutely masculine character of the fragrance, blending the natural green scent of basil with rosemary oil and clary sage. The dry-down sweeps over the senses in a wave of harmony, as elegant white cedarwood and intense patchouli heart mingle with soft cocoa bean to offer a sensual  interpretation of the world's favorite color.

Summer Body Care & Beauty Essentials

Warm weather is finally arriving.  In order to prepare your body for summer here's a quick peak at what's in my summer skincare cabinet.

I'm a bit of a do-it-yourself addict. For various reasons, going to salons and having things done to you is not something I enjoy. I've always been a big fan of home kits and products.

To keep hair legs free, I've tried home depilation kits of various sorts. I've yet to try one of the new lazer machines, but will invest in one soon. I've found this silkepil to be one of the best and most effective gadgets for hair removal. It's quick, easy to use, and relatively pain free once you find the right technique.

This hair-removing 'sandpaper' is also great to keep in your handbag. It's a hassle-free solution to keep your legs smooth and hair free. Great as a quick-fix in the summer months.

With a  typical washed-out English complexion, I need to wear mascara to look human, which can be a problem on holiday. This eyelash dye kit (and ones like it) has been my friend since I was about sixteen. It's not too fiddly to do, just needs a bit of patience to let the colour set.

Exfoliation is, without doubt, essential to keep skin smooth and soft. I read about body brushing for years, but had never tried it out. About a year ago I took the plunge and bought a brush. I haven't looked back -  IT'S FABULOUS. My skin has never been softer or smoother. 

Remember to buy a relatively soft brush to start with as you don't want to irritate your skin. There are quite a few online guides to how to brush your body. I'm not convinced that the order that you brush your body parts or the particular brushing technique matters that much. It's just about doing it regularly and keeping it up.

Finally, if your toes are going to be exposed - they need to be painted. It doesn't matter what colour; I've got a whole host of bright colour for my toenails. If they're painted they looked cared for and loved. And while you're painting them it might remind you to give the rest of your feet a bit of attention too. 

And of course - don't forget your Clinique Aromatics Elixir body smoother.

Nicole Miller - Giveaway at NST Closes Today

Just seen that there's a bottle of Nicole Miller fragrance that's up for grabs over at NST. But you have to be quick, the giveaway closes at midday (New York time) today.

Nicole Miller is a new fragrance. It has notes of cassis sorbet, orange, clean aldehydes, yellow gardenia, ylang ylang, orange blossom, violet leaves, black patchouli, oakmoss, cedar and amber. 

It's a really unusual bottle. Unlike anything else I've seen.

COPRA Award Winners - Narciso Rodriguez - Essence and Gucci Flora

Best New Female Fragrance in Limited Distribution:
Narciso Rodriguez, Essence (Winner)
Victor and Rolf, Eau Mega
Chanel, Cristalle Eau Verte

Look Magazine Award for Best New Female Fragrance:
Gucci, Flora (winner)
Nina Ricci, Ricci Ricci
Boss Orange, Woman
Benefit ,Crescent Row
Armani, Idole
Marc Jacobs, Lola
D & G, Rose The One

Best New Male Fragrance:
Diesel, Only The Brave (Winner)
YSL, La Nuit De L'Homme
Givenchy, Pi Neo

Best New Male Fragrance in Limited Distribution:
Tom Ford, Grey Vetiver (Winner)
Gucci, Gucci Pour Homme
Bond No 9, Harrods For Him

Further (non-fragrance) winners and more details here.

Marc Jacobs Splash Patisserie Collection - Apple, Pomegranate and Biscotti

These super chic bottles from Marc Jacobs are the three new Splash fragrances in the patisserie range. 

Apple is 'aromatic and energizing'. It was developed by Yann Vasnier, whose other notable fragrances include Donna Karan Gold and another Marc Jacobs fragrance Lola.

Pomegranate 'exudes an inviting balance of elegance and brightness'. Biscotti 'with its savory aroma and a touch of citrus' is definitely the most talked about. I haven't had time to try them yet, but after a quick sniff I'm pretty sure that I'm going to love Biscotti. The notes include freesia, bergamot, pistachio blossom and vanilla.

These fragrances are amazingly good value - the large 300ml bottle is only £45.

Fleurs de Sel by Miller Harris - One of Chandler Burr's Top Summer Picks

Chandler Burr recently listed Fleurs de Sel in his pick of summer fragrances. So I tracked some down, and here it is in the gorgeously stylish Miller Harris bottle.

The title of Chandler Burr's selection was Ocean Currents. Perfect for this seaside fragrance:

Fleurs de Sel  is a very herbaceous and earthy fragrance. Its inspiration comes from a small village in France called Batz sur Mer where the world's most famous salt is produced. The refinement of this delicious scent comes from the delicacy of the flowers at the edge of the salt marshes, iris, narcisse and rose, finally blending them with the woods, vetiver grass and moss with a twist of leather to create the depth. 

Fleurs de Sel is part of The Nouvelle Ediction Collection, which is exclusively available in Miller Harris shops.

Mandragore Pourpre by Annick Goutal

Annick Goutal is possibly my favourite perfume range. There are lots of feminine and pretty florals to choose from. Songes is an exquisite floral with notes of frangipani, jasmine and tiare. Ninfeo Mio is all about figs, and for me evokes childhood garden memories. Eau du Sud is the ultimate hot weather fragrance. The genius perfumer behind all of them is Isabelle Doyen. It comes as no surprise that Mandragore Pourpre, one of her latest creations, from 2009, is also covetable.

Mandragore Pourpre evokes summer in the heat of the day.  It's like sitting next to an aromatic bush in a beautiful garden on a hot afternoon. Very few fragrances manage to successfully create this gentle aromatic garden quality. Although Eau du Sud has echoes of something similar. 

To give you an idea of the herb elements in this fragrance, the Annick Goutal website lists notes including mint, star anise, rosemary and geranium. 

I like Mandragore Pourpre and think it will be perfect for warm weather days. It wouldn't be top of my list from the Annick Goutal house of great fragrances, but it's  charming, light and very wearable. If you're looking for a warm weather fragrance, then MyPerfumeLife's list of summer colognes features some light, transparent fragrances.

Chandler Burr's Latest Perfume Selection - Ocean Currents

As a perfume blogger, I wait anxiously each month to hear Chandler Burr's pronouncements on what's cool in fragrances. And today the latest list came out. This month's must haves are:

1. Hermès’ Un Jardin en Mediterranee

2. James Heeley’s Sel Marin

3. Miller Harris’ Fleurs de Sel

4. Bobbi Brown’s Beach

5. Coppertone

6. The Different Company’s Sel de Vetiver

I'm off right now to track down these down to review on MyPerfumeLife. Might skip the Coppertone though. You can read Chandler Burr's full perfume selection in the New York Times.

Stella McCartney - Nude

Nude is a fragrance that I've mentioned in passing several times. This gorgeous Stella McCartney fragrance deserves a post of its own. Nude is the archetypal modern rose fragrance. It's soft and powdery and lavish. 

If you don't like rose fragrances, don't give up on them until you've tried Nude. It's contradictory, but Nude is both rich and also beautifully gauzey. 

Rose is a fragrance that's familiar to all of us, whether you realise it or not. Rose perfumes, soaps, washes and room fragrances abound. But frequently they are done very badly. Recently I tried the Cath Kidston own label rose fragrance - it should be called Acid Rose. Grim. 

I often read the word description 'sparkling' about modern fragrances. Nude typifies the sparkling trend. It's almost a single note fragrance, polished into absolute purity. A tinge of citrus and peony help bring the rose to life, in the same way that champagne is meant to make strawberries taste even better. 

I didn't expect to like this fragrance. I don't think I would choose to wear this every day - but  it's a solid part of my perfume wardrobe alongside sister modern florals, Fleur du Matin by Miller Harris and Narciso Rodriguez For Her.

Fifi Men's Popular Appeal - Seduction in Black by Antonio Banderas

Our new internet provider (I'm naming no names) has installed broadband without the wifi box. Why would anyone do that? Rather than being free to blog on an already overcrowded kitchen table, I have to kneel on the floor with the computer perilously balanced so the cable can reach. It's like having a car without the petrol tank. Couldn't they just have installed it all together?

Anyway - back to the task in hand; my self-imposed Fifi challenge. When my children ask me what I was doing when the British democratic process was crumbing, what will I say? 'Merrily blogging about perfume award nominees'?

So, the struggle goes on, and time is running out. The lovely people at Puig have sent me a bottle of Seduction in Black. This is the list of nominees in the Fifi Men's Popular Appeal classification:

Playboy (Coty)
Seduction in Black Antonio Banderas  (Puig USA, Inc.)
Super Samba Man The Perfumer’s Workshop Int’l., Ltd.

The notes for Seduction in Black include citrus, bergamot and cassis, cardamom, coriander and nutmeg. And the base includes wood, oriental amber, musk, cedar, tonka bean, ambery notes and musky notes. The spicy middles notes - cardamom, coriander and nutmeg - are gorgeous. They give the fragrance a middle-eastern flavour. 

There's stil time to vote, and lots of different categories. Here's the link.

Fifi Awards Women's Nouveau Niche - Essence Narciso Rodriguez Eau de Parfum

Nominees in the Women's Nouveau Niche Category for this year's Fifi Awards are:

Bond No. 9 Astor Place (Bond No. 9 New York)
Eau Mega by Viktor & Rolf ( L’Oréal USA)
essence narciso rodriguez eau de parfum (Beauté Prestige International)
Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise (The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.)
L’Eau Ambrée by Prada (Puig USA, Inc.)

I've had a sample of Essence for several weeks and keep trying it. But to no avail - I really can't smell it.  According to OsMoz, the top notes in Essence are 'Air Notes'. The middle notes are rose and iris. And the base notes are musks and amber.

Apparently a large proportion of the population can't smell musk. I hadn't thought this was the case for me, but perhaps it is. When I apply Essence, I can very briefly smell a sweet smell, but it passes very quickly. I will take my sample with me tomorrow when I'm on the school run and see if any of my friends can smell it. 

Use this link to jump to the list of Fifi Awards Winners.

Skincare - What's in my Bathroom Cabinet?

I've been meaning to write more posts about skincare products. I'm endlessly fascinated in finding products that really do work. To start off, a quick look at the most frequently used products in my bathroom cabinet. 

  

Here are a few of the products that I use on a daily basis.

Nude Cleansing Facial Oil - This is a lovely oil for taking off eye make up and mascara. I use this every evening, just around my eyes. The oil smells great, is just the right thickness and has an easy to use pump dispenser.

La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser - This is a very gentle, tissue-off cleanser. The bottle says that you can use with or without rinsing. Generally I don't rinse, as I think it's enough to take it off with a cotton wool pad.

Caudalie Gentle Cleanser - This is very similar to the Roche Posay cleanser. I bought it because I like the Caudalie range and find it extremely natural and gentle. This cleanser has an easy to use pump dispenser. As cleansing is the last thing I do at the end of each day - the easier the better. You can rinse off with water or use a cotton wool pad. I generally use a cotton wool pad as I find it easier.

Laura Mercier Hydrating Foundation Primer - I've never really found primers that useful. But recently I watched Lisa Eldridge's tutorial about primers. Up until now I have been rubbing primers into my skin. But, if you watch the tutorial you will see that you literally just smear this on in a couple of broad strokes and then just leave it. It has made the world of difference. I now use this Laura Mercier primer every day. It's quick to put on and creates a very silky feeling on your skin. 

Caudalie Vinoperfect Complexion Correcting Radiance Serum - I've always worried that if you put anything on your face to change or bleach the skin colour that it will be full of strong chemicals. The Caudalie range seems to be based on natural products from grapes and vineyards. I've recently started using Vinoperfect and my freckles are definitely fading. When I was pregnant a year or so ago, I had a full 'mask of pregnancy' which basically means a lot of freckles. But with this serum the skin pigmentation seems to be to smoothing out. 

Recently I've been reading Lisa Eldridge's blog. Lisa has posted some great videos on her favourite skincare products. Worth a look. I would also love to hear your tips on skincare and products. Please do let me know what you use.

Summer Fragrance Ideas - Clarins, Annick Goutal, Pucci and CB I Hate Perfume

I was in Space NK at the weekend and tried Emilio Pucci's fragrance Love Acqua 330. There are stacks of seaside and holiday fragrances around at the moment - and Acqua 330 is a goody. From the first wafts of the fragrance, it's the sea that comes to mind. Truly evocative and fresh. What I liked about Acqua 330 in particular is that it smells like a rounded and complete fragrance.

According to OsMoz the notes are violet leaves and aquatic notes, jasmine, frangipani and salted notes and a base of musk.

Regular readers of this blog will know that Eternal Return by CB I Hate Perfume is one of my favourite salty sea fragrances. 

If you like sea fragrances you could also try Fleurs d'Ombre - Ombre Bleue. As well aquatic notes, Ombre Bleue has notes of hot pine needles and sun tan lotion. 

Sunshine fragrances are also a real winner for summer days. Try Annick Goutal's Eau du Sud or Eau Dynamisante by Clarins. Both of these remind you of hot summer days and sunny gardens.

Lastly, it's not strictly speaking a summer fragrance, but Clinique's Aromatics Elixir is an oldy but still a goody.

Family photo.

Can't resist posting this picture of my lovely little ones. We very rarely get them all together for long enough to get any good photos.

Frederic Malle Editions de Parfums - Geranium Pour Monsieur and L'Eau d'Hiver

Today has been a bonanza of a fragrance day. I've just been doing too much in the real world to have time to blog about it. (That's probably a good thing.)

Can't wait to try out these two new  Frederic Malle Editions de Parfums fragrances. The first one is Geranium pour Monsiuer by Dominique Ropion. 

The second fragrance is L'Eau d'Hiver by Jean-Claude Ellena. 

The only thing holding me back from trying them right now is the remnant of a fragrance that I tested this morning. It was just not for me - Bal Musque by Nez a Nez. Can't put my finger on what I don't like about Bal Masque - it's just not the kind of fragrance that I enjoy at all.

Crescent Row Collection: laugh with me Lee Lee, something about Sofia and my place or yours Gina by Benefit Cosmetics

Today I received The Crescent Row Collection by Benefit Cosmetics, which features in the Women's Luxe group of the 2010 Fifi nominees. The Collection includes three perfumes: laugh with me Lee Lee, something about Sofia, my place or yours Gina.  The packaging is fantastic. What a cute group of perfumes.

You can read MyPerfumeLife's review of laugh with me Lee Lee from the Crescent Row Collection.

The other nominees in the Fifi Women's Luxe group are:

Flora by Gucci
Lola Marc Jacobs 
Very Hollywood Michael Kors Eau de Parfum
YSL Parisienne 

More perfumes with fabulous packaging feature in MyPerfumeLife's pick of the 10 best perfume bottles.

New Sniffs from Ines!

The lovely Ines has just sent me a huge consignment of fragrance samples. Thank you so much Ines - I really appreciate it.

So much new stuff to try incuding:

Mandragore by Annick Goutal
New York Fling by Bond No. 9
Zagorsk by Comme des Garcons
Vanilia by L'Artisan
Bal d'Afrique by Byred
Belle en Rykiel

Rose Princesse by Ferre

Lemon Sorbet by Etro

Incanto by Salvatore Ferragamo

Eau Sublime - Rue Rance

Fleur Nocturne by Isabey

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of floral fragrances. Tuberose, jasmine, tiare, gardenia, hyacinth, peony.  Even the graceful rose, which was once distinctly out in the cold. They all make me smile. So it's a genuine delight when I get to review a floral fragrance.

I had no expectations of Fleur Nocturne. When I first discovered the beauty of white flowers, I ordered a selection of different fragrances. (You can see the full list here.) But quickly found out that these nocturnal florals are tricky and need to be treated with a particularly light touch.

Fleur Nocturne provides just the light touch that is required by these gorgeous delicate flowers. This is an extremely subtle blend. Officially the notes include tangerine, apricot blossom, jasmine, magnolia, gardenia, vanilla and patchouli. I can't distinguish these smells individually. But, without being too coarse, this is a very sexy, animalic fragrance, without the overt spunky quality that jasmine can become when treated more clumsily.

Fleur Nocturne does not come cheap. It's £130 for 50mls. Yikes, I'm spluttering into my coffee just thinking about it. But if you're into 'white flower accords' as much as I am, then definitely give this one a try and you won't be disappointed.

For floral lovers, then a more affordable heady floral mix can be found in Houbigant's Quelques Fleurs L'Original. Quelques Fleurs contains tuberose and jasmine in a classic floral composition.

If you're looking for a jasmine fragrance with a sexy base, then MyPerfumeLife recommends Jasmin Noir by Bvlgari. You only need a drop as it's strong stuff, it's a sultry evening perfume that's worth trying.