All About The Pretty

LaVanila Vanilla Grapefruit Perfume and Lip Butter

It's an oldie, but goody this morning.  LAVANILA Grapefruit Parfum made a magic reappearance today.  Thanks to the beauty that is Sephora.com.  I have given anything vanilla a three times a week moratorium.  I am only allowed to wear vanilla no more than three days.  It's not because I don't love it, I really do.  It's so I can use more of my fragrances that doesn't get a lot of use.  Today's choice is a mixture of vanilla and grapefruit.  Luscious, luxurious, and divine.  To add fuel to the fire I finished LAVINLA Grapefruit Lip Shine in the same scent.  The new lip balms have SPF so my lips are smelling divine with a little sun protection. 

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.  Happy Hump Day!

Annick Goutal Le Jasmin

I always give my cousin Cassy something different every year for her birthday.  One year it was a mixture of lip glosses and another it was a mixture of mini perfumes.  This year I decided to give her some Annick.  I have been wearing numerous Annick scents for years and she would always tell me how delightful the fragrances are on me.  But she never got one for herself.  This year I gave her Annick Goutal's Le Jasmin.  A limited-edition Annick scent that has been reissued.  It was first introduced in 2004 and then it was gone.  Now it's back.  For the fun part.  Cassy's birthday was last month and it was a great celebration.  But, the perfume is now half way gone.  Yes, in less than a month she has almost used the bottle up.  Cassy and I both have at least 30 bottles of perfume rotating at at time.  So I was shocked when she told me this.  I thought I was bad.  Then I realized we are just alike.  Obsessed with fragrance.  I'm glad we are family. 

Deseo by Jennifer Lopez

Deseo, the new Jennifer Lopez fragrance entered my life at a great time.  My Chanel Chance was out . . . evaporated on my way back from India. Maybe it was destiny.  I'd been wearing it for far too long. I was excited about Deseo - the bottle looks like a blue jewel, classy, and important. Perhaps not the best bottle to travel with, but it could be my “stay at home” scent if I liked it. My mantra with all scents ladies...try before you buy. Head to your nearest Sephora, Nordstroms, Ulta etc...spray it on your wrist and be with it for a day.  See if you like it by dusk or if you can't wait to take a hot shower. I will wear it occasionally, probably when I'm attending a maturely fancy function.

I really liked her first perfume and Deseo is quite different. It's heavier, more mature, and on the dense side. I suppose she has grown up, she is a mother after all, and she's younger than me. But when I am gearing up for a Friday night out after a long week of work, the last thing I want to feel is heavy. I want flirty, fun . . . and with spring in the air, I want light and free. It’s definitely a scent for the grown and sexy.

Niya - producer, yoga teacher, and karma goddess

Banana Republic for Mother's Day

I picked one of my favorite stores Banana Republic for more Mother's Day gift ideas.  I think the Chilled Sangria Candle would be perfect for most mothers.  I have this candle and it is not over-powering, but does live a faint floral scent to my place.  I think other options can be these mini fragrances in Rosewood, Jade or Malachite.  The great thing about the mini scents are the size.  She can leave one in the car, at the office, and in her gym bag.  They are currently available in stores.  Great things comes in small packages.

Beauty News will come tomorrow, because I am on my way to New York for the day.  Have a great weekend.

New Tom Ford Neroli Portofino

The sexiest man on the planet has just released Neroli Portofino as part of his exclusive fragrance collection.  There are many reasons I love his scents:

(1) the packaging - I'm a sucker for anything that looks like it came from a European apothecary;
(2) his scents - they last all day and night; and
(3) because it's Tom Ford. 

I'm wishing, hoping, and praying that this bottle ends up on my dresser as a gift. 

New Jo Malone

Jo Malone has released two new scents.  Lotus Blossom & Water Lily and Dark Amber & Ginger Lily.  I need to put this Bergdorf catalog down.  Wait, I need to put it in the recycle bin to never see it.  But I can't stop looking at it. 

The thought of a scent called Lotus Blossom makes my heart flutter.   In a good way.  I just want to run up a hill and sing like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music.  I just picked up her memoirs  from the library and I can't wait to start it.  It's aptly entitled home.  Maybe that is where these perfumes belong - in my home.

Serge Lutens Parisian Only Scents Now Available in the U.S.

I have always been addicted to Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille.  It's the vanilla addiction, but I think it's time I branched out.  What better way than his new Bois et Fruits, Un Bois Sepia and Boi de Violette which were previously only available in his Paris salon, but are now available at Bergdorf Goodman. 

This is a photo from my spring Bergdorf Beauty Catalog.  Just looking at the photos makes me want to be bad on my next trip to NY.  I have a few more photos that captured my eye.  This is the first of many. 

I hope you are wishing on a star like me. 

Red Flower Champa Organic Perfume

I should have known that June Godfrey-June would beat me to the punch.  (Lucky May 2008, p. 186)  She is always on the latest and greatest and this isn't any different. I'm talking about Red Flower Organic Perfume in Champa. I am continually looking for products for my yoga bag.  [Shameless plug here for Lululemon Gym Bags]  I have a few more products to write about, but this perfume is perfect. I can apply it before class and it is so subtle that it won't cause other yogis to be mad with me.  Plus, it's great as an after yoga pick-me-up.  On the Red Flower site they list Champa as a"blend of champa flowers, mimosa, jasmine grandiflorum, osmanthus, rose geranium, ylang ylang, palmarossa and clove bud."  I want to call it "a blend of scented outer peace."  This is a new scent variety for me.  It is completely different than my normal scents.  I chose it because it was different.  Once this one is gone, I will try one of the others.  With every application I like to do a little "inhale - let; exhale - go."

Love, Lip Gloss & Namaste.

Miller Harris L'Air de Rien

My first purchase of Miller Harris (the bespoke British perfume line) happened a long time ago after smelling one of her scents in a boutique in Paris.  It was Coeur de Fleur  (heart of a flower).  This was 2001 and I was focused on obtaining only French fragrances, such as at the time Caron, Givenchy, Annick Goutal, Guerlain, Rochas and Fragonard.  Lots of Fragonard.  But this M.H. scent had a French name, so I scooped it up.  I needed to revisit M.H. again to see how she has been fairing.  I've missed a lot.  There are a few more in the line that I have my eye on.  I wanted something with a little kick, not too floral, with a splash of oriental, but definitely different.  I found that in L'Air de Rien, which loosely translates to the "air of nothing" and was inspired and created for Jane Birkin.   You don't recognize the name Birkin - think Hermes Birkin bag.  If you can't bear the thought of being on a waitlist for a Birkin this will bring the je ne sais quoi a little faster. 

Abientot.

Justin Timberlake's Bringing the Sexy to Givenchy

According to WWD, Justin Timberlake to be the face of a new men's scent by Givenchy which will make its debut this fall.

Now I can't stop singing "SexyBack." Yeah!

L'Eau de Jatamansi Fragrance

I wish I could go back to bed, crawl under the covers, and hide with my current book.  It's just one of those days.  But, last night was so much fun I wish I could go back again.  I attended a member-only event by CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) in NY.  I'm already back. - very quick trip.  I went as part of Total Beauty.  It was the product launch their beauty awards which will be decided in May.  I snipped, sprayed, rubbed, wiped, buffed, scrubbed, peeled, applied, and smiled my way through two large rooms - looking at over 600 products.  I was overwhelmed and I never thought I would be around all that beauty.  It was great to see this massive pavilion transformed into a beauty runway and to see other equally obsessed women find their inner girl.  One highlight was meeting Dr. Susan Taylor of RX for Brown Skin.  Yes, she is just as fabulous in person as one of the reader's commented and she had on Manolo's and Chanel.  Flawless, absolutely flawless.  She mentioned a few new products that are coming out this spring.  I can't wait to try them. 

On my way out I stopped at one last table - L'Artisan Parfumeur.  If you have never worn any of their scents, put them on your list to do so.  After talking with a member of their team she sprayed L'Eau de Jatamansi fragrance.  As she explained the 100% all natural fragrance, I was completely distracted by the Jatamansi, Turkish rose, ylang-ylang, bergamot, grapefruit and sandalwood notes.  It's a woody scent, but is so light that it doesn't turn masculine at all.  I couldn't help myself as I leaned in to be spritzed - one, two, oh yes, three times for good measure.  I was headed to dinner after all.  I had a rough night sleeping and I needed a big pick me up today.  As of 8:45 a.m., I am the proud owner of this scent.  Thank goodness for retail therapy.

New York Times: Article on Fragrance

The New York Times has a rather interesting article today on fragrance. Here's the link.  I will always have a perfume arsenal no matter who I'm with :)

Chandler Burr's The Perfect Scent

I recently had a conversation with a few co-workers on the power of scent.  We were chatting about the fragrances we wear and the ones we want to wear.  My love of beauty products is known, as well as, my love of scent.  Scent has the power to captivate, transport, communicate, and heal.  Heal?  We all have those days where it's "whoa is me" and something as small as a spritz of your favorite scent can actually put a smile on your face.  Dolo uses her scents to bring back the woman behind the mommy.  Each morning as I peruse my arsenal of fragrances I smile at the beauty of the bottles.  I feel very blessed at my custom fragrance because it was given with consideration, thought and care.  I still get goose bumps thinking about it.  This brings me to Chandler Burr.  A premier person for whom scent is his life.

Chandler Burr is the New York Times' Perfume Critic.  Yes, they have such a thing and he is the nose who knows.  Chandler is a true authority on fragrance and I am a faithful reader and fan of any written word by him.  I have made numerous purchases based on his reviews.  His new book, The Perfect Scent is a true story of the big business fragrance has in the world today.  It chronicles the story of Sarah Jessica Parker's creation of Lovely along with Hermes' perfumer Jean-Claude Ellan's creation of Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, both of which I have owned and enjoye wearing.  The book is not only a story of a fragrance creation, but a lesson in science and economics as it relates to fragrance.  I know Mr. Burr hosts dinners throughout the country on the relation to scent and food and if they have one in '08, I definitely will take part.  I highly recommend this book to my perfume junkies. 

Pretty Fragrances

I am tired of smelling like spit up and baby formula. Why is it that right when you think it's okay to remove the burp cloth, baby decides it's time to release the contents of his stomach AGAIN? Aaagghhh!!!  I'm alternating now between my two favorite fragrances so that I can smell and feel pretty throughout the day.  I really love Chanel No. 5 Eau de Parfum-especially during the winter months. It's a classic, powerful scent that's long-lasting. Every time I spray it on, I instantly feel better.

My other favorite is Marc Jacobs Eau de Parfum.  It smells like a fresh cut bowl of gardenias, but it's not over-powering.  I love the sleek and elegant bottle. It looks great sitting on my vanity. 

Dolo-Partner in the Pretty

Hilary Duff's Wrapped With Love

We are supposed to get our first real snow of the season here in DC and you would think I would wear a winter scent to work today.  All the beautiful spring makeup that I've been seeing has me thinking "pink."  I'm wearing a sample and can't wait to get a big bottle at the end of the month.  This is a light, yet decadent spring scent.  So my pre-spring fragrance choice is Hilary Duff's Wrapped With Love.  Some celebrity scents are just awful, but after falling for her first fragrance I knew that Hilary wouldn't let me down.  It contains notes of blood orange, mangosteen, and raspberry with a hint of vanilla for the finish.  Is this package not the cutest thing you've seen in a long time?  The bottle alone has to be on my dresser.  As I prepare for this snow-filled holiday weekend, I'm feeling the love because I'm wrapped with it today.

Have a lovely Thursday. 

Favorite "Beauty" Things of 2007

Thanks to the wonderful Annie at Blogdorf Goodman for gathering a group of bloggers to participate in their top beauty choices for Favorite Things 2007.   Beauty had much excitement for me this year that it's hard to narrow this list down.  Thanks to all my readers who continue to read the blog.  I couldn't do it without you.  My favorite beauty things for 2007 are as follows:

1. Space NK.  It's not a "thing" but a wonderful apothecary in New York. Space NK has changed the concept of the beauty store.  It's one of the few stores that has a wonderful niche line of beauty products.  Every time I go to this store, it puts a smile on my face. 
2. Barbie Loves MAC Collection.  I had to make myself stop using my Fab blush for fear that I may run out.  I want MAC to make this part of the permanent collection, but I don't think it will.  I still enjoy looking at my Barbie Doll all dolled up with her MAC train case.  Flawless collection. 
3. Lisa Hoffman Seven-Day Skincare Packettes.  I love how well this skincare line travels, which is the main reason it was created. 
4. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate.   What can I say?  This product will always be in my shower.  I love how it makes my skin feel after using it. 
5. Beauty Blender Sponge. I purchased this at the Makeup Show in NY and I still love it's application for foundation and tinted moisturizer.  I should have bought the small travel sponges to come with me wherever I go.  I can't get enough.
6. Metallic Eye Collection by Bobbi Brown. I think Bobbi shocked all us beauty junkies with the immaculate eye shadow collection.  Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.
7. Becca Luminous Tinted Moisturizer in Mink.  I love how this melts evenly on my skin.  I was lucky enough to score a stash when Sephora discontinued them.  Lucky me.
8. Prescriptives Custom Blend Bronzer.  The perfect match bronzer for me to have perfectly bronzed skin.  I still get giddy using it.
9. My fragrances. I scored lots of fragrances this year and I love each and every one of them. 
10. Belle Fleur Candles.  The Mayan Tuberose puts me to sleep every night.  It still as luxurious as ever.
11. Esens Custom Made Fragrance.  This is new, but it's already rocking my world.
12. Completion of my Level 1 Yoga Teacher Certification.  Yoga as brought so much to my life. My body is strong, my mind is healthy, and my spirit is fulfilled.  Yoga is definitely beautiful.
13. Bobbi Brown Beauty Breakfast at Bergdorf's.  I am forever grateful for this opportunity to meet Bobbi where it all started, the Beauty Level of BG.  What a fun day.
14. Dolores as my writing partner and the cuteness of my two new nephews - Josiah and Colin.  These things made my year so special.  I am so blessed to have them in my life.
15. All my travels.  I have been on planes, trains, and automobiles a lot this year.  It was so much fun, tiring, but fun. 

I wish everyone a lovely, happy, and beauty-filled new year and 2008.

Here's a list of my fellow bloggers. Please take time to read what gave them the pretty this year.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic

Afrobella

All About The Pretty

All Lacquered Up

Beauty 411

Beauty Blogging Junkie

Beauty Talk

Beautiful Makeup Search

Beauty Hatchery

Beauty Jones

Blogdorf Goodman

Canadian Beauty

C'est Chic

Coquette

eBeautyDaily

For The Love of Beauty

Give Me Your Eyes I Need Sunshine

Getting Amped

Grayburn

HauteMommaStuff

Koneko's Beauty Diary

Makeup Bag

The Makeup Girl

Miss Whoever You Are

My Life,My Words,My Mind

Legerdenez

Perfumista

Periodic Style

Platinum Blonde Life

Product Girl

Shop Diary

Slap of the Day

Steeping Beauty

The Beauty Alchemist

The Daily Obsession

The Life Of A Ladybug

The Non-Blonde

Urbane Girl

Victoria's Own

We Love Beauty

Esens Custom Made Fragrance: Pour Moi

When your birthday is exactly one week before Christmas there can be multiple dilemmas on which present is more important.  Is it Christmas?  Or is it the birthday?  I always go for the anniversary of my birth.  My birthday is the only holiday I really don't have to share, even if someone has the same date.  So imagine my delight when l'homme had a perfume oil fragrance created for me.  I was in complete and utter shock.  Speechless.  Which if you ever met me is rather hard to do.  But I was. 

When opening the box, I didn't know what to quite make of it.  Here we are in Barcelona, the perfume was still in a box from the post office, and at first I was like WTF!  But then I read the card where he contacted Kathleen at Esens to create the scent for me.  It contains 11 of my favorite notes which I couldn't believe this woman figured out after a few conversations with him and reading the blog.  I wear a lot of fragrance, but I would never create something on my own.  It's just not my movie.  There are notes of Vanilla Bean, Tahitian Vanilla, Cedarwood, Gardenia, Black Musk and a few others, but I can't give all the ingredients away.  Esens also customizes the name that you provide.  Since "the man" gave her a name related to beauty I would provide it here, but I was told that I couldn't give the name on the blog.  It's supposed to be top secret - if I told you then I would have to kill you and that would be so not pretty.

Trés jolie.

Photo courtesy of Esens.com

Diesel: Fuel for Life Femme

I haven't been too happy with the latest releases of fragrances this fall.  I usually have at least 5-6 new ones for fall that I wear constantly, but this year I decided to reassess, reexamine, and rethink what I truly wanted to sniff on a consistent basis.  It wasn't until I smelled Diesel's Fuel for Life, did I think that "this smell makes me really happy."  I've been wearing it for a few weeks now and I still enjoy inhaling it.  I only knew Diesel from their clothing line and had no idea that they made fragrances.  Where have I been?  The scent is not heavy at all and great for those ladies who want a fall scent, but not something overpowering.  The bottle first catches your eye with the sheer mesh netting.  If you are like me, you might want to pull it up around the nozzle.  I almost dropped it a few times and that would have been so not pretty. 

Fuel for Life is available at Nordstrom. 

Oh Baby: Diptyque Olene

A lot of people do not realize that Diptyque also makes fragrance.  I have been addicted to their candles for years.  Baies is always on the rotation, but Gardenia and Chevrefuille have made their appearances as well. I was going through my "perfumes with a few sprays left" and came by Olene.  With luscious notes of wisteria, narcisuss and white flowers I'm feeling a bit nostalgic today. 

It could be that I've been listening to lots of 80s music or it could mean that the end of Olene is the beginning of a new scent endeavor. 

I was in NY yesterday for a Prescriptives Launch Event and had lunch at Le Pain Quotidien with the adorable Marina of Makeup Loves Me.  Time flies when you are talking about beauty.  When did that hour creep up on us?  I thought we just sat down and now we are saying goodbye.  We air kissed goodbye as Marina pointed me to the subway.  I ended up in Soho.  Imagine my utter disappoint when I arrive at the new Korres store only to see a sign saying that it will open on Friday.  Bummer.  But, in all beauty disappoints come beauty triumphs.  I left Korres and headed straight for Space NK.  This airy UK outpost totally made me feel better as I picked up travel products for my upcoming trip.  I told Patricia, the most helpful one in the store, that I would be back with the potion lady sometime soon.  Mother is going to love this store. 

One bonus of Soho is Balthazar.  This French bistro serves great breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it's the desserts that make my day.  After walking the pavement I was in need of sustenance.  The kind that only comes from something sweet and has chocolate - 4 scrumptious profiteroles later I was ready to tackle 5th Avenue. I left my footprints at Bergdorf's, Bendels, and Takashimaya, headed for a quick glass of wine with another friend, and headed home on the train.  My day was so lovely and my makeup so gorgeous that I didn't want to wash my face last, but I did. 

Have a great day.

Susanne Lang: Play On Player

I love mixing scents that normally don't go together.  Sometimes it's been a home run and other times I've had to re-take a shower because the combination just wasn't working.  I have what I call a good "nose" for scents and then there are times to leave it to the professionals.  Susanne Lang always gets the scents right.  I love wearing her scents because they are always an experience in something different and not convential.  Imagine my delight to find her affordable line called Sula.  My first thought was Toni Morrison's book by the same name.  My favorite is Vanilla Blossom which I mix with Lily Lotus.  You can mix your own fragrance combinations of the six scents.  Champagne Sugar, Stiletto Musk, Sun-Kissed Citrus and Butterfly Kiss are the others.  Create your own scent and start to play. 

Have a happy Monday.

My Insolence Beat Out Unforgivable

I received a few emails this week that told me to run, not walk and pick up the Unforgivable for Women by Sean Combs.  I love receiving emails from my readers.  As a few coworkers and I walked from lunch yesterday I decided to head into Macy's to spray the scent and to think about it.  I told Celina and Kelly that I was not purchasing it and they were there as guardian angels.  Kelly sprayed Covet.  Celina sprayed Chance.  I sprayed Unforgivable for Women.  After a few seconds of fanning, tapping, and spraying I have come to the conclusion that it does not work for me.  On me it's smells really sweet, a headache inducing sweet, that doesn't mesh with my body chemistry.  I'm please that it worked for some of the women who emailed me.  Hopefully it will work for more of my readers.

I decided to head back to Macy's on my walk home.  I was determined to give it another shot.  Maybe if I wiped my wrist clean it would smell as lovely as the emails described.  Still didn't happen.  Unforgivable is just not for me.  So to console my wrists who had been deprived of scent, I found a solution.  The only justification I have right now to buy another fragrance is the fact that I've tossed 3 empty bottles.  I finally used up that corner of L'Interdit, Happy, and Boucheron - therefore I can purchase something to fill the empty spaces on the dresser.  I blinked and sniffed two times on the Usher for Women, passed on Prince's 3121, and in the end knew it would only be My Insolence.  I loved the original Insolence so when I saw the new interpretation - My Insolence, I added excitement to my wrists. 

Gucci is Here: By Pre-Order

I love collecting perfume. It's like the call of the wild.  I was even more ecstatic when I found that the new Gucci perfume is available for pre-order.  You can either order on-line or call your favorite Neiman Marcus sales person.  It has notes of patchouli and musk and it's definitely a fall scent.  I just hope it's a keeper.  I love the bottle.  I was doing some perfume and jewelry organization this weekend and there's room on the dresser for this bottle.  My other bottles always have to make room for new additions to the family.

Thank goodness we all get along.

Very Irresistible Versace (Day 1)

Today starts my 30 Scents in 30 Days.  Yes, I have that much perfume.  The newest scent is only 3 weeks old, but the majority are older.  Some of the bottles are not full.  Many are just a few sprays from being empty, but I thought it was time to highlight the scents that fill my life on a daily basis.  I'm even trying something new and not wearing Chanel No. 5, which I wear on Sundays in honor of Mama Dear. 

Va-voom Versace.  I was shocked how much I liked this scent.  It's light, soft, and pretty.  Versace? Yes, I know.  When I first read that they were coming out with a new scent, my first thought was Maya Rudolph's portrayal of Donatella on Saturday Night Live.  I kept seeing her face and the long blond hair and then the voice.  "Hello, it's Donnnnaaaa-telllla Versachiii."  My brother Jay asked me what I wanted for completing my yoga teacher training and I told him the new Versace Fragrance.  This week a beautiful box arrived with my fragrance.  Donnnaaa-telllaaaa, lovely, simply lovely and irresistible.