Posted by Robin
on
21 April 2009

Versense is the latest fragrance for women from Versace, and as I posted last month, it promises to highlight notes from the Mediterranean and to “perfectly interpret the contrast between freshness and sexiness”. Donatella Versace elaborated on the theme:
Versense perfectly represents the Versace woman. I created a fragrance to make her feel incredibly lighter. There’s something very optimistic and confident about being free, and it was that feeling that I tried to capture for Versense. (via Women’s Wear Daily, 3/20/2009)
If lighter and fresher is what you’re after, Versense might just fit the bill. Like yesterday’s Essence by Narciso Rodriguez, Versense was developed by perfumer Alberto Morillas, and like Essence, Versense opens whistling-clean. The early stages are crisp, green, lemon-lime-y and fresh, with the emphasis on the fresh…
Read the rest of this article »
Posted by Angela
on
13 April 2009


Last night in a fit of optimism, I packed my winter sweaters and heavy wool skirts into plastic tubs and hauled them to the basement. Out came the cotton dresses and print blouses. Naturally, this morning was chilly, and I see rain splashing into the birdbath outside my window as I write. It’s the cold edge of spring. I want a perfume that is an antidote to the amber, leather, tobacco, and vanilla I’ve been wearing for months. I want something that hints at warm days to come and smells like the air outside: crisp, floral, and green. This is when I reach for Annick Goutal Des Lys Eau de Toilette.
A lily’s fragrance is potent. This has advantages and disadvantages. The pure, thick scent of just one stem of Stargazer lilies on the mantel will steamroll over the odor of dank carpets or an overfull litter box. Within a minute of coming into a room, guests will say, “It smells good in here.” At the same time, lilies can overtake a space, giving it the feel of funeral parlor and fighting with the smell of dinner in the other room. After an hour, guests may well ask for aspirin…
Read the rest of this article »
Posted by Robin
on
25 March 2009
Alfred Sung will launch Always, a new “wedding-oriented” sparkling floral fragrance for women inspired by Grace Kelly, next month.
Always was developed by perfumer Clement Gavarry; the notes include water lily, kumquat, neroli, pink peony, honeysuckle, orris absolute…
Read the rest of this article »
Posted by Robin
on
24 February 2009

It has been a very long time since I actually swooned over the first sniff of any perfume, but the latest from the Hermessence collection at Hermès, Vanille Galante, was a rare case of love-at-first-sniff. Happily for me, so far it appears to be a lasting relationship — just as well, since I bought it unsniffed.*
I will start by mentioning that Vanille Galante is likely to be a disappointment to vanilla freaks (there have already been a few disgruntled customers on the fragrance boards). The early scents in the Hermessence series (Ambre Narguile, Rose Ikebana, Vetiver Tonka, Poivre Samarcande, Osmanthe Yunnan) were mostly “about” the material they were named after. Paprika Brasil and Brin de Reglisse were less directly so, and Vanille Galante, while presumably a reflection of some sorts on vanilla…
Read the rest of this article »
Posted by Robin
on
21 January 2009
Perry Ellis has launched Perry Ellis for Women, the feminine counterpart to last year's Perry Ellis for Men.
Perry Ellis for women is described on the Perry Ellis website as…
A modern yet flirty bouquet floral fragrance with a bright introduction and a creamy, woody, dry-down…
Read the rest of this article »