A few more ideas for those of you who are still shopping…
A classic: Cartier Declaration (“an original, distinctive composition that basks in a harmonious blend of cold spices”) in a 100 ml leather travel case. $110 at Nordstrom…
Tui Hair Oil from Carol’s Daughter is a fragranced product that looks just the way it smells. Orange- and red-tinted dried flowers float and drift within its gold-colored liquid, creating a dreamy, sunset-hued effect that reminds me variously of a lava lamp, a tropical cocktail, or some arts-and-craft project from nature camp.
I was initially a bit hesitant about using Tui Hair Oil, especially since the ingredients (primarily corn oil, “infused with chamomile and calendula”) sounded too heavy for my hair. I tried it first as a deep-conditioning treatment on a weekend morning, rubbing a quarter-size amount of the oil into my hair (avoiding my scalp) and leaving it there for a half-hour before shampooing. While it was soaking in, I was able to enjoy its scent. Carol’s Daughter describes the Tui fragrance as a blend of guava, mango, and passion fruit…
Am I crazy, or did Father's Day creep up extra fast this year? It's coming up on Sunday, June 15th, so time to get shopping…
If Dad deserves a gift fit for a king (or make that an emperor), how about an Empire candle from Cire Trudon? “Pine, sage and hay are vibrating in the air of the Napoleonian camp with hints of cades and maquis. The joyful and indulging warmth of thyme, marjoram and rosemary ring like a fife…” And so on. $70 at Aedes…
Pavillon des Fleurs is the debut fragrance from Septimanie Perfumes. The ad copy calls it a “luminous and refined fragrance” and a “sonata of white flowers”, but Angela described it more bluntly in an email as “a good wallop of jasmine”. Who doesn't love a good wallop of jasmine? (If you're thinking: uh, me, then move on to the next post, there's nothing else to see here today.)
Pavillon des Fleurs starts out, actually, with a little slap of jasmine, lightened by orange blossom and a touch of citrus, and only slowly builds up to the goodly wallop stage, although do bear in mind that I'm trying it from a vial…
Among the many repercussions of severe fragrance addiction is that eventually, your critical eye (nose?) is cast upon everyday functional products you used to enjoy. I find this especially true with haircare products, which tend to be heavily, and often unfortunately, scented. The banana aroma of Joico's Intensive Moisture Treatment conditioner, which I don't think I used to even notice, now nauseates me, and the smell of another longtime favorite, L'Oreal Nature's Therapy Mega Moisture Nurturing Creme, became so unbearable I had to give it up entirely.
So back in December, when I was formatting the article on Perfume: The Best of 2007 and I saw that Kevin had included a jasmine shampoo by Oscar Blandi in his list of favorites, I sat up and took notice…
Another corpse flower has bloomed at Western Illinois U, & they're expecting 2 more... http://t.co/oRnROz6j (& they've got live video)