Avon has launched another collaboration with designer Christian Lacroix (see Rouge & Noir, Absynthe Her & Absynthe Him): Nuit de Christian Lacroix...

The celebrated founder of Sustainable South Bronx partnered with Parisian perfumer Pascal Gaurin, creator of Vera Wang for Men, and Bruno Jovanovic...

Very Hollywood is the latest perfume for women from Michael Kors. It's meant to evoke the idea of Hollywood glamour: the bottle (see detail below) recalls the flashbulbs on old-style cameras, and the ad spot features "stars" surrounded by paparazzi on the red carpet. Kors called it the "most glamorous, indulgent scent we’ve ever done".¹

Remember Michael by Michael Kors? It came out in 2000, very nearly eons ago in perfume-land, and for awhile it seemed like women everywhere were wearing it. I still smell it on the street occasionally, and I think it's pretty, although as I said when I reviewed it, I prefer to smell it from afar and not on my own person. Anyway, they've updated it several times: there was Michael Sheer, and then Very Michael Kors, and then Michael Kors Very Pretty. I bring this up only because after smelling Very Hollywood, I'm tempted to think the brief called for "a version of Michael that young girls would wear in 2009", since Michael is, after all, not really the sort of perfume young girls go for these days.

Very Hollywood was developed by perfumers Laurent Le Guernec (who created the original Michael) and Pascal Gaurin, and it's considerably more au courant. The opening is bright, fruity, sparkly and pink...

As long as I'm buying a perfume anyway, I'd just as soon have it in a pretty bottle — I mean, why not? And if I'm dithering over whether or not to buy something, a pretty bottle might just push me over the edge. Still, I'm not what you'd call a bottle hound. I've never bought anything just for the bottle before, and ultra-luxe packaging doesn't generally interest me beyond the fun of oohing and aahing over the picture. I'd certainly never pay extra for it if the scent was available in a cheaper version, and fragrances that are only available in ultra-luxe trappings set off my worst cynical leanings. I'm not entirely immune to "must have it" perfume packaging, though: turns out all you have to do is suspend 5 molded plastic doll's heads inside a cardboard gift box with a clear plastic top, and I'm a goner.

Yep, I'm here to admit that I smelled all five of Gwen Stefani's new Harajuku Lovers fragrances, found them generally wanting, took a good look at the coffret of solid perfumes and had one paid for, wrapped in tissue and ready to go in a matter of minutes...

Dempsey played a leading role in the development of Patrick Dempsey Unscripted and was intimately involved with the concept, name, package and olfactive notes...

The fragrances are...

Avon and Emanuel Ungaro will collaborate to launch a new duo of fragrances, U by Ungaro for Her and U by Ungaro for Him, this coming August. The scents will be fronted by actress Reese Witherspoon.

Avon U by Ungaro For Her was developed by perfumers Jean Marc Chaillan and Loc Dong, and the "fresh, woody floral" includes notes of bergamot blossom, freesia, pepper blossom, acacia aura, lotus flower, osmanthus, iris, sandalwood and musk...

Christian Lacroix will launch a duo of mass market fragrances with Avon.

Christian Lacroix Rouge for women will debut in September. The "floral chypre" was developed by perfumers Laurent Le Guernec and Carlos Benaim...

Baby Phat Golden Goddess is an Eau de Parfum, and is available in 50 and 100 ml and in Shimmering Body Lotion. The fragrance bottles feature a removable ring with faux yellow diamonds. (quote via Women's Wear Daily, additional information via babyphatfragrances & osmoz)

Look for five new fragrances from Banana Republic this fall. The "Discover Collection" consists of three scents for women (Alabaster, Rosewood & Jade) and two for men (Slate & Black Walnut)...