Gwen Stefani will launch Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties, a set of limited edition summer flankers for the Harajuku Lovers fragrances. Unlike the recent Snow Bunnies collection, this set features new summer-inspired fragrances in addition to the new “outfits”…
US-based clothing chain Express has launched Express Reserve for men, the brand’s first fragrance:
Introducing Express Reserve, inspired by the moment the sun sets behind the skyline and the city streets come to life. Classically modern. Stylishly sexy…
Gant will launch Gant Silver, a new fragrance for men, later this month. Silver's herbal citrus juice was developed by perfumer Richard Herpin:
The objective, according to Herpin, was to choose ingredients “that would strike the right balance between the crispness of the outdoors and the mysterious yet elegant nature of the Gant man.”…
My childhood was spent on land situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, and I’ve lived in New York City, Los Angeles and Seattle, so water and water activities have always been a part of my life, but since I can’t swim, I have a certain “fear of the water.” When it comes to perfumes, I have a fear of ‘water’ too, the type called “marine fragrances” that are drenched with ozone and aquatic notes. I’ve always wished perfumes could capture the scents of the open sea and the winds blowing over the ocean, but perfumes are better at replicating the oceanic “sideshow” — scents of sand/damp earth, the dry, reedy smells of vegetation growing at the seaside, the mineral scents of shells, the bracing aroma of salty seaweeds, the odors of tarry wooden wharves or outboard motor exhaust fumes.
I usually avoid all fragrances with marine/H2O themes, but armed with a perfume “life preserver” (soft-bristle scrub brush and unscented detergent), I decided to face my fears and sample three Bond No. 9 fragrances that are named after places at, or near, the ocean…
Last week I sat down to try Usher She and Sean John Unforgivable Woman. She went on one arm; Unforgivable Woman on the other. Within an hour I’d forgotten which was which and had to put them on again, but pretty soon I forgot all over again. It isn’t that they smell exactly the same, but they feel the same, that is, it is pretty clear that they’re reaching for the same audience.
So, a face-off. First, the facts. Usher She is designated for “a woman of mystery and confidence”, and was created by perfumers Honorine Blanc and Richard Herpin. The notes: red currant, pink freesia, apple blossom, frangipani, apricot nectar, jasmine, passion rose, amber wood, musk, cashmere wood, vanilla orchid and incense. Sean John Unforgivable Woman is a “sensual, creamy floral” by perfumer David Apel, with notes of bergamot, orange, neroli, cassis, grapefruit, apple, cucumber, piña colada, orange flower, jasmine, violet, muguet, freesia, cyclamen, amber, tonka beans, coco de mer, vanilla tears, cedar, sandalwood, oak moss, patchouli, vetiver and iris.
Freshly applied: Usher She is juicy and fruity and sweet, with just a touch of tartness. It has a slightly creamy feel right from the outset. Unforgivable Woman is also fruity and juicy, but it is not nearly as sweet, and it has a nice warmth to it…
Stella McCartney in conversation with Alexandra Shulman (video, talks about new scent L.I.L.Y) http://t.co/VAKYigvK "French parfumier Guerlain on trial over 'race slurs'" article at Telegraph http://t.co/lVDxoZMi Vote for NST's Mood Board on FB and win a Zoya Nail Polish collection! http://t.co/MXHMN7I3