If you missed them, here are links to part 1 (scented body products), part 2 (travel sizes & coffrets), part 3 (more travel sizes & coffrets), part 4 (home fragrance), part 5 (men's fragrance) and part 6 (solid perfumes).

From Thierry Mugler, the Angel by Thierry Mugler Extrait de Parfum Signature Brooch: "The art of refined perfume meets the delights of feminine indulgences when the Angel Extrait de Parfum comes to life, adorned with a signature couture brooch designed by Thierry Mugler to adorn your décolleté! Made of zamak, the brooch is punctuated by a dramatic spike and embossed with the Thierry Mugler signature. The heavenly and delicious notes of Angel are concentrated into a rare and exclusive formula: the extrait de parfum, dedicated to fulfill extreme desires. Produced in a small quantity by Brosse in France, each Angel Extrait de Parfum bottle is engraved with a unique number, showcased in a luxurious box and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity." A bargain at $198 for 10 ml at Nordstrom...

So when I reviewed Tom Ford Violet Blonde last month, I said that I may be nearly alone among perfumistas in preferring Tom Ford’s Signature Collection to the Private Blends. I like Oud Wood, but I like Yves Saint Laurent M7 better, and I've never been more than lukewarm about the rest of them. If anything, my interest in the collection has decreased over the years, and it pretty much hit rock bottom with the release of the White Musk collection.

The Signature Collection fragrances strike me as generally better thought out and better executed — Tom Ford tends, in general, towards loud, but the polished elegance of the Signature Collection stands in stark contrast to the blunt force of some of the Private Blend scents, especially the early ones (I still remember wondering, when I first smelled the Private Blends, if some of them weren’t maybe unfinished mods for Black Orchid). The three Signature fragrances fit together nicely; they don’t smell the same but they have a similar style, and as such they lend a sense of cohesiveness to the Tom Ford Beauty line that is notably missing from most mainstream designer perfume houses.

The Private Blends, on the other hand, seem like a mishmash...

What is it: one 50 ml bottle of Tom Ford Violet Blonde. I sprayed it a few times, but it's nearly full.

How do I get it: For a chance to win, leave a comment telling me that you live in the US. Also, please tell us either a) your favorite violet fragrance or b) your favorite recently introduced movie, book or TV show.

Be sure to use the “Post a comment” box; do not reply to another comment...

Violet Blonde is the latest addition to Tom Ford's Signature Collection (i.e., it's not in his more expensive and harder-to-find Private Blend series). It's his third pillar for women, after Black Orchid and White Patchouli, and it's in the same ribbed bottle with metal label. This time, the bottle is in clear instead of opaque glass — and just as well, thank you; if they'd done it up in opaque violet glass I'd have had to buy it even if it was a scrubber.

It's not a scrubber though. Violet Blonde is soft and cushy-powdery, as is the current fashion, but it's loudly so, in keeping with Tom Ford's aesthetic.¹ I preferred it applied lightly; your mileage, of course, may vary. The opening is a heady mix of citrus, sweet fruit, violet leaf and violet (violet fans take note: it does smell like violet in the early stages). It's green early on, and peppery throughout. The fruit notes soften as the top notes dissipate, and the violet fades into a jasmine-heavy floral mixed with a dry, peppery iris. The jasmine is clean, with fruity undertones, and it's strong rather than rich...

Tom Ford has launched two new fragrances in the Private Blend collection, Jasmin Rouge and Santal Blush...

Tom Ford will launch Violet Blonde, a new perfume for women, in September. Violet Blonde reportedly has the "spirit of a classic European perfume" and is "chic and stylish"...

From Tom Ford, a limited edition sea-blue bottle of Neroli Portofino...

Tom Ford has launched Lavender Palm, the latest addition to the Tom Ford Private Blend collection. The new unisex fragrance was inspired by Los Angeles and the bottle is done in a metallic silver finish...

Once again, a drool-worthy holiday candle collection from Diptyque. At left, Pin ("fresh and familiar, green and resinous, the scent of pine needles and a hint of patchouli"); at right, Orange Épicée ("With its emblematic note of sour orange with a mix of essences of winter spices: Indian ginger, star anise from China, clove"). Not shown is Oliban, in blue...

From Tom Ford, the Black Orchid Limited Edition Collection, with a Black Orchid lipstick, Black Orchid nail polish and Black Orchid solid perfume. Available this month at Saks and Neiman Marcus in the US, Harvey Nichols in the UK...