subscribe to beauty counter blog via RSSThe Revolution Will Not Be Televised—But It Will Be Bottled
November 23, 2009 5:32 pm
These days, movie stars, R&B songstresses, and pop divas are the usual inspirations for fragrance, which is why a scent surrounding anyone else is somewhat refreshing—especially if the muse in question is the Japanese Red Army’s “Black Widow,” Fusako Shigenobu. The infamous female terrorist, who was believed to be in exile in Lebanon for many years after orchestrating some of the group’s most violent political statements in the 1970’s, compelled artist Anicka Yi and architect Maggie Peng to create Shigenobu Twilight—a yuzu root, shiso leaf, and cedarwood eau that uses essences from both Shigenobu’s place of birth and her place of refuge for a unique and aromatic scent. The perfume debuted last December and has subsequently been featured in two installations, including curator Margaret Lee’s Today and Everyday at X Initiative this summer. After being picked up by United Bamboo, it’s back in the spotlight. The sculptural flacons, each of which is made from hand-cut raw cedarwood (no two are alike), are currently being featured on the clothing brand’s Web site, alongside the cat calendar we mentioned last month and the olive fishtail parka we are currently coveting. It’s quickly becoming the one-stop shopping destination for all of our gift-giving needs.
tags: Anicka Yi, Fragrance, Maggie Peng, Shigenobu Twilight, United Bamaboo
Tom Ford Keeps On Rolling On
November 17, 2009 12:50 pm
The message beauty companies are sending this holiday season appears to be twofold: Compacts aren’t worth buying unless they’re bedazzled and available in limited-edition quantities, and fragrances should come in ornate flacons, festive reformulations, or clever travel-sized packages. Tom Ford, who can woo consumers with the best of them, is right on trend with his new Touch Point Perfumes. The slender roll-on pens come in two scents—Ford’s spicy Black Orchid and rich White Patchouli—and have an air of old Hollywood glamour. There’s something exciting about pulling the gold-topped tubes out of your purse and we imagine a similar thrill will accompany unwrapping them.
tags: Black Orchid, Fragrance, Tom Ford, Touch Point Perfumes, White Patchouli
Diptyque Does You A Solid
November 13, 2009 3:48 pm
Perfume solids are having a moment as of late, and now Diptyque is getting in on the action. Your favorite scented candle purveyor and mine just launched its first foray into fragrance salves, churning out two different spreadable offerings this month. L’Ombre dans l’Eau features a green bouquet reminiscent of an English garden with notes of bergamot and Damask rose, while Philosykos has a more Mediterranean flair, embodying a fig tree in all of its fresh, sweet glory. Slip them into your purse, dab them behind your ear, and never worry about the hassle of spritzing again.
tags: Diptyque, Fragrance, L'Ombre dans l'Eau, Philosykos
Marc Jacobs Puts A Ring On It
November 12, 2009 3:58 pm
Marc Jacobs has come up with a novel way to wear his new Lola scent, and it has crowd-pleaser written all over it. Introducing the Lola cocktail ring, a limited-edition release for the holiday season that slides open to reveal a solid version of the rose, peony, and geranium fragrance, so you can dab it on discreetly no matter where you go—the airport included. (Its miniature size and non-liquid status means you don’t have to worry about TSA restrictions.) The sparkler comes packaged in an adorable leather satchel and is exclusively available at Sephora while supplies last. No need to slip into a spiraling depression if you can’t get your hands on one this year, though. It will roll out to select department stores come January.
tags: Fragrance, Lola, Marc Jacobs
Frédéric Fekkai Invests In The Power Of Scent
November 11, 2009 12:43 pm
Ever since we were introduced to Francis Kurkdjian and his novel idea of putting fine fragrance into everyday household items (bergamot, Sicilian lemon, and musky wood laundry detergent, anyone?), we’ve been conscious of its absence elsewhere in the market place. So has Frédéric Fekkai, it would appear. The famed coif master has just introduced Fekkai Sensuelle for the holiday season, enlisting the help of perfumers from Grasse to create a limited-edition collection of shampoo, conditioner, scented hair spray, and an eau de parfum, all of which smell of neroli, lemon leaf, and fleur d’orangeur, with a honey, cumin, and carrot seed dry-down. The haircare products also boast a formula rich in silk proteins so your tresses smell good and look shiny and strong, too.
tags: Fragrance, Francis Kurkdjian, Frederic Fekkai, Hair
Fragrance For A Cause, Pour Tout
November 10, 2009 4:28 pm
With more and more jewelry companies getting into the fragrance game, Tous is upping the ante. Its latest olfactory offering, which launched last week, combines two of the holiday season’s biggest trends into one faceted, drop-shaped bottle. Packed with natural ingredients, including organic lemon, organic lavender, and sustainably developed Australian sandalwood, Tous H20 is eco-chic (that’s one) and altruistic (that’s two). Continuing a previous partnership with Intermón Oxfam, a portion of all sales from the new eau will go to the NGO, which is dedicated to providing drinkable water to disadvantaged countries. And if you’re looking for the perfect two-part gift, there’s a ring to match the bottle.
tags: Fragrance, Interm�n Oxfam, Tous H20
Opium, Highly Addictive In a Whole New Way
November 9, 2009 1:30 pm
Thirty-two years ago, Yves Saint Laurent rocked the perfume world with the introduction of Opium. It was the exotic sexpot’s answer to Chanel No. 5’s timeless elegance, with suggestive naked advertising to boot. Starting next year, the mandarin, bergamot, jasmine, and sweet myrrh eau will be sporting a “modern” makeover courtesy of Stefano Pilati and Fabien Baron. The duo has designed both a new bottle and an advertising campaign for the fragrance starring Karen Elson. Junkies will be able to get their fix stateside beginning in March. Thoughts on the updated flacon? [WWD]
tags: Fabien Baron, Fragrance, Opium, Stefano Pilati, Yves Saint Laurent
Oh, That Holiday Smell
November 5, 2009 5:01 pm
I just finalized my December travel plans—Christmas in Montana, very excited. It took actually purchasing said plane ticket to conjure that warm and fuzzy holiday feeling, but there’s an easy and significantly cheaper way to get a jumpstart on some Yule-time glee if heading to Big Sky country isn’t in your future: Jo Malone’s limited-edition Pine & Eucalyptus collection. One whiff of the extra-large luxury candle’s crisp, fresh scent and you can envision what few moments of Zen you may be able to steal away in between the endearing familial arguments that are sure to come. The range also includes bath soaps, a bath oil, and a cologne.
When Makeup Begets Fragrance
November 4, 2009 5:02 pm
With news that prominent fashion brands with fragrances, like Burberry and Michael Kors, are turning to color cosmetics for some good old-fashioned revenue-boosting, it’s perhaps not surprising that well-known makeup visionaries are now launching their own signature scents. We’re all for spreading the wealth, aren’t you? Bare Escentuals founder Leslie Blodgett introduced Bare Skin last month. The first fragrance from her eponymous Perfume Diaries collection, the anise, vanilla, and labdanum eau is based on scent memories of a sun-drenched trip to Mexico. The idea of revisiting pivotal moments through fragrance also fueled QVC darling Mally Roncal’s fruity-floral venture, which officially went on sale last week. Mally Beauty Fragrance pays homage to Roncal’s Filipino roots and uses the country’s night-blooming sampaguita flower as its heart. If only they’d add haircare to their product offerings, they’d have the whole brand-loyalty thing all sewn up.
tags: Bare Escentuals, Bare Skin, Fragrance, Leslie Blodgett, Makeup, Mally Beauty Fragrance, Maly Roncal
Angel, The Digestif
November 2, 2009 2:59 pm
As many devotees of Thierry Mugler’s Angel will recall, the 1992 gourmand oriental sent shock waves through the smelling establishment, indoctrinating a new scent family and securing a large group of lifelong fans. For the holidays, the French designer is indulging his penchant for mold-breaking once again, putting a personal spin on the season’s limited-edition flacons and reformulations. His Angel Superstar Eau de Parfum collector’s bottle, for starters, comes equipped with a 38mm Swarovski crystal dangling at the center, and the popular juice itself has been given an equally bourgie revamp. Liqueur de Parfum, as its name suggests, is inspired by cognac production techniques and is the result of placing the chocolate, caramel and patchouli fragrance in a cherry wood casket for eight weeks. Soft honey overtones and essences of candied fruits now pepper the familiar vanilla and amber notes. Alien, his woody jasmine sambac scent, has been paired with oak wood to achieve a similarly distilled effect. While it won’t give you the same kind of “cheer” as kicking back a few snifters of Rémy Martin, it’s still worth adding to your shopping list.
tags: Alien, Angel, Fragrance, Liqueur de Parfum, Superstar Eau de Parfum, Thierry Mugler
