Awesome!

Guy Ritchie directed this short for Dior Homme - a perfume I love, love. My favorite moment is at the end when she has her Carmen Sandiego outfit on - ultra sexy version, natch, and stunning, seductive, rich burgundy lipstick, then the Carmen Sandiego silhouette standing next to the Eiffel Tower. So cool!

Ferré by Gianfranco Ferré

I love, love the scent of the iris flower and more specifically, iris root, so whenever I hear of an iris fragrance, new or old, I run to check it out. I had heard many things about Ferré by Gianfranco Ferré but it was always difficult to find in stores. After a long and rather impatient wait I came face to face with the scent that enrich my life and fill it with all kinds of happiness.

This perfume is everything an iris perfume should be. It's transparent, crisp, but at the same time has a sensous depth. When you put it on it envelopes you - I love that. It kind of becomes part or your aura, the perfume-y word for that is sillage. It's so feminine and sweet without being cloying or pink and annoying like so many sweet perfumes are today. The notes are a mix of fruit and flowers, but not done in the boring modern fruity-floral classification of today. No, there is a harmony here and every element works together to make it the kind of scent that can easily be worn every day, or for a romantic dinner, a signature fragrance, the sky's the limit. Just stunning. A keeper.

Ferré includes notes of bergamot, iris leaves, honeydew melon, pineapple, freesia, iris petals, jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, magnolia, basmati rice, Florentine iris root, amber, vanilla.

IRIS SILVER MIST

You know that moment right before one of your closest friends gives you the perfume of your life? You know that moment right before she says, "This is for you", and hands you Serge Lutens' masterpiece Iris Silver Mist...? Have you ever experienced such a moment? I have. It was a couple of weeks ago but I remember it like it was yesterday.

Right before it happened there was a calm, a quiet, a reverence, if you will. The birds hushed, the dog settled, everyone and everything held their breath for a split second. Then I saw it. Coming towards me was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. I heard myself take a sharp intake of breath, but it was like I was looking at myself from outside of my body - a surreal experience. The first thing I saw was the grey box. Next thing I knew the cellophane wrapping was off and I was smelling, for only the second time in my life, the most beautiful, haunting, melancholic, reverent scent I have ever smelled in my life - Iris Silver Mist.

To say that Maurice Roucel (possibly with the collaboration of Christopher Sheldrake) is a genius and a should have at least one, if not several, altars built in his honor is an understatement. It is the creation of a lifetime. Once you create something like this, it's all downhill from there. Meaning, whatever you do, make, accomplish after that, is gravy, an afterthought.

While I would like to be able to review this and put you all in a perfume, iris induced trance, I cannot do better than those who have gone before me. For this reason I direct you to Victoria at Bois de Jasmin and and Robin at Now Smell This who will hypnotize you with their eloquence and just fascinatingly beautiful reviews that respect and represent the magical, otherworldly jewel that is....Iris Silver Mist.

I don't know if you realized this yet, but the purpose of this post was just to brag and say that I now have in my possession a full bell jar of Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido exclusive - Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist - I am both honored and humbled (not really) to be part of this exclusive club.

Perfumes for Winter

Winter is upon us - well as much of a winter as we're ever going to get - but I get excited about it anyway. It's finally time for stews and "sweaters" and cozy evenings drinking wine. In preparation for the winter season I bought new huge wine glasses, pulled out my fluffly slippers, my fluffy throw blanket, and my winter perfumes.

As I look at my collection I realize that it has grown since last year, but more towards summer scents than winter. I did however make a very special addition to my collection which is good all year round, but probably works best in cooler months, SL Sa Majeste la Rose.

The perfumes that have been singing to my heart most are the following:

Guerlain Mitsouko - The most amazing oakmoss and peach scent. My favorite chypre of all times. This classy, beautiful and almost stuck up scent sets it apart from the mass of one note numbers lining the shelves these days. With all the pink and fruity bubble gum concoctions running rampant it is a breath of fresh air to be able to wear something that is unapologetic, and to most, unrecognizable.

Guerlain L'Heure Bleue - My other favorite Guerlain. I don't know which one I like more. This perfume is melancholy and beautiful. It really does evoke the "blue hour" which is dusk, right before the sun is competely down and the moon comes up. This perfume has one of my very favorite notes in it, iris. The iris is mixed with anise, jasmin and the famous Guerlain base called Guerlinade (tonka bean, vanilla and awesomeness). I love the powderiness as well. I like powdery perfumes. Some people say they smell like old ladies, who cares? If they're fancy ass old ladies who wear Guerlain, it's not an insult to say I smell like one.

SL Sa Majeste la Rose - Roses dipped in honey. That's what I get from this. Pure, classic, modern, loud, soft, gorgeous. It's a seamless blend where all the players get a share of the glory, but the rose is the queen - always.

SL Fumerie Turque - Smokey vanilla, tabacco and honey wood with a touch of rose and amber in a leather purse. It's an elixir. I love, love, love it.

Kenzo Amour le Parfum - I have written time and again of my love for this perfume. I belive I've said enough. It is a gorgeous, not overly sweet, woody, deep, vanilla fragrance that warms my heart.

Al Nabha by Haramain - Rose and saffron. It's perfect for winter. It's deep, but not too deep. It's oudh and rose and saffron. It's meant to be used by men for prayer. They say it invokes peace and spiritual strength. Maybe. But I use it to fill my life with joy. Tons and tons of joy.

Armani Code (the old black box, grey bottle one - NOT the new beige one-- ick!) - Pure incense. Lovely. I like to mix it with Al Nabha for the ultimate meditation scent.

Dinner with Chandler Burr

I adore Chandler Burr and faithfully read anything he writes. I came across these vidoes of dinners he did where he paired food with perfume. What I wouldn't do to be invited to a dinner with him...

Four Seasons Restaurant Scent Dinner: NYT perfume critic Chandler Burr & Ex. Chef Fabio Trabocchi from Chandler Burr on Vimeo.

PopTech Scent Dinner with Chandler Burr from PopTech on Vimeo.

Ryan Reynolds is the perfect face for Boss Night

This ad is so Ryan Reynolds. Can't believe he's only now getting scooped up to be the face of a perfume. He's perfect.

Sorry the pic is so small, it was really hard to find one at all.

Sa Majeste la Rose

"The Accolade" by Edmund Blair Leighton

Sa Majeste la Rose is a masterpiece. It's full on rose that is unapologetic and regal. This rose is not trying to hide behind anything, it's larger than life and yet never in-your-face, and that is why I love it. It's me in a bottle.

It's a classic work of art. The intensity and purity of the rose mixed with the honeyed notes in the drydown make it effortlessly romantic and chic. While it is classic, it is in no way old fashioned. It has none of the traits we associate with old-fashioned rose grandmother scents (although I do love those as well). It's contemporary without being weird, and classic without being old. A perfect, harmonious balance of all that is beautiful.

The name really says it all. It is a Queen and as such should be worshipped and given due respect. I would like to make it my signature scent. If I were always associated with that scent I would have no complaints. Serge Lutens is a master and if you haven't had the pleasure of trying some of his weird, unique, beautiful and classic fragrances, you're missing out. They take you on a crazy ride and it's wonderful. I presently own two SL fragrances, Fumerie Turque and Sa Majeste la Rose. I plan to own many, many more.

Trésor in Love - Le film

I love the ad for Lancome's new fragrance Trésor in Love. So elegant, and youthful. They managed to combine the two seamlessly. The lovely subdued makeup and the exquisite dress, the gloves! It's very chic, very Audrey, very beautiful. I can only hope the perfume represents.

Magical

Please take the time to check out this amazing short film created especially for the Aqua Allegoria line's 10th anniversary. The new AA is called Flora Nymphéa, and the film is beautiful. I'm afraid to say I don't own a single AA scent even though I've always wanted to, and the bottles are soooo beautiful. I think I may have to make that dream a reality. Flora Nymphéa's notes are: seringa , orange blossom and honey. I hope it's not too sweet. I really, really want it. The bottle is special edition as well. Anyway, check out the movie here:

Comment J'aime la Pluie

This past week we have experienced a slight break from our infernal summer with temperatures ranging from hot, hotter, and the punishing flames of hell. The land is singing in response to this week's rain and while traipsing around by bus in the rain is less than cool, those of us who aren't hiding from it, are greatly enjoying it.

The sun is peaking its head through the clouds as I write, but there is a promise of rain in the air and I'll bet later this afternoon our city will be blessed with a mild downpour. It is by no means cold, it is just perfect, so choosing the right perfume is not difficult. Basically anything will do, however, I find myself reaching for a select few:

Burberry Touch - this is a new addition to my perfume collection and one I am very fond of. It has a leather note that wafts in and out. The perfume itself is very transparent and quite perfect for a rainy day that is neither cold nor hot.

Clinique Simply - I shed a tear whenever I think about it being discontinued. What poo-heads the Clinique execs are. Seriously. This is a classy perfume that is light and comforting. There is a roasted soy note throughout its development that is a bit smokey and ads just the right amount of depth to this beautiful fragrance. Every time I wear it I am in awe of the perfumer and what he was able to accomplish - his inspiriation being his newborn baby's milk only diet heavenly scented skin.

Guerlain Apres L'Ondee - this perfume smells exactly like a flower garden after a rain shower. It's amazing. There is a haunting violet and iris smell that elevates the soul and lifts the spirit. I love, love, love it. It is in my top 5 favorite perfumes of all times along with it's older sister L'Heure Bleue.

Guerlain launched a perfume called Quand Vient la Pluie that I can't wait to try. It's one of those super extravagant ones, so I'll probably just have to content myself with a sample.

Solo Loewe: Majestically Mysterious - at least the ads are

I love this series of perfume ads. They seem old world majestic somehow, a bit evil - in a good way, and super mysterious (OMG, it reminds me of the Tudors and all the intrigue - wow, am I reading too much into this, or what?). They make me want to smell the perfume, and at this point it would be difficult to disappoint me because in my mind I already love it. If that makes me a crazy, then fine - I'm a crazy!

Perfume: Scented Body Powders

I love scented body powders. They feel old fashioned and classy, old movie style glamour. This new dusting powder popped up and I think it might be the only version of Angel that could work for me. I had a bad experience with TM Angel when I was teaching English at Berlitz. There was this one student who would bathe in it right before class where I was locked in a classroom for 90 min. inhaling the toxic fumes. Needless to say it made me nauseous and from then on I was unable to see the name Thierry Mugler Angel without mini vomiting. All the teachers would draw straws to see who would teach her because no one could stand it and no one had the guts to tell her to ease up because she was basically Brazilian royalty - I'm serious. I'm sure everyone has an elevator story that includes being gassed out by Angel, but being stuck in a poisonous classroom for nearly 2 hours inhaling hazardous material is about as bad as it can get.

A good friend of mine uses the perfume - and I think she would love the powder - with a very light hand. She wears just enough so you can tell she has it on, but it stays really close to her skin. The only way it can be tollerated. Anyway, I'm interested in trying this powder and I think James (my friend Greti's fiance) should totally buy this for her. She would just die.

Here are some powders I covet:


Prada L'Eau Ambree. This probably smells like something I would want to wear all the time. Like the YSL Opium powder. I could dive in a vat of it and just sit there letting it permeate into my skin.

Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant. It's so cute, I can barely stand it.


YSL Opium - love it so much. One of my mother's friends used to own this. Divine.

Guerlain Shalimar - I can't use the perfume, but I think I would love the powder. I hope I love it. I really want to love the perfume, it just doesn't love me. At all. It makes me sad to think about it.

Miss Dior - I love Miss Dior perfume, so think this powder will be a winner. Plus, its' super, super cute.


This packaging is to die for! It's Juicy Couture. Don't know what it smells like, but I want it in a big way.


This is also Juicy Couture. Give me, give me.


Oscar de la Renta. Lovely. it probably smells like heaven and weddings. This would make a beautiful gift. It's just so pretty.

Perfume: New Chanel 5 Commercial with Audrey Tautou

Love this new commercial for Chanel 5:



When I first heard that Audrey Tautou was going to be the new face of this iconic fragrance I didn't see it. Now I'm a believer. Beautiful in her simplicity and straightforwardly honest face, they couldn't have made a better choice. I also believe that perhaps having a younger, hipper face connected to the fragrance will encourage a younger market to try it, and possibly, just possibly break away from the lollipop pink offerings that have been flooding the market in recent years.

Perfume: YSL Paris Eau de Printemps

A dear friend just returned from traveling abroad (she went to Greece, and Italy) and she loves to bring me back something - usually a perfume because she knows how obsessed I am with it. Once she bought me an extremely rare perfume that can only be purchased in one place in Paris and later her bag was stolen. Isn't that awful. It's maybe the most heartbreaking story. Anyway, back to good things. She walked into Duty Free and there was a huge display for this year's YSL Paris flanker - Eau de Printemps.

The fragrance notes include May rose, violet, honeysuckle, peony, jasmine, sandalwood and musk. As you can see from the lineup it is a beautiful, delicate, baby ballet of a scent. This is something that will offend no one and will most likely impress some. Lasting power is not wonderful, but pretty standard for an EDT. It comes in a huge 125ml bottle, which I imagine will last me all summer. If it lasts any longer I'll be surprised. This is one of those perfumes you wear when you don't know what to wear, because it will probably hit the spot.

This would be a perfect picnic perfume. In my mind I see a beautiful English garden filled with roses. A table in the middle of the garden where tea sandwiches, tea and cakes are searved. I see myself and my friends wearing hats and laughing (politely and delicately). It inspires images of a the garden behind a British country cottage.


I like this scent a lot. I don't think I like it more than the original YSL Paris, but it comes very close. To me, the original Paris smells like freshly bruised rose petals - and there is nothing, nothing more beautiful than that. This one has none of the bruised note, or the stem, or any of that, but it's still worthy.

Thanks Cristina! I love it!