One of the things I dislike most about traveling is deciding what fragrance will accompany me. With all the travel restrictions, if I want to travel lightly, many of my prized scents must stay behind.
Well, it’s no secret I’m a fan of Fresh (Fragrance Chronicles, Citron de Vigne). That’s why I knew it would be a no-brainer that I’d post about the launch of their 1 fl oz fragrance collection.
These portable beauties are being offered in six of their best selling scents: Cannabis Santal, Citron de Vigne, Sake, Sugar, Sugar Lychee and Hesperides. Here’s the kicker, for $32 they are all Eau De Parfum. You can’t beat that folks.
Smell better on vacation or after your workout or right before your next date with these portable Fresh scents.
Fresh Mini Eau de Parfum (1 fl oz) retails for $32. Available at Fresh, Nieman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bluemercury, and Macy’s.
Categories: News
Tagged: Cannabis Santal, Citron de Vigne, Fresh, Portable Fragrances, Travel friendly scents
February 2, 2010 · 1 Comment
What can you say about a fragrance that markets itself so boldly as an aphrodisiac? Jovan’s Sex Appeal for Men boasts being “more than the usual promise in a bottle. It’s more like a guarantee.” Why this relic from the late 1970s exists is a mystery to me, but I’m glad it does.
Sex Appeal for Men was launched (with a “for Women” counterpart that is no longer in production) in 1976, and everything about the packaging makes that apparent. The economy-sized bottle and the bizarre essay on the blue and mirror-finish box that exhorts men in 70s-era script to splash it on—“Man can never have too much”—all of it screams sleaze. It’s worth quoting the box copy in its entirety:
Sex Appeal.
Now you don’t have to be born with it.
This provocative stimulating blend of rare spices and herbs was created by man for the sole purpose of attracting woman. At will.
Man can never have too much.
The back of the box varies. The spray bottle packaging has instructions for “How to make the most of it” (“Spray it right on. On your chest. On your arms. Or wherever else you want more sex appeal.” Wink wink.)
The splash bottle, which I have, says this:
Splash it on. The more you use, the better.
Because it is truly sex appeal.
(and man can never have too much).
Sex Appeal by Jovan. For the first time in the history of the world… We bottled it.
And yet despite all of that retro hyperbole, it smells good. It’s like a spicier, less powdery Old Spice.. Some people compare it to Pierre Cardin for Men. As Tania Sanchez writes in Perfumes: The A to Z Guide, “You know, this is what guys who smelled bad used to smell like. It’s great.” She gave it four out of five stars.
After reading Sanchez’s hilarious and glowing review, I spotted Sex Appeal at a Brooklyn drug store. My girlfriend and I joked about it a bit, but we were curious. Could it really smell good? Could it, um…will it really turn women on? She got me a bottle for Christmas, and while it smells fantastic, it seems to have no real magnetic effect on her. Oh well. At a mere $16 for a hefty 4 ounce bottle (typical colognes are 3.4 ounces), it’s worth it.
I imagine the target market for this fragrance was once a combination of naïve, pimply teenagers and mustachioed womanizers of all ages. The kind of guy who might name his 1976 Camaro “The Love Boat,” and never do the top three buttons of his silk shirts. But who buys this now? If Jovan had any sense, they’d pay some geeks to come up with home-made video ads for this stuff and let it go viral on the web. I guarantee irony-loving hipsters and the nostalgia-gripped aging womanizers would buy it by the crate. –Harry Sheff
Categories: Fragrance Review
Tagged: Jovan Sex Appeal, Manly scents, Oriental scents, Pierre Cardin, Spicy scents, Woody scents
A few weeks ago, one of my twitter pals mentioned he was wearing a Jo Malone scent that was suggested to him by a mutual friend. To be specific, he was wearing sweet lime cedar layered with vanilla. Where it gets interesting is while he liked it, he thought it smelt girly.
Undoubtedly, his feelings toward this scent have been influenced by how the industry has marketed fragrances. Sweet and floral scents are for women. Spicy and woody scents are for men. But the reality is, the ways our bodies react to scents are quite different. I personally experienced this when I was testing Le Labo’s Oud 27 and a women who was also testing it, hated the way it smelled on her skin and loved it on mine. I also had a moment when I was wearing Tom Ford’s Black Orchid. A woman smelt it on me, thought it was great and had no clue I was wearing a women’s scent. To my male comrades, this girly smell thing is all in your head…get over it.
This brings me to what I’m currently sampling, The Different Company’s Oriental Lounge. I learned of this fragrance a few weeks ago when I was looking for a Christmas gift for my wife. In my opinion, this very well could be a unisex scent but it was introduced to me as being for women. From the moment I smelt it, I thought to myself, I could wear this and quite frankly, after this twitter exchange, I decided I would begin wearing it.
Oriental Lounge starts off like a sweet smelling rose and you quickly realize you’re in good hands. The fragrance is very concentrated and on the Different Company’s website, they discuss their concentration levels and reveal they only create parfums, so that makes total sense. But if a rose isn’t your thing, perhaps you’ll appreciate how it evolves.
What I find attractive about this fragrance is how warm and spicy the dry down becomes without being overbearing. As a Different Company says, “It is a modern and sophisticated amber, an outspoken and subtle perfume for those who are looking for a comfortable, sensual and true oriental. A fragrance that suggests but does not reveal immediately its true character.”
I’m loving this scent and know I’ve worn it more than my wife. I just might have to get my own bottle.
Categories: Fragrance Review
January 13, 2010 · 1 Comment
I had a post prepared for today but felt compelled to shelve it the more I learned of the magnitude of the earthquake that struck Haiti yesterday. Somethings just take precedence I guess.
The people of Haiti really need our help. President Obama has pledged that the U.S. will help but that’s not enough. It’s going to take a lot of resources to get this nation back on its feet. Whatever is in your means to do, just do it. MSNBC has listed a number of organizations that are helping the relief efforts. Check it out here and lend a helping hand.
To the people of Haiti you are in our prayers.
Categories: Uncategorized
Here’s a fragrance gift guide I put together for our friends at Be Better Guys. It only went up two days ago and I’m just getting around to reposting here. If you feel that the gift you bought just didn’t get the reaction you were looking for, consider these suggestions. You can also blame it on the store and say they were out and I really wanted to get you this! Anyhow, Happy Holidays from Fragrant Moments!
Categories: Fragrance Review
Tagged: Baume du Dodge, Be Better Guys, Eau D'Italie, Fragrance gifts, John Varvatos, Kristiansand New York, Le Labo, Liz Zorn Perfumes, Rose 31, Tobacco & Tulle, Vintage
December 21, 2009 · 1 Comment
Amouage was founded 25 years ago, in accordance with the wishes of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, ruler of the Sultanate of Oman. It was his desire to create a global luxury brand with roots in Oman under which the traditional Arabian love of perfume making and gift giving could be preserved and celebrated.
It was also his intention to tell the world about the ingredients particularly found in Oman, the rarest frankincense from Dhofar in the south of the country and the rarest rose of all, the rock rose harvested high up in the mountains of the Jebel Akhdar range towering over the Sultante’s beautiful capital, Muscat.
The Amouage miniature men’s collection contains six .25 oz bottles. Included in the set I have are Lyric, Jubilation, Reflection, Gold, Dia, and Silver. Each has very distinct characteristics but all are rich with great lasting power. The packing and presentation is simply beautiful. Right now, my standout favorites include Dia and Silver…but I’ve only just begun.
Amouage Miniatures set for men – $260 (and worth every penny)
Categories: Uncategorized
December 7, 2009 · 1 Comment
Britt Hovde Ross and Elisabeth Steen, two Norwegian expatriates living in New York, collaborated on Kristiansand New York after meeting each other at a SoHo store opening. Both were fragrance enthusiasts, and Steen had experience in fragrance and cosmetics marketing. The two women decided to create a men’s scent, and approached Drom Fragrances.
Drom perfumer Pierre-Constantin Gueros, who also created watch company Nooka’s recent fragrance (reviewed by Barney here), was asked to create a scent for men that embodied both Norwegian coastal beauty and New York sophistication. The scent is named for Ross’s home town, Kristiansand, which is on the southern coast of Norway.
Does Kristiansand New York smell anything like urban sophistication and Scandinavian nature? I don’t know. As easy as it is to write about this inspirational imagery, it doesn’t really tell us anything about the scent. That said, I was predisposed by my Norwegian ancestry and New York residence to like this fragrance. Imagine my surprise when, upon first scent, I did not.
I tested it on a tissue, spraying it liberally. The top notes were strangely indistinct, with no single note dominating. It was a muddled, generic scent, something that just smelled “safe.” I went back to it after it dried down and was still unimpressed. Some critics compare it to Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme, another woody fragrance with mandarin top notes. Why, I thought to myself, would an upstart fragrance be so bland? Wouldn’t you want to stand out?
The next morning I decided to give it a fair chance and sprayed it on my skin. Good thing I did. The top notes—which the company describes as “crisp greens, mandarin and exotic spices”—were still muddy to me, but the dry down, which started after about 15 minutes, is quite nice. The fragrance becomes a warm, slightly woody, slightly powdery amber. And it has staying power. Although the bottle says “eau de cologne,” Kristiansand’s publicist tells me that it’s a 15% concentration, making it closer to an eau de parfum (typically 15-20% oil concentration).
I like this fragrance, and I’m not sure what it was that turned me off initially. It’s worth the wait for the smooth, masculine basenotes.
Kristiansand New York ($65 for 50 ml) is sold in stores across Norway (including the town of Kristiansand, of course), in New York City’s Cry Wolf and at Beverly Hills Perfumery in California. Buy online at www.kristiansandnewyork.com.
–Harry Sheff
Categories: Fragrance Review
Tagged: Britt Hovde, Dolce & Gabana, Drom Fragrances, Elisabeth Steen, Nooka
Its been awhile since I’ve posted an article. But I was recently made aware of this one by some of my fragrant twitter pals and just got around to reading it. This is a recently published article in the Los Angeles that sheds light on Niche brands and their aim to bring to market quality fragrances. Some of the brands I’ve spoken about and many I own are mentioned in the article. They include, L’Artisan, Tauer Perfumes, Thierry Mugler, B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful , Serge Lutens and by Kilian.
It’s a quick read, supported by some statistical information and quotes from some industry heayweights. Well worth a few minutes of your time. Read it here.
Categories: Uncategorized
If there is one thing I love about the holidays, it’s the associated smells. Cinnamon, pumpkin, fresh pine, burnt woods; they’re all so comforting. I also love all the get togethers. I know I’ll be entertaining this year as well as attending a few gathers. With that, I wanted to get my home scents in order.
For the last few weeks, I’ve been testing the Healthy Candle by Lavanila Laboratories. What intrigued me about this product was the supporting material from the candle’s PR company that claimed, ” This all-natural and 100% healthy three-wick candle is non-polluting, soot-free and eco-friendly.” It made me think about some of the other candles I own. I recently bought a great candle, an extremely fragrant one at that. However, upon closer inspection, it certainly was producing soot.
Lavanila burns 90% cleaner and 50% longer than traditional paraffin candles. Completely free of paraffin, formaldehyde, petrochemical, phthalates and other harsh chemicals, the soothing blend of Madagascar vanilla, soft freesia and rich heliotrope is quite calming. The scent isn’t overpowering either. It’s just the right amount to compliment a casual gathering or a relaxing evening.
Availability: www.lavanila.com, $32
Categories: News · Product review
Tagged: eco-friendly candles, holiday entertaining, scented candles
Opening their first store in New York’s East Village in the fall of 2004, Odin New York has since become known for the carefully curated collection of brands they carry. From Band of Outsiders, Comme Des Garcons, and Common Projects to Phillip Lim 3.1, Our Legacy and Florsheim by Duckie Brown, shoppers can find a range of items including footwear, jewelry, bath and grooming products and accessories. Odin is now expanding its offering with their first fragrance collection.
A trio of scents, being dubbed unisex, can now be found in Odin New York, Pas de Deux, Aedes de Venustas, Hershleifer’s in New York, Studio Beautymix at Fred Segal in Los Angeles, Louis Boston, Forty Five Ten in Dallas and Carrots in San Francisco.
Top: Juniper Berries, Himalayan Cedar Leaves, Rich Bergamot
Middle: Sultry Palmarosa, Indian Black Pepper, Creamy Heliotrope
Bottom: Tonka Bean, West Indian Sandalwood, Grey Musk
Top: Owari Mandarin, Bright Green Bergamot, Grapefruit Leaves
Middle: Cubbed Pepper, Amyris Wood, Crisp Neroli
Bottom: Fresh Cut Cedarwood, Golden Amber, Tonkin Musk
Top: Silver Birch, Earthy Cypress, Forest Mint
Middle: Smoky Vetiver, Liquid Myrrh, Subtle Patchouli
Bottom: Black Musk, Dry Oak Moss, True Amber
The collection, which was collaborated on with fragrance supplier Drom, is available in a 3.4 fl. oz EDT and retails for $110.
Categories: News
Tagged: Aedes de Venustas, Carrots, Forty Five Ten, Louis Boston, New Fragrances, Odin New York, Pas de Deux, Studio Beautymix, Unisex Scents
