IRIS by Donna Karan

IRIS by Donna Karan

Purple elegance

A velvety powdery fragrance, Iris joins the Donna Karan Collection. In its simple yet luxurious black and purple bottle, Iris conveys a feeling of elegant seduction and mystery. Chic, sophisticated, and rather easy to wear, Iris blends iris roots with rose, violet and woody notes. For more information : www.donnakaranbeauty.com

This iris soliflore fragrance opens with violet and iris absolute. The heart notes blend orris butter, rose de mai and transparent notes of magnolia. The delicate woody-musky base is a combination of vetiver and ambrette seed.

Top Note:

Violet, Iris

Middle note:

Orris butter, Rose, Magnolia

Base Note:

Vetiver, Ambrette

Range

Eau de Parfum 3.4 oz / 100 ml.

Via www.osmoz.com

Armani Code Summer for men by Armani

A sensuous thrill…

The summer sun is a call to get away from it all: Mediterranean escapades, dips in the sea… The air is filled with the scent of sea breezes, sun-gorged citrus fruit, olive trees and Mediterranean herbs. Armani’s code of sensuality has been reinvented too, in a fresh composition with a frosted-look bottle. The limited-edition fragrance is being launched as part of a duo with the women’s version.

Described as a citrus-woody oriental, the fragrance’s composition is based on citrus and a marine accord. Bergamot, lemon and grapefruit open the scent, shaded with a green-accented neroli. The aromatic heart pairs olive wood and tarragon, intertwining notes of rose and cedar. The light musky-ambry close reveals a slightly smoky gaiac wood (a. k.a. saintwood).



Top note:

Bergamot, Lemon, Grapefruit, Neroli

Middle note:

Marine Note, Tarragon, Olive Blossom, Rose, Oak

Base note:

Gaiac Wood, Musks,, Amber

Range

2.5-oz. spray bottle.

Via http://www.osmoz.com/

ORGANZA Jasmin Sambac d’Inde 2009 by Givenchy

When the 2009 Indian sambac jasmine harvest magnifies Organza Story


Delicate, warm, honeyed: Jasmine Sambac d’Inde 2009 reinterprets Organza’s original scent. For the fifth year in a row, Givenchy presents a limited edition of their most emblematic perfumes recomposed around a flower that had an exceptional harvest the preceding year. This year, Organza features Sambac jasmine from Coimbatore, India. Seen as sacred in the Hindu tradition, the flower plays a key symbolic role in wedding ceremonies, where it incarnates the woman’s beauty and purity of heart. Also worth looking out for: Egyptian Nile Valley orange blossom for Ange ou Démon, Moroccan Centifolia rose for Very Irrésistible, and French mimosa for Amarige.

In the opening, jasmine’s green facet echoes honeysuckle, boosting its femininity. The original floral bouquet is more sensual and lush here, offering honeyed and almondy tonalities thanks to Indian sambac jasmine harvested in 2009. The warm and sensual trail pairs vanilla with woodsy and oriental notes.

Top note:


Neroli, Honeysuckle, Petit-Grain, Green Notes

Middle note:

Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Honeyed Notes, Almondy Notes

Base note:

Vanille, Vanilla, ,, Woodsy Notes

Range
3 oz. limited edition eau de parfum.

Via http://www.osmoz.com/

L’EAU au Masculin by Lolita Lempicka

The intensity of a masculine eau…

Lolita Lempicka has always put nature at the heart of their creations. Ten years after the launch of Lolita Lempicka au Masculin, a slightly gourmand woody-oriental, the fragrance has been reinterpreted in a fresher flanker, but the original scent’s instantly recognizable violet-and-vetiver signature is still there. With L’EAU au Masculin, the brand offers men a fragrance composed around one of the nature’s key elements: water. Symbol of strength and purity, this intense eau is pierced by a dazzling freshness. Water is a source of inspiration rather than an olfactory element. This ‘Eau’ is bracing rather than aquatic, in the style of a splash or cologne.

This fresh, masculine eau opens with the dazzlingly sparkling notes of lemon, pink pepper and lemon verbena. The refined floral heart blends jasmine petals with a violet-wood accord. The elegantly musky dry down pairs Javanese vetiver with olive-wood and musk.

Top note:

Lemon, Pink Pepper, Lemon Verbena

Middle note:

Jasmine Petals, Violet-wood Accord

Base note:

Javanese Vetiver, Olive Wood, Musk

Range

Eau de Toilette 1.7 and 3.4 oz.

My Spring 2010 Fragrances

When the winter blues are coming to a close and we see the flowers start to bloom, this feeling of new beginnings and adventures to come start to fill the air.

This is the time where everyone shifts to high gear to get ready for the summer. I almost feel like the spring is the time when we all get ready for something better, or something more.
I like to take my time during the spring and ease my way to the summer months. This is the time to enjoy the beauty of nature coming back to life all around us. It is truly a magical time.
During this time I love to wear fragrances that compliment the environment and my mood.

These are the 3 fragrances that I have been enjoying this spring and I recommend them for their freshness and their beautiful transition and flexibility from the winter blues to the brightness and excitement that awaits us during the summer.


My Top 3 Spring 2010 Fragrances:

Un Jardin En Mediterranee by Hermes

Un Jardin en Mediterranee, which translates to “a garden in the meditterranean” was launched in 2003 by the house of Hermes and was the first creation that perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena created for the Hermes house.

This fragrance is one that can be worn both by men and women. It is green with citrus notes and it truly feels like you are walking in a beautiful garden. The fragrance eventually does settle to a nice floral, spicy and woody base which is very unique yet remains fresh.
I think it’s perfect for the spring as it has an air of freshness yet warm nature to it that will translate beautiful during the spring months.


Infusion d'Iris by Prada

Prada Infusion d ‘Iris was launched in 2007 by the house of Prada and was created by perfumer Daniela Andrier.

A beautiful elegant fragrance that can be worn anytime of the year. It is casual, yet classic and very clean.
This fragrance opens up to a nice burst of notes like, mandarin, orange blossom, iris. It is bright yet remains soft. This fragrance is floral but it is not heavy which is great for the spring months which come with a chill in the air. And when summer comes along this fragrance stays clean and fresh. It’s a fragrance that will transition beautifully and can be worn both during the day and night. It is soft and clean sophistication at its best.

Je Reviens by Worth for Women

Je Reviens was originally launched in 1932 by the house of Worth. It was created by perfumer Maurice Blanchet. Je Reviens translates to “I will Return” and is a very special perfume in my life as it was one my mother wore when I was very young and will forever remind me of her.

It is a perfume that has been reformulated and re-launched in 2004 by the name of Je Reviens Couture. Of course the fragrance has changed since when I first smelled it back in the early 80’s but it remains to me as a great fragrance that can be worn at any time of the year.
The opening notes of Je Reviens is very bright and aldehydic. With notes of orange blossom, jasmine, ylang ylang, aldehydes and lemon, you get this bright and sunny opening.
It is fresh and very clean and transitions into a very soft and clean feminine scent.
This fragrance dries down to a smooth powdery base and really makes your skin smell clean and delicate. It is a great fragrance for the spring and summer months.


The bottom line is there are so many beautiful fragrances out there in this fragrant world and we all have our favorite go to scents during different times of the year and times in our lives.
Scents and fragrances will forever have a special place in our lives whether it is a conscious choice like I have made or just something you do as you get ready everyday and do not put much thought behind it.
Either way, when the first spring shower comes down and the first blooms start to show or the first time you feel the warmth of the sun after a long cold winter, fragrance will be a part of that moment. It will be your silent and fragrant companion, always.



~Alexandra~

Eau de Cartier Essence d’Orange by Cartier

Chic freshness under an orange flag

Nine years after the original version of Eau de Cartier, a fresh eau flaunting warm tonalities, Cartier presents Eau de Cartier Essence d’Orange, a less floral, more dazzlingly citrussy reinterpretation. Sparkling, zesty orange, at the heart of this creation, also evokes a radiant sun. A joyful fragrance, an elegant design: ‘an ode to art de vivre’ signed Cartier!

At the opening, the original fragrance’s yuzu (a lemon-like Asian fruit) makes way for a cocktail of sparkling citrus fruit highlighting orange. At the heart, you’ll recognize the violet-petal note, but with fruitier accents too. Then cedar wood, musks and patchouli extend the fragrance. Eau de Cartier Essence d’Orange is a very citrussy fragrance that might well remind you of the tart, dry and sparkling scent of a gin & tonic.

Top note:

Orange, Bergamot

Middle note:

Violet Petals, Floral Notes, Fruity Notes

Base note:

Cedar Wood, Patchouli, Musks

Range:

Eau de Toilette 3.4 oz.

Via www.osmoz.com

Cool Water Woman Ice Fresh by Davidoff

Cool Water Woman Ice Fresh by Davidoff

Serve chilled… when you come back from the sea

For Davidoff, Cool Water Woman Ice Fresh is ideal for back from the beach. This fresh scent brings vitality and summer in a bottle. Since the launch of the original fragrance in 1997, Davidoff has proposed several limited edition of its best-selling duo, Cool Water. For summer 2010, Davidoff Cool Water brings you ‘Ice Fresh’ to keep you cool even when temperatures rise! Davidoff gives you a tip: push the freshness even further and keep your Davidoff Cool Water ‘Ice Fresh’ in the refrigerator during the day.

The fragrance is a mix of fruity and aquatic notes. The fresh and fruity start of the fragrance combines juicy melon and pineapple with mint leaves. The oceanic heart mixes water violet accord and lotus flower. The sunny base is delicately sensual, in a mix of airy amber and sensual woods.

Top note:

Melon, Pineapple, Mint Leaves

Middle note:

Water, Violet, Lotus Flower

Base note:

Amber, Woods

Range:

Eau de Toilette 100 ml / 3.4 oz.

Via www.osmoz.com

Eternal Magic by Avon

Eternal Magic by Avon

Purple fantasy…

For Eternal Magic, Avon chose Zoe Saldana to be the exclusive spokeswoman for the brand's fragrance. Zoe Saldana is an American actress; she played the role of Neytiri, one of the most important characters in James Cameron’s film Avatar. For Avon, Zoe perfectly fits because she represents in the same time strength and femininity. She has also a timeless grace, a beauty and an elegance, which makes her the perfect woman to embody this fragrance, according to Avon. ‘I'm very proud to be working with Avon and to be the face of Eternal Magic. (…) It means so much to me to be associated with a company that shares my values and believes in empowering women’, says Zoe. For more information: www.avon.com

The fragrance opens with a mix of violet, bergamot and pink peppercorn. The heart is a floral bouquet of ‘Princess Monaco rose’ and orris. The sensual base is a combination of vanilla and creamy woods.

Top note:

Violet, Bergamot, Pink Peppercorn

Middle note:

Rose, Orris

Base note:

Vanilla, Creamy Woods

Range

Eau de Toilette 1.7 oz / 50 ml; Shower Gel 6.8 oz / 200 ml; Body Lotion 6.8 oz / 200 ml.

ANGEL Sunessence Bleu Lagon by Thierry Mugler

Summery, joyful, sundrenched… an olfactory evocation of a blue lagoon

In 2010, Thierry Mugler is presenting a second summer eau flanker for their best-seller, Angel. In its turquoise-blue star bottle, ANGEL Sunessence Bleu Lagon is an ode to the sun. Airier, tarter and more floral than the original, Angel Sunessence Bleu Lagon reveals sunny notes like starfruit, a tart, fresh and slightly aqueous exotic fruit, over a base of patchouli and gourmand notes.

The opening is all freshness and light, with a frosty ‘starfruit ice’ accord with tart, fruity facets. At the heart, the perfumer focused on a ‘ginger flower note’ for its multi-facetted, fresh, floral, playful and spicy sides. Airier and more floral notes have also been worked in. The fragrance then evolves towards a classic Angel close: sensual and gourmand, thanks to vanilla, patchouli and oriental notes. Perfumer: Aurelien Guichard, Givaudan.

Top note:

Starfruit, Frosty Notes

Middle note:

Ginger Flower, Airy Notes, Floral Notes

Base note:

Patchouli, Vanilla, Oriental Notes

Range: Light, non-refillable Eau de Toilette 1.7 oz.

Via www.osmoz.com

FUEL FOR LIFE SUMMER for men 2010 by DIESEL

FUEL FOR LIFE SUMMER for men 2010 by DIESEL


Pop, fluo, artsy… Fuel for Life is ready for summer!

Sparkling, aquatic, electric blue… With Fuel for Life 2010 Summer Edition, the tone is set. This fluorescent-blue flanker invites you to bring some color into your life… and your fragrance. Diesel’s inspiration for this summery duo comes from New York’s Soho neighborhood in the 80s. That’s where the fluo fashion got started, before getting picked up by English pop, then paired with black on Parisian runways in the FLASH FOR FUN line in Diesel’s 2009-2010 collection. Diesel’s fashion-forward fans are sure to find a place for this graphic accessory in their bathroom or on their dresser.

Fresh and anise-y notes jostle at the opening. The lavender heart unveils aquatic tonalities, before evolving towards a woody base of vetiver and driftwood underpinned with heliotrope, a flower with sweet, balsamy, almondy accents.

Top note:

Petit Grain, Verbena, Anise

Middle note:

Aquatic Notes, Lavender

Base note:

Vetiver, Driftwood, Heliotrope

Eau de Toilette 2.5 oz.

Via www.osmoz.com

Splash - APPLE by Marc Jacobs

A tart green apple

Having already featured notes from orange to cotton, the ‘Splash’ collection welcomes apple. Fruity, fresh and green, apple is at the heart of this generously sized new fragrance from Marc Jacobs. For him and for her, to splash or to spray, this fruity, energizing scent is being launched along with two others creations, Pomegranate and Biscotti, like a trio of tasty baked goods.

This refreshing, fruity scent takes off on a trio of juicy notes of apple, lemon and grapefruit. The floral and aromatic heart blends notes of rosemary, jasmine and magnolia. Driftwood, coriander and cardamom offer a warm drydown. Perfumer: Yann Vasnier, Givaudan.

Top note:

Lemon, Grapefruit, Apple

Middle note:

Rosemary, Jasmine, Magnolia

Base note:

Coriander, Cardamom, Driftwood

Range:

Eau de Toilette spray / splash 10 oz.

Via www.osmoz.com

She Wood Crystal Creek Wood by DSQUARED²

A promenade into a crystal creek…

To create She Wood Crystal Creek Wood, Dean and Dan Caten were inspired by the fresh transparent water of the crystal creeks, the limpidity of the springs in an unexplored nature. With this immersion into the wild Canadian Nature, the fragrance suggests a rainbow of colors from aquamarine to azure nuances. For more information: www.dsquared2.com

The woody floral fragrance is based upon 3 facets: Cristal accord, Creek accord and Wood accord. The Cristal accord blends hawthorn, jasmine petals and musk. The Creek accord mixes crystalline watery notes, violet leaves and violet. The Wood accord blends vetiver, vegetal amber white wood and sandalwood.

Perfume Notes:

Top note:
Hawthorn, Crystalline Watery Accord

Middle note:
Jasmine Petals, Violet Leaves, Violet

Base note:
Vetiver, Sandalwood, White Wood, Vegetal Amber, Musk

Range:
Eau de Toilette 30 ml / 1 oz and 50 ml / 1.7 oz.

Via www.osmoz.com

CHANEL NO. 5 PERFUME REVIEW

Chanel No. 5 to me is like the fancy lady that everyone knows yet not everyone can be friends with her.

It’s a beautiful perfume filled with an air of sophistication that the Chanel house is so famous for.
When I was growing up I always heard women talking about the elusive Chanel No. 5 perfume and how wonderful and sophisticated it was.
A lot of the female artist I used to love back then swore by it and talked about it as if the juice in that bottle was a blanket of sensuous sophistication you can be a part of just by spraying the perfume on your body.
All I knew back then was that I when I grew up I wanted to be one of those women. I wanted Chanel No 5 to envelop me in its magic.

Well I grew up……and Chanel No 5 did not become my signature scent. I love it and I think it is one of the most beautiful perfumes out there but I just can’t wear it all the time or pull it off.

Since its introduction to the perfume industry and the world in 1921, Chanel No. 5 has been in the hearts and bodies of many women. Created by perfumer Ernest Beaux, The fragrance has been described as “the world’s most legendary fragrance”, now that is a big burden to carry in this day and age when the perfume industry is bombarded with so many launches year after year, yet Chanel No. 5 has been able to stay on top with its charm and silent sophistication.
It is still one of the top selling fragrances of Parfums Chanel, and the Chanel house estimates that a bottle of the beautiful juice is sold every 55 seconds. Now, talk about a lot of elegant smelling ladies walking around in the world.

Chanel No. 5 to me smells like a well mannered lady. When you first smell the fragrance you definitely get the floral aldehydes that identifies this fragrance. Of course this fragrance is known for changing the perfume industry many years ago and the culprit were the aldehydes notes. There is a burst of citrus which can be contributed to the lemon and bergamot which keeps the fragrance very fresh and clean. After a few minutes No. 5 becomes a lot softer on my skin. This is where the well behaved lady comes in. I attribute this to the ylang ylang notes which start to ground the fragrance and make its transition into the heart or middle notes a lot smoother.


This fragrance is clean, fresh, and floral with powdery notes, a very expensive powder. It feels like a very expensive bedroom, one I want to be in.
The middle notes are composed of Jasmine, Rose, Lily of the Valley and Iris. You may think that this would make the fragrance very floral but on me it translates as very clean, soft and a very feminine scent. It really becomes a barely there come hither scent. The powdery of the iris is very alive on my skin.
When the base notes make their appearance, No. 5 is not that impressive on me. It is very soft and it takes on this right out of the shower scent. This is very appealing to me personally but after such a journey with the top and middle notes, I hoped that the base notes translated a lot stronger on me.

For me the most beautiful part of the fragrance are the heart notes. It is full of life, softness and femininity. Overall I think Chanel No.5 is filled with soft glamour, sensual and it still translates as a very classic scent. Even though it was created many years ago it has been able to remain modern and steal the hearts of women all over the world. It is a fragrance that will continue to allure and enchant the heart and noses of many women for years to come.

Food for thought...

I have been thinking how I should structure The Scented Nook blog. Should there be a structure?
I think right now what I would like to do is bring news from the fragrance and bath and body community/industry as well as reviews of old and new products.
I don’t want to just focus on what is new and “hot” at the moment and forget and not bring forth those magical scents of our pasts.
I would also love to provide as much information on what makes perfumes, lotions, creams, soaps and all the goodies that make us smell like whatever our imaginations can dream of. Really the choices out there are overwhelming, and although that in itself can be what some have called the downfall of the perfumery industry. I believe that if you want to smell like a bakery on a Sunday morning, then why the hell can you?

I am not a “perfumista” by any means as I don’t think I have the knowledge in general yet of what is out there especially in the niche world of perfumery. I also do not yet have the nose to smell something and pick it apart and tell you what raw materials are in the “juice”. What I am is a fan of the art and the beauty that fragrances can bring to our lives.
I don’t like everything out there, but I do respect if you do.

Alexandra~

My Fragrance Love Affair~

I don’t think I can pinpoint when my love for fragrances, perfume and anything that smells good began.
I do remember the first time fragrance left an imprint in my young mind. I was about seven years old and I had not seen my mother for a very long time. She was living in New York City at the time and I lived in the Dominican Republic, which is the the country of my birth.
Seeing my mother after such a long time can leave a strong impression and memory in a child of that age.
The first time I saw her and she gave me the most loving hug she left with me a beautiful fragrant memory.A memory so beautiful and fragrant that so many years later as I write this I still remember how feminine, clean and amazing she smelled. I remember thinking, wow my mother is the most beautiful woman in the world and I wanted to be just like her.
Everything around my mom smelled so good, I just could not get enough of her. Her luggage, her clothes, her hair and everything she touched including me smelled like her. I was in heaven.
From that day on my love affair with fragrance and scents began.

The perfume that my mother wore back then and for many years after that was Je Reviens by Worth.
That perfume is my mom in a bottle per say and anytime I want comfort I reach out for Je Reviens and I am enveloped with the essence of my mother.

Fragrance is not just something that smells good. It is so much more than that and it is special and unique to all of us. It can become a personality, a love, hate or an emotion in an instant.
That is the beauty of perfumes and scents in any incarnation.

I created this blog because I want to share and take you through my journey and discovery of fragrances.
Kick back, relax and join me here at The Scented Nook.

~Alexandra~