Recently in Perfume Category

I am all about wearing different scents in different seasons. During the heat of the summer I like something juicy and fresh, but when it starts to cool down I like warmth and spice! Solid perfumes are a great option for fall and winter- since the last thing you want to do is get alcohol based perfumes on your cashmere, fleece and leather garments :(. Even when you spray your skin first and then put your clothes on, the alcohol can still discolor the fabric, especially if you perspire. Pacifica solid perfumes are vegan, made from 100% organic materials (mostly soy and coconut wax) and are completely recyclable down to the packaging. I <3 Pacific's new fall scents!! Five delicious scents to choose from- My favorite is Tibetan Mountain Temple, no wait.... Mexican Cocoa. On second thought, Madagascar Spice! Well for only $8.95 apiece, why not get them all?! =) Plus, I love the adorable tins! Perfect to sneak past TSA for holiday traveling, and small enough to fit in your pocket for every day use.

Avalon Juniper* Tibetan Mountain Temple* Spanish Amber* Mexican Cocoa* Madagascar Spice

For anyone who doesn't know, there is a serious heatwave going on in the New York City-area and in-between dealing with an old-school air-conditioner that's so loud it keeps me up at night and going to penthouse events with no AC (though the particular event I'm referring to was a cocktail party to honor Isabel Toledo and though there was no AC, I ran into Bag Snob Kelly's sister which totally made up for it!), I have turned to deodorants as my new best friend. I have long stuck to alternating between Chanel Allure for Men and Nivea Fresh for Men, but unfortunately both are ridiculously hard to come by state-side (I stock-up when I visit my relatives in Munich..while they're both for men, they're light -- though I have to say that Chanel I use only for the delicious smell because it's not that long-lasting...). Now that I've been amping-up on my deodorant usage though, I've been trying-out a whole bunch of new ones and there are a handful that stand-out as particularly snob-worthy! Jump for the best deodorants at a variety of price-points!

UPDATE: Congratulations Kyl! Thanks to everyone who participated, it was a tough decision!

What could be better than giving mom a little CHANEL on her special day!?!? In honor of all mothers, we're giving away a bottle of the most classic fragrance of all, CHANEL No.5! To win, you have to tell us your most fond memory of MOM in 50 words or less. We'll pick a winner in one week, on Thursday May 1st, and you will receive the bottle by Mother's Day!!! We've even gift wrapped it for you in pretty CHANEL wrapping paper :)

Leave your answers in comments, US residents only. Have fun!!!

Show mom you love her with a sparkling bottle of Bond No. 9 in three favorite scents, Bryant Park, Bleecker Street and Nuits de Noho!

These three beloved fragrances will now be available housed in 50ml bottles completely blinged out with thousands of Swarovski crystals, so tiny that together they shimmer and gleam as one. Instead of the classic bottle designs, these Swarovski Stars are covered in one single hue—either pink, green or blue.

Availability: 50ml for $650

At Saks Fifth Avenue Stores and online (free shipping!).

Check out the latest glamour girl must have from Lalique, a company most well-known for their exquisite crystal. Just in time for Summer (at least I hope Summer is coming, considering all that snow we had last week!), this heady floral fragrance combines sultry musk, crisp white flowers, vibrant tuberose, and sweet fruit for a balanced combination of scents. Spectacularly packaged in a unique, opaque spherical flacon with exotic feather detail, Lalique takes decadence to a new level. I am building a 1920's Parisian style home and my dressing room is going to be unapologetically feminine and over the top. This delicious looking bottle will look perfect on my antique French mirrored vanity table! Perles De Lalique is available at Vivre.com for $600.

My friend Ginger went nuts over the new Chloe fragrance, she saw it in one of my magazines and smeared it all over her arm one night (I always wondered who'd actually open those flaps and rub it all over themselves- now I know. I never do this because who knows if some pyscho added poison to it when no one was looking- but that's just me, Ms. Neurotic). She was visiting me from LA and could not stop talking about the scent the next day, asking me every other minute if we were close to Saks or Neiman Marcus. After hearing her go on about it all weekend, I got a sample at Saks to test out and was surprised that I liked it as well. I am a scent snob and am all about Creed (I have one custom blended at the Creed Boutique in Paris and I use Millesime) which my husband replenishes for me once or twice a year. I think he finally got the hint because the Creed bottles are the only ones I leave out and use regularly. I have dozens of bottles from various brands he bought for me through the years but they remain full, in a drawer, out of sight. But if he were to buy the Chloe for me, I may dab it on every so often. It is not too sweet nor too musky, I like my scents to be subtle and warm, which this is. If you are looking for a new scent, you must try this out. Chloe by Chloe Parfum At Saks- $85.

I attended Nanette Lepore's S/S 2008 show last September and loved the easy to wear feminine and romantic pieces she showed. The feminine and girly line is much like the designer herself (she took a turn down the runway with her adorable 5 year old daughter at show closing). At the age of nine Nanette created her first couture look by outfitting a neighbor in a gypsy bedspread cum dashiki and beaded choker. She painted sunflowers on her face and stood in the front yard with a cardboard sign that read "Lepore". It is now one of the best selling lines at Neiman Marcus (I watched Ken Downing of Neiman Marcus scribbling furiously throughout the show, picking pieces that will grace the racks of its stores nationwide) and with the launch of her first fragrance, Lepore hopes to capture the hearts of beauty snobs too!

Nanette envisioned her fragrance bottle and package design as an expression of her love for florals and play on pattern. She took a classic design and gave it a retro-twist, making it feminine, fun colorful and distinctive. The half mooned shaped bottle has a very soft and feminine silhouette. It provides the perfect canvas for the bohemian-inspired floral wreath that adorns it. The finishing touch is an enchanting little black and blush polka dot bow, tied at the collar and topped with a blush, round cap.

I received a sample of the scent and it is subtle and pretty, just like her clothes. Abandoning the traditional weaving of fragrances, the perfume is layered with delicate notes of moonstone rose, peach, jasmine and finally violet (inspired by her muse, her daughter Violet).

1oz - 3.4oz, $38-$78 Nanette Lepore Eau de Perfume at Sephora.

My mother used to tell me a love story when I was younger. It was about a neighbor of ours who lived in this huge plantation house built in the 1830's. The neighbor's mother died when both she and the mother were very young. The mother was deeply loved by her husband. He would fly in peonies from all over the world for his wife (back when flying was a luxury that almost no one could afford). Peonies were her favorite flower and also one of mine. They have one of the most endearing scents that is both timeless and infatuating. For a delectable peony scent, try Thierry Mugler Peony perfume, $87.00 at Saks.

I love to travel. Paris is my favorite city in the world to date but I have never been to South Africa and maybe I will change my mind when I do. I would rather travel than have beautiful handbags and even more than a gorgeous pair of shoes. (I'm more of a shoe snob than any other type of snob. I will gladly quit eating in order to save money to indulge in a new pair of Louboutin's or Jimmy Choo's.) I even carry my passport with me at all times, you know, just in case. So when I ran across this limited edition Coco Mademoiselle Purse Parfum by Chanel, I just had to tell you all about it. The problem with constant travel is that you have to live out of a suitcase or a bag. Perfume is the only part of my beauty regime that I have made mandatory. I even put it on right before I go to bed. But the problem with perfume is that if it spills onto your clothes, they will ruin. And my clothes are far too beautiful to run that risk ,so this travel perfume is my god send and I hope it will be yours also. Coco Mademoiselle Purse Parfum, $100.00, Chanel.com.

So everyone knows someone who just can’t make up my mind about what kind of perfume they want to wear. Sephora has come up with a fix for that with their Scent Sampler Gift Certificate. It’s a sampler of ten of their top selling scents that comes with a voucher for one full-sized bottle of any of the perfumes in the sampler. Once you’ve tried all the samples you can pick your favorite and enjoy. It’s a great selection of samples. From Stella McCartney to Vera Wang, it’s a good bet whoever you’re giving this too will be able to find a scent to suit them. It’s even great to buy for yourself if you’re looking for a new scent and want to test drive some out. $50 at Sephora.com.
Sephora Brand Scent Sampler Gift Certificate For Her

Give the Beauty Snob in your life the scent of luxury from Bond No.9. Exclusively at Saks for this season only! This exotic floral scent is in a fashion forward bottle made with 2,225 Swarovski crystals. The all-white bouquet of traditional gardenia with contemporary twists of jasmine, vetiver and vanilla make this limited-edition eau de parfum a sophisticated super-city scent with the downtown spirit and style of Bond No. 9. 3.3 oz. $550- Check out Bond No. 9 New York For Her Here

I am YSL obsessed, from vintage smoking jackets to this season's must have belted dress (not to mention the fab line of YSL bags), I am a YSL girl through and through. So when the house of Yves St. Laurent launched a new fragrance, I was first to jump on board to try it even though I am not one to seek new scents (I am a die hard Creed Millesime girl, it's all I have used for years and though I like buying perfume, most just sit on my counter as decoration!).

The first day I got my YSL Elle set I put the Eau de parfum on my wrists and neck, just to test out how it will wear on me. At first it was a bit strong but immediately settled into my skin. An aggressive nose with a heady floral scent (Peony – Pink Berries – Patchouli) combined with a slightly mysterious woody flavor, I was a bit overwhelmed. But as the hours wore on, it became warm and sensual, lasting almost the entire night. This is one sexy scent!

I gave the Shower gel to our Tot Snob Editor, Jori, and she reported that it was way to Gardenia-ish (but I love Gardenia!) so this is not for the girl who is afraid of smelling like a fragrant garden. The lotion fared quite well on me, almost like the perfume but a bit less aggressive. Overall, I like the new Elle scent from YSL, especially for our young and hip Beauty Snobs who not only want to be seen in the latest purple YSL Downtown bag, but also smell like the chic YSL girls in the ads. My advice is to use the lotion on a daily basis and save the perfume for evening or use use sparingly as a little goes a long way (I layered the lotion under the perfume this weekend and it lasted almost 12 hours- so you can go from work to play smelling fabulous!!) Definitely worthy of a try.... or would make great Christmas presents! The urban sleek bottles in sensuous violet hued glass are irresistible but it is the complicated notes of woody floral that will keep you coming back for more. Parfum $78 - $109, Lotion $45, Shower gel $40 at YSL.com

Sean “Puffy” Combs claims he knows how a woman should smell. That was the statement he kept giving out when promoting his fragrance line. There was a huge media hoopla over the racy ads when he launched, but I didn’t really take much notice. I figured it was probably decent – he’s a smart business man and I figured he lent his name out to a great perfume maker. Well, I was browsing through Sephora the other day and came across the Sean John display and decided to have a whiff. It was gross! Apparently Puffy thinks we should all smell the way the old dresser in the basement that your grandma keeps quilts in does. Seriously, the perfume smells like a citrus dryer sheet gone wrong. My roommate who was with me and the salesperson who saw me gag when I smelled it both agreed. This was nothing to be impressed by and definitely nothing to ever purchase! If you dig smelling musty it’s $55 at Sephora.com Sean John Unforgivable Woman 2.5 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

This is a luxurious bottle that would make a great gift to yourself! The unforgettable signature scent of Carthusia, originated in 1380 to honor a queen, embodies Capri’s exquisite flora with notes of wild carnation, lily of the valley and oak. The 1,000 Limited Edition numbered bottles are printed in pure yellow gold. Each bottle is handmade and finished with a yellow gold plated atomizer. Includes a certificate of authenticity. 24 fl. oz. Fiori di Capri Eau de Toilette $450 at Vivre.

I love to travel! It’s probably one of my favorite things to do. I love exploring and finding new palaces and I really, really love staying in hotels. No matter how old I get the thrill of staying in a really nice hotel never goes away. But sometimes when it’s a long trip a hotel begins to feel impersonal. That’s why I try to bring things like pictures or candles to put on the bedside. It feels a little more homey. Next time I travel I’m going to bring this set of travel candles from Tocca. There’s four different scents that range from fruity to floral to warm and will definitely make your hotel room feel like your home. (Or at the very least cover up any weird smells left by the previous inhabitant or cleaning supplies!) Plus they’re packaged super cute and come in really nice holders that won’t let the candle melt into any hotel furniture. $42 for a set of four at Sephora.com. Tocca Beauty Travel Candle Set

A reader shared her fabulous discovery on a recent trip to Dubai with me, Parfums M. Micallef. She said they were "All hand made perfumes in hand made bottles painted with 24 ct gold and/or embedded with Swarovski stones....And that's only the outside..... the fragrances even outsell Chanel and Dior. The scents last long on the skin and develop beautifully." She also said that the perfume is not available stateside, mostly because the owners are not eager to expand, yet.

Of course that got my attention immediately, I checked their website and am now dying to experience the scents! There are many to choose from, Le 4 Saisons, Les Exclusifs, Les Notes and Ananda. They also offer lavish crystal flacons which may be filled with all the fragrances from the various Micallef collections and, if required, decorated with special motifs, such as portraits, names, etc. You can also put other favorite perfumes in these unique 3 liter flacons. I love all of them! Would love to get my hands on one of each. Those of you who live in Cannes, Paris, London or Dubai, go check out their store! Go to Parfums M. Micallef.

Ever since I began wearing perfume, I’ve always gravitated toward scents that contained notes of vanila. The warmness of those tones have always complimented me the best and they just plain make me happy to smell. I recently picked up LAVANILA’s Vanilla Grapefruit perfume and it’s my new obsession! Vanilla and Grapefruit may not sound that appetizing when you think about eating it, but when the smells are combined it is amazing! The scent is both warm and light at the same time. It has hints of orange and other types of citrus in it. Every time I smell it, I feel like I smell a new layer of the perfume. If you like vanilla, but citrus isn’t your thing, check out Sephora.com for all their products! $56 LAVANILA Vanilla Grapefruit 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray

I am currently obsessed with the Skin Deep Website, a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products from researchers at the Environmental Working Group. I have been on it all weekend looking up every brand in my bathroom, it was shocking how many items in my bathroom are rated "high toxicity" and that may cause cancer, render me infertile amongst many other scary hazards! Go through the site and search for your favorite products to see what you come up with. I could not find my favorite luxury brands such as La Prarie, Natura Bisse, Sisley or La Mer on the site, hopefully it is because their products are tested extensively to avoid causing hazard? (or maybe they were too expensive for the scientists to buy and test?).

There seems to be a pattern of beauty companies across the board with body lotions being listed as highly toxic even if their other products are of low or no risk (For example, Skinceuticals C&E ferulic is safe but the Skin Firming Body Cream is a high hazard- I am throwing mine in the trash tonight!). In fact, I am so freaked out that I have decided to use my son's baby products from California Baby (rated 0- low hazard) on my body until further notice. I am not one to scare easily and often ignore the urban legends of lipstick accumulating in the stomach etc but this really got my attention! Of course I will do more sleuthing with doctors in order to validate the site's claims, let me know what you beauties come up with.

Here's a thought, perhaps the reason Aveda products tested so high for toxicity is because they do not do any testing on lab rats....

Yesterday's quiz seemed to have finally stumped some of you so today is going to another super easy one. Our face of the day is known for bubbly ditzy characters but anyone who knows her will tell you she is wise beyond her years. If you know the answer... leave it in comments please! I love all the sideline comments you girls have been leaving about loving our site. We love you right back!

First person to get it right wins the Be Fine skincare set (Exfoliating cleanser, night cream, neck cream and eye brightening treatment)! Game Rules here. Sponsored by Be Fine Food for skin!

Post by Beauty Snob Michelle

I happen to live in a town that’s a little bit obsessed with Gisele. Her current boyfriend happens to be the star quarterback of our football team and the fact that they are dating has made the cover of the paper more then once. So when I saw her name in another news article I rolled my eyes and waited to read about where she went to dinner with Tom Brady. (Gag. I really don’t even think he’s that good looking!) This article happened to be legit however. Gisele has been named the new face of Dolce & Gabbana’s new fragrance The One. The scent is launching exclusively at Saks and will be available there and at Dolce boutiques in the Fall. From the description of "warm, oriental floral blend of bergamot, lychee, peach, Madonna lily, jasmine and plum," it sounds amazing. She launched it this week during a public appearance at Saks in beautiful champagne colored Dolce & Gabbana dress. I'm interested in hearing your opinion. What do you guys think about Gisele as the new face of The One? Do you think she’ll have the same mass market appeal without her angel wings?

How badly do you want to smell like your shoes? The folks at Jimmy Choo are betting that you'll be lining up to purchase its latest venture, a scent made just for the house of shoes in a 10 year worldwide licensing deal with Paris-based beauty manufacturer and distributor Selective Beauty SAS (makers of John Galliano and Agent Provocateur beauty). Since introducing handbags and eyewear, Jimmy Choo has evolved from a shoe brand to a global luxury brand and hopes the addition of the fragrance line will further express a different facet of the brand. I am a classic scent girl myself and have used my Creed Millesimme layered with gardenia oil for years and do not plan to change (how else is my husband going to recognize me when we’re both old and blind?) but I have many friends who buy the latest and greatest perfumes and are loyal to no scent so I’ll have to wait for their report when Jimmy Choo fragrance launches in 2009.(check out Annie at Blogdorf Goodman’s collection of perfumes, now there's a girl obsessed with fragrances!)

What about you? Are you like me and do not venture to new scents or are you a fickle pickle who change fragrance depending on mood?

source: Jimmy Choo and wwd

I have a really hard time finding a fragrance that doesn't annoy me after half a day of wear. I like light fragrances and I don't want to smell like everyone else. How weird is it to run into someone else wearing the same perfume? It's like altered reality for me because smells have such strong mental associations attached to them. I get totally grossed out by the way some men smell and when I was dating it was the first test for me, I have to love the way the guy smells. Needless to say, I think my husband smells dreamy =) So back to my point, I was looking for a new fragrance and was going without one for quite a while until I got a sample of Serge Lutens' A La Nuit from Barneys. The pushy salesgirl insisted that I take it and I was about to toss it when I decided I'd give it a spritz for the hell of it. It smells so good!! There is a hint of jasmine but is not overly floral. All the scents in this line are so delicate and light. It is impossible to buy fragrances online so you have to go into Barneys and test them out. Ask for samples and try it for a week to make sure you like it after many wears (I have an entire shelf of perfumes I don't use because I hated it after one use). Trying them on in the store is totally pointless, you are disoriented from all the different smells around you and the scents change with your body chemistry and temperature so you really need to spend some time with it. Serge Lutens Fragrances are $100 at Barneys.