Recently in Perfume Category

Last week I headed to Bergdorf Goodman to meet Sylvie Ganter a few days after her 10 years-in-the-making fragrance line, Atelier Cologne, hit Bergdorf and Neiman Marcus counters. We immediately bonded over our shared love for Caleche (Ganter's background includes serving as vice president of the U.S. fragrance division at Hermes), before the slender, wonderfully friendly soft-spoken creatrix took me through the inspiration behind the five fragrances that make-up her debut collection.

While many think that cologne is synonymous with a low-in-concentration fragrance, it actually ties into the presence of citrus notes. Further while most of the big-name perfume manufactures we know and love spend most of their budget on marketing and advertising, Ganter told me that more than ¾ of the cost of making each of her scents goes into "the juice," the result is five simply - but very meticulously - packaged unisex scents each of which have a high (12 to 20%) concentrations of essential oils. The combination of these high concentration with citrus notes lead Ganter to create new fragrance category she's calling Cologne Absolue. Jump for the low-down on the five scents!

By Kilian just launched Kilian Collection ($140) which is a set of smaller vials of all of By Kilian's unisex scents --

* Prelude to Love, Invitation
* Love, Don't Be Shy
* Beyond Love, Prohibited
* Liaisons Dangereuses, Typical Me
*Cruel Intentions, Tempt Me
* A Taste of Heaven, Absinthe Verte
* Straight to Heaven, White Cristal
* Back to Black, Aphrodisiac

Love, love, love the names! As anyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker for cutesy names (especially when it comes to nail and gloss shades), and luxe packaging. By Kilian was started by the heir to the LVMH empire, Kilian Hennessy, so it's only fitting that the celeb-favored fragrances are luxuriously packaged (Keith Urban was just seen picking some up for Nicole Kidman at Harrods!). This set comes in a gift box with black tassels on each end of the box (very sexy and Agent Provocateur-esque). I received small vials of all the scents to sample and loved them so much that I bought the collection as a graduation gift for my friend studying perfumery in Paris. If you're the kind of person who changes your fragrance with your moods this is the perfect set as each of the luscious fragrances are wholly unique (though all seem to have been created with many different notes, so I wouldn't suggest the set for anyone looking for ultra-light, non-complex scents). 

I recently went to an LVMH event to get a whiff of some of their latest fragrance launches. Among the stand-outs were Guerlain's Tonka Imperiale, Givenchy's Ange ou Demon Le Secret, and Pucci's trio of Vivara scents (the Pucci ones are not new launches, but I wasn't aware that Pucci made fragrances so I figured it was worth sharing). Tonka Imperiale ($235, 75ml) is the seventh fragrance in the L'Art et la Matiere collection and it's a woody oriental composed around the tonka bean (which smells very much like almond paste). The fragrance notes are --

Top notes: Rosemary, Bergamot, Bitter Almond
Middle notes: Tonka Bean, Light Tobacco, Jasmine
Bottom notes: Incense, Cedar Wood, Pine

Even though it's based on the tonka bean, the almond note is subtle and the fragrance is alluring making it wonderful for night-time. Jump for more!

One of the highlights of Fashion Week in New York this season was the brunch with Sarah Jessica Parker. A small group of editors at Sweetie Pie (the cutest place ever!) were able to speak about her latest fragrance, SJP NYC. This video I took (sorry for the amateur quality) where she explains the inspiration behind it. Unlike her other fragrances, this one is based on her Sex and the City character, Carrie Bradshaw. The scent is very young, the most noticeable note is strawberries, which is totally yummy, but like I said, very young. It isn't over powering, it is a very light scent. The packaging is based on colors and texture from her wardrobe. The cylindrical container is meant to be reused to hold Q-Tips, small earrings or whatever you have in mind. I have to say, after spending an hour with her and listening to her speak about various subjects (including how to Twitter!), I am bowled over by her charm and wit. She is super sweet and very eloquent, and I don't need to tell you about her unique fabulous style. She just has it. The dress she wore for the advertising shoot is a special collaborating with Oscar de la Renta, and although you can't see her shoes, it is hot pink with jewel embellishments by Christian Louboutin. The 1 oz Eau de Toiltette is $35 and the 2 oz is $49, exclusively at Macy's.

First off, how adorable is this fragrance's bottle cap? I'm loving how Ferragamo incorporated its classic Vara bow in a retro black-and-white design for its new Incanto Bloom fragrance (at the launch party last week a life-size version was featured as the centerpiece; talk about fashionable art!). Aesthetics aside, this is a bright scent--think grapefruit flowers, freesia, tea roses and champaca flowers blended with musk and cashmere wood top notes. Incanto Bloom is best enjoyed in moderation as I can only describe its aura as "floral fruity." While feminine and girly, this is not a discreet scent. I recommend applying this scent like how I think all women should wear their fragrances: dabbled at the wrists and behind the ears. Trust me: your olfactory bulbs will thank you.

Eau de Toilette $45 to $82, available exclusively at Bloomingdale's.

I've always believe that fragrance is a very personal entity; in a way, it defines who you are and conveys to others your mood, your personality and how you want to be perceived. That's why Cartier's new Les Heures de Parfum is so fabulous. This lineup of five scents for men and women is Cartier at its bespoke best. Two years in development by Cartier's in-house perfumer Mathilde Laurent, these scents, which are defined by roman numerals, are to be worn for different moments in life (not times of day) and are purposefully out of sync. While they each have a name, my two favorite are "X" (L'Heure Folle) and "VI" (L'Heure Brillante). The former is a brilliant scent of fruits not yet ripe (think Cartier's wildly colorful Tutti Frutti jewelry collection) with top notes including red currant, grenadine, peppercorn and blueberry. To juxtapose that scent, I will wear the latter, reminiscent, as the French say, of a gin fizz. It's great for work wear as it's high energy and oozes neon effervescence. Citrusy top notes include lemon and gin.

Most ideal for Valentine's Day is this luxurious fragrance set customized in Cartier's much-coveted red leather box with gold trim. It features scents "I" (L'Heure Promise); "VI"; "XII" (L'Heure Mysterieuse) and "XIII" (La Treizieme Heure), the last two being eau de parfums. Wouldn't you just die if you got this? Can't afford Cartier diamonds just yet? Les Heures de Parfum is one step in the right direction.

$1,725, available at select Cartier boutiques
(Note: "X" is available separately for $250, and exclusively at select Cartier boutiques and Saks stores.)

Last chance to grab beauty goodies in time for Valentine's Day!  I'm ordering a few selections for my son's teachers (he said he wants them to smell good!) and my girl friends (strange that I have 6 friends born this month!).  Here are my faves--

·Sephora Brand Pink Grapefruit Bath and Body Collection ($12-$16) - Seriously, Sephora's private label will give any brand a run for their beauty.  Plus it's so well priced!  This smells refreshing and is oh so hydrating!

·Fresh Sugar Lover Set ($69 Value) Sugar Lover Set ($45, $69 Value!) - Cure your sweet tooth with this trio for the skin, lips and nose. This is a limited edition and it's at a discounted price, you'd be a sour puss to say no.  I never travel without the Sugar lipbalm and I can not live without my Brown sugar scrub!

·NARS Temptation Gift Set ($42 Value) Temptation Gift Set ($32, $42 Value!) - Gift yourself this V-Day with this pairing of polish and blush in the brand's most beloved shade, Orgasm. Hello, need I say more?

·Sephora Brand I Love Sephora Brush Set - Pink ($120 Value) I Love Sephora Brush Set - Pink ($28, $120 Value!) - A delightful pink and portable set of five brushes that will give your face, eyes, and lips a loving glow.

One of my best friends recently had a "Touch of Pink"-themed birthday party at La Grenouille (her family owns the restaurant so the whole upper floor -- where Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote Le Petite Prince in the 40s! -- was reserved for the party). The theme extended to the flower arrangements, the decor, and even the food (rose-flavored cakes, macaroons, ice cream...)...pretty fabulous! Plus I love a man who can pull-off a touch of pink:-) Rose is one of the most delicate, refreshing, and delectable scents (roses are even edible after-all!), so it's fitting that every year since 1996, Jo Malone has released their Red Roses Fragrance Chronicle ($95) which house the Red Roses Cologne along with three acompagning scents that can be layered, around Valentine's Day. Jump for More!

Booty Parlor is the latest craze in Hollywood among celebrities like Jessica Alba, Brooke Shields, Jessica Biel and Jennifer Love Hewitt (who throws Booty Parlor Sexy Shopping Parties at home!!). To celebrate the sexiest day of the year, we are giving away a custom Beauty Bombshell Love Kit (I put this kit together myself so it is a bit more prudish than what is representative of their selections). This kit ensures all the fun and pampering you deserve! Booty Parlor is the ultimate romance brand with great beauty products, La Perla quality lingerie and their packaging is totally posh - their kits come topped off with a pink feather boa, how divine!

Our Valentine's Giveaway has a total value of $200 and comes with:

Foxy Bombshell Panty - A super flattering hipster bikini with a seductive peek-a-boo cutout; Don't Stop Solid Perfume with Pheromones - the pheromones will turn you into a man magnet; Get Flushed Sexy Lip and Cheek Tint - universally flattering shade of red that gives an ultra-seductive and kissable pout and glowing cheeks, Skin Honey - a three-in-one kissable body topping, massage gel and lubricant that is as delicious as it is sexy; Bath Kitten - the ultimate bathtime escape kit with Naughty Bubbles Bath Milk and a Purring Massage Mitt; Don't Stop Massage Candle - a seductive soy-based candle that can be used as a massage oil that nourishes the skin; Kissaholic Kissing Kit - the kissing kit that will inspire desire with an aphrodisiac-infused plumping lip gloss and a cinnamint aphrodisiac-infused breath mist.

To win, share your sexy and naughty Valentine's Day ideas with us! Put them in comments. We will select one winner via a random drawing. Please give us a working email address so we can contact you if you win. US residents only please.

Thank you Booty Parlor (and Leigh!!) for this fabulously sexy and fun giveaway!

For the last five years I've kept a tube of roll-on perfume from Kai in my make up bag.  Roll-on perfumes are the best, so easy to travel with and very little risk of leakage.  You can also discreetly pull them out and dab right under your nostrils (tip: dabbing roll-on perfume under your nostrils is a great way to cover up after dinner breath, you can lean in as close as you'd like to your dinner companion and he won't detect the garlic butter escargot you just devoured!)  I discovered another delicious scented roll-on perfume this week by Ilari at Barneys New York.  I was immediately taken with the exotic blend of jasmine and sandlewood mixed with orange blossom.  It's a clean scent with a slightly mysterious undernote from the sandalwood-- utterly feminine and very sexy!  I also love the story of how the fragrance came to be.  The creator, Hillary Schneider, created her own love potion #9 by mixing oils and body mists when she moved to New York City from the Midwest.  She attracted attention everywhere she went but it was the attention of one attractive stranger that mattered most.  He told her he could marry someone that smelled so beautiful (how cute is that?)-- and they were married last year.  Now if that's not the most romantic story to tell your grandchildren I don't know what is!  You must try this if you're at Barneys New York, you may just find your soul mate ;) 

Ilari Roll-on Perfume here $65