fragrance

Fragrance Review: Bond No. 9 Brooklyn

by PJ on Sunday, March 1, 2009

(image from Bond No. 9)

Bond No. 9‘s latest fragrance celebrates the dynamic Brooklyn. A modern interpretation of a woody fragrance, Brooklyn is both youthful and sophisticated, with a distinctive attitude.

Top notes: grapefruit, cardamom
Middle notes: Cypress wood, geranium leaves, juniper berries
Base notes: cedarwood, leather, guaiacwood

It starts off with a burst of citrusy energy and the woody (and somewhat spicy) impact soon follows. With woody notes among the heart (middle) and the base notes, it is almost woody through and through all the way from its first contact with the nose. Even though it is a lot woodier than most fragrances I am naturally drawn to, I enjoy the fact that it is so sharp and crisp, with a very contemporary feel.

Bond No. 9 describes Brooklyn as a unisex fragrance “with a desirably masculine attitude”, which I find accurate. There are no floral notes in this fragrance, and the scent is certainly neither sweet nor powdery. It poses quite a unique and intriguing contrast to some of the contemporary male fragrances that incorporate floral notes as the main elements. (One of the much discussed examples is Dior’s Dior Homme, which features lavender as a top note and iris as a middle note.)

Overall, Brooklyn is dry, crisp and edgy, and it seems to reflect the sights and sounds of a vibrant urban setting. The essence of this fragrance is also well captured by the colorful and eye-catching graffiti design elements on the flacon.

Brooklyn is available from March in Bond No. 9 boutiques and Saks Fifth Avenue stores. (In the UK, Bond No. 9 is sold exclusively at Harrods.)

Currently Bond No. 9 is holding a bottle design competition for Brooklyn. The only requirement is that the Bond No. 9 circular logo is included on the bottle. (See the official entry sheet below.) Otherwise do let your imagination run wild.

Two winners will be chosen in April and their designs will be put into production, and the winner’s name will be displayed on the bottle. Each winner will receive a bottle of Brooklyn each month for a year.

Entries should be sent to contactus@bondno9.com or Bond No. 9, 9 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012 by March 31, 2009.

Other Bond No. 9 creations:

Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue

The Scent of Peace

Coney Island

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Fragrance Review: The Lovely Collection by Sarah Jessica Parker

by PJ on Saturday, February 7, 2009

in fragrance

(image from Coty)

For Valentine’s Day 2009, Sarah Jessica Parker’s first fragrance, Lovely, will be joined by The Lovely Collection, which includes Dawn, Endless, and Twilight. The three distinctively different scents capture the different times and moods within a day.

Dawn
Top notes: citrus cocktail, violet leaves, angelica
Middle notes: orchids
End notes: Tahitian vanilla, orris, oakmoss, vetiver, musk

Endless
Top notes: pineapple, apple, ivy leaves, plum
Middle notes: peony, pink jasmine, magnolia
End notes: oakmoss, Indonesian patchouli, Australian sandalwood, vetiver, suede musks

Twilight
Top notes: bergamot, galbanum, mandarin, pink pepper
Middle notes: peony, jasmine
End notes: amber, sandalwood, incense, musk

Dawn is a fresh and cool citrusy floral, with orchid as the leading role. Endless is an elegant fruity floral, while the sensual Twilight is sweet, powdery, and smoky at the same time. From Dawn to Twilight, the scent gets warmer and sweeter. (The colors used to clothe the bottles are nicely chosen to reflect the characters of the scents and the imageries that they evoke.

My favorite of the three is Endless, which, to me, is all about the balance, both within itself and in relation to the other two scents. There is a balance between the fruity and floral notes, and no floral note overtakes the other two. The end result is a soft, gentle and very subtly vibrant scent that works in all seasons. (In contrast, Dawn is clean, crisp and cool and strikes me more as a summer scent.)

The three fragrances are available in eau de parfum spray 30ml, eau de parfum spray 75ml, and Soft Body Lotion (200ml).

Escada Moon Sparkle

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A Splash of Color – Sensuous Plum

by PJ on Tuesday, January 20, 2009

in _I Love Colors, -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, -MAC, -Prescriptives, -Stella McCartney, bodycare, fragrance, makeup, makeup - base makeup

Plum is not really one of my favorite makeup colors to wear, as it is a little too warm and dark for my complexion. (I prefer more purple shades for eyes and slightly lighter shades for lips.) But I do have a few plum-colored sweaters and scarves, which I enjoy wearing in winter.

For me, plum is a beautiful color to look at. I love its richness and elegance as well as its understated femininity.

Makeup
Lavshuca Jewelry Lips
Lavshuca Face Powder in Lucent
MAC Paint Pot in Nice Vice (from the Fafi collection)
Prescriptives Colorscope Eye Color in plum (right of photo)
Prescriptives Colorscope Eye Color in Aubergine (bottom of photo)

Fragrance
Stella McCartney STELLA Eau de Parfum
Stella McCartney Sheer STELLA Eau de Toilette 2004 & 2005

Bodycare
Stella McCartney STELLA Precious Body Cream
ESPA Detoxifying Salt Scrub (to be reviewed next month)

Home Fragrance
Stella McCartney STELLA Scented Candle

More Splashes of Colors:

Gorgeous Gold

Lilting Lilac

Girlie Pink

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Fragrance Review: Bond No. 9 Saks Boca

by PJ on Saturday, January 10, 2009

in -Bond No. 9, fragrance

(image from Bond No. 9)

Bond No. 9‘s latest creation, Saks Fifth Avenue Boca Raton, was launched in November 2008. The fruity floral scent is fresh and summery and smells nothing like a winter fragrance. But it goes with the name, as it is inspired by the mild climate and the relaxed atmosphere of Boca Raton in Florida.

Top notes: lily of the valley, blackcurrant
Middle notes: gardenia, freesia, hedione
Base notes: amber, cedarwood, cardamon, musk

The scent is sweet to begin with, which makes a clear statement of its light-hearted nature, and the richly fruity blackcurrant note is particularly perceivable. The overall flavor takes on a floral dimension as gardenia and freesia join in. They radiate a sense of freshness and are not too intense or powdery. The drydown afterwards feels very soft and gentle.

This is a very easy-to-wear scent. More fruity than floral, it is like a hearty bowl of summer berries adorned by fresh flowers here and there. Summery as the scent feels, it is not too cool to wear in colder weather. I think it is actually a nice fragrance to be appreciated while we anticipate the return of the warming rays of the sun.

Bond No. 9 Saks Boca is sold exclusively at the Saks Fifth Avenue store in Boca Raton. The flacon is available in two versions, one with 520 and the other with 1200 Swarovski crystals (seen above).

Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue

Calvin Klein Secret Obsession

AYURA Night Meditation

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Bond No. 9 Holiday 2008 Collection

by PJ on Monday, December 8, 2008

in -Bond No. 9, 2008 Holiday, fragrance

(image and info from Bond No. 9)

Bond No. 9 seems to always (literally) dazzle us with holiday collections. For this year, several of Bond No. 9’s popular scents are again decked with Swarvoski crystals.

Thousands of Swarovski stones dress up the limited-edition All-Stars lineup, featuring 50ml Chelsea Flowers (in green), Eau de New York (in aurora) and Chinatown (in ruby). Bleecker Street (100ml) is decorated with stones of green and amethyst shades, along with a large piece in the center.

Among the rest of the collection, The Voyager Candles set caught my attention. It includes five travel-sized candles of five Bond No. 9 scents (Chelsea Flowers, Eau de New York, Chinatown, Nuits de Noho and The Scent of Peace (one of my favorite Bond No. 9 scents)).

Check out Bond No. 9’s website for more of the holiday 2008 collection.

Bond No. 9 Reviews:

Coney Island

Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue

Andy Warhol Union Square

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AYURA Holiday 2008 Sets

by PJ on Wednesday, November 12, 2008

in -Ayura, 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, bodycare, fragrance, fragrance - room fragrance

(images and info from www.ayura.co.jp/jp/)

AYURA usually brings out a set of products for the holiday season, and I was wondering why I hadn’t come across any news for this year. Then I realized that the two sets, both including the new Night Meditation fragrance (full size, 20ml) are probably what AYURA has brought out for the holiday period.

The Night Meditation Room Collection (seen above), launched on the same day as the fragrance itself, includes:

– Night Meditation Natural Spray
– Night Meditation Aroma Oil
– Night Meditation Aroma Pot

The set, out now, is priced at 5250 JPY.

The much pricier Night Meditation Bath Collection includes:

– Night Meditation Natural Spray
– Meditation Bath α
– Aromatic Wash
– Meditation Body Cream
– Juke Tower (water-resistant MP3 player)

The set, out on November 23rd, is priced at 12600 JPY.

(AYURA Night Meditation)

AYURA Fall 2008 Collection

AYURA Spring 2008 Collection

My Beauty Weakness: Cute Cuticle Oil

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Biteki’s Holiday 2008 Feature

by PJ on Thursday, October 23, 2008

in 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, fragrance, makeup

(image from www.biteki.com)

The December 2008 issue of Biteki magazine has been published in Japan and it includes full coverage of the Christmas 2008 collections from major Japanese and western brands. All the 17 pages of the feature are now up on Biteki’s website. Enjoy!

Japanese Beauty Magazine: Biteki

My Ultimate Cosmetics Archive

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Jo Malone for Beast Cancer Awareness Month 2008

by PJ on Wednesday, October 22, 2008

in -Jo Malone London, fragrance

(image from Jo Malone)

For the Beast Cancer Awareness Month, Jo Malone (see the UK site here) has launched the Red Roses collection, which includes cologne, bath oil, and body lotion. The scent includes notes of lemon, spearmint, violet leaves, Bulgarian roses, and beeswax.

In the US, $15,000 will be donated to The Beast Cancer Research Foundation in connection with the sale of the Red Roses range. In the UK, for every sale of the Red Roses Cologne 100ml, £5.00 will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s research program at the Royal Marsden Institute of Cancer Research, based in London and Sutton, Surrey.

Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Collection

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne

BBN_BCA

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Fragrance Review: Calvin Klein Secret Obsession

by PJ on Sunday, September 28, 2008

in -Calvin Klein, fragrance

(image from Calvin Klein)

Secret Obsession is one of Calvin Klein‘s latest fragrances. Very different from some of the brand’s recent releases such as the fruity Euphoria, Secret Obsession has a sensual and mysterious edge.

Top notes: exotic plum, mace, rose de damas
Middle notes: Egyptian jasmine, French orange flower, tuberose
Base notes: cashmere woods, burnt amber, Madagascan vanilla, Australian sandalwood

The plum seems to jump out more from the rest of the top notes, and mace adds a touch of spiciness. As the initial spiciness subsides, the scent starts to take on more depth. Despite all the floral middle notes, the core of the scent does not strike me as floral. Instead, it has a subtle wine-like grown-up sensuality.

The drydown, which is lightly woody and pleasantly mellow, does appeal to me. (I personally don’t like very woody base notes.) It has a sophisticated feel without being overly-complicated or pretentious.

Many scents are either fresh and cool or rich and warm, but Secret Obsession seems to strike a balance between the two. Overall, I think this fragrance will appeal to people who enjoy a deep and sensual scent.

Secret Obsession is available in eau de parfum in 30ml, 50ml, and 100ml.

Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue

Escada Moon Sparkle

Bulgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert

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Thoughts in Brief – Blusher, Primers, and Jasmin Noir

by PJ on Friday, September 12, 2008

in -Bulgari, -Chanel, -Paul & Joe, all about Japanese cosmetics, fragrance, makeup, makeup - base makeup, makeup - blusher

(Les Tissages de Chanel)
(image from www.iswii.net)

I came across some items I was looking forward to testing out in shops earlier this week, and here are my thoughts in brief. (I only tested them on the back of my hands, not on my face.)

– Chanel (Les Tissage de Chanel)

Those of you who find the Irréelle Blush range to be too sheer might be interested in knowing that the powder of this new range is soft and more pigmented. Among the four shades available at the moment, Pink (seen above) and Rose are more of my shades. But Pink is a little too Barbie-pink for me (it is brighter than the color seen above) and Rose is a little too warm for me. Plus, all shades come with gold flecks (I prefer matte blushers). I personally still prefer the Irréelle range and Les Tissages de Chanel is now off my shopping list for the moment.

Even though they are priced at 29 GBP, which is expensive, I think the smooth texture and the shimmer should still tempt many people.

– Paul & Joe (Moisturizing Foundation Primer)

As I was expecting, 01 and 02 seem similar to the previous versions (Foundation Primer N in 01 (reviewed earlier) and 02). I was under the impression that 03, the new shade, would be sheerer and more shimmery, but I wasn’t totally right. It goes on sheer, but it has more or less the same level of (subtle) shimmer as 01 and 02, which is good to know. It is supposed to further condition the skin without adding any color before your foundation and to help the foundation stay on longer.

However, even though the texture of all three shades are basically the same, 03 is formulated differently and has alcohol. It is a real shame. (I nearly decided to buy it.)

– Laura Mercier (Eye Basics)

I tried Eyebright (light blue) and Cotton (off-white cream). I was delighted with the light and almost fluffy texture. It was very easy to blend and I was impressed by how quickly and firmly it set. Also, it didn’t seem to budge, even under a bit of rain. It does seem to be water-resistant, as the Laura Mercier website claims.

– Bulgari (Jasmin Noir)

I like Bulgari’s Voile de Jasmin, and I was looking forward to the new Jasmin Noir. It is deeper and more intense, and it is more of an evening scent that is launched for the right season. It seems to be more complex than Voile de Jasmin and overall it feels less floral. It also smells far less of jasmine than Voile de Jasmin, which I think I like a lot better. (By the way, Harrods was launching B de Boucheron in the fragrance hall. I didn’t like it enough to want to buy it, but to me it was quite appealing.)

You can read more about both Jasmin Noir and B de Boucheron on Now Smell This. (It seems that the reviewer also thinks Jasmin Noir’s jasmine note is faint.)

Chanel Irréelle Blush in Tea Rose

Paul & Joe Fall 2008 Base Makeup Collection

Bulgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert

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