fragrance

AYURA Night Meditation

by PJ on Wednesday, September 10, 2008

in -Ayura, all about Japanese cosmetics, fragrance

(AYURA Night Meditation)
(image from i-voce2.com)

On October 23rd, AYURA will release a brand new fragrance, Night Meditation. Featuring notes of sandalwood and bamboo, Night Meditation aims to be a calming scent that is used in the evening, particularly at bedtime.

This cologne will be available in 20ml. I think the portable size is meant to be suitable for travelling as it can help create a feel of familiarity and comfort (if the scent appeals to you, of course).

I personally think this is a significant release from AYURA as well as something I am really looking forward to. Since AYURA was launched in 1995, Spirit of AYURA has been AYURA’s only fragrance. Not only has it been one of my favorite scents, it has consistently been listed on readers’ favorite fragrance lists on Japanese beauty magazines over the years (while other scents come and go).

(part of the Spirit of AYURA range)
(image from www.ayura.co.jp)

If you are interested, you can get a sense of the scent from the note chart (on AYURA’s English site), which was added to the site only very recently. It is a beautiful light floral with a hint of green tea, but, for me, the stroke of genius is the very subtle addition of Chinese ink.

I always thought the scent was so wonderfully unique but I couldn’t figure out exactly why it was so. Then, I read more about it several years ago and realized it must have been the inclusion of Chinese ink. (It was one of those “That’s it!” moments.) According to the AYURA website, the addition of Chinese ink is “to express a noble translucence”. Indeed, the note is very sheer, but it can never be ignored.

But, however much I love Spirit of AYURA, I wouldn’t assume I will like Night Meditation. I will have to wait and see.

Related Posts:

My Three Favorite Fragrances

AYURA Fall 2008 Makeup Collection

Loving Japanese Brands – AYURA

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Kanebo Milano Collection 2009

by PJ on Friday, September 5, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Kanebo Milano Collection, 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, fragrance, makeup, makeup - base makeup

(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/milano-collection)

Milano Collection is an annual release of a luxury pressed powder and an eau de parfum from Kanebo. I believe it is only available in Asia.

The Milano Collection 2009 includes:

– Milano Collection 2009 Face Up Powder (SPF 14, PA ++)

The set retails for 12600 JPY. Cosme.Net also quotes 21000 JPY for the set plus an extra refill. The powder puff includes high-quality silk produced in Kyoto.

(image from www.cosme.net)

(image from www.cosme.net)

– Milano Collection 2009 Eau de Parfum

It is a rose-based scent which also features notes of cassis, apple, lemon, camomile, jasmine, melon, musk, and amber. It retails for 15750 JPY for 60ml.

This is a pre-order-only collection, and the pre-order period ends on September 19th. The eau de parfum will be available for collection on November 16th and the Face Up Powder will be available on December 16th.

You can see all the annual designs of the pressed powder from 1991 here.

Related Posts:

My Foundation Routine

Sofina Raycious Case Galore

“An Unprecedented Masterpiece”: SUQQU Clear Veil Powder

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Fragrance Review: Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue

by PJ on Friday, September 5, 2008

in -Bond No. 9, fragrance

(image from Bond No. 9)

Lexington Avenue is the third creation from Bond No. 9‘s Andy Warhol series (after Silvery Factory and Union Square), as it celebrates Warhol’s 80th birthday (August 6th,1928).

The scent is inspired by Warhol’s shoe illustrations commissioned by I. Miller in the 1950s. (At the time, Warhol resided at Lexington Avenue, hence the name of the fragrance.) It aims to reflect the luxurious and seductive flair of footware, and Bond No. 9’s answer lies in a mixture of woody and gourmand notes.

Top notes: blue cypress, fennel, cardamom, roasted almonds
Middle notes: pink peony, florentine orris, creme brulee, pimento berry
Base notes: patchouli, sandalwood

Bond No. 9 describes the scent as “a floral woody chypre with highly coveted contemporary gourmand notes“. Woody it definitely is, as it is a unique scent in which a woody note is among the top notes. Blue cypress seems to linger until sandalwood takes over as one of the base notes. The whole Lexington Avenue is woody through and through and doesn’t strike me as floral.

It has a slightly smoky feel that radiates warmth. Apart from the woody notes, the warmth also comes from various gourmand (food) notes like cardamom and roasted almonds, although, for me, the role of gourmand notes is strictly a supporting one.

If you don’t enjoy woody notes, then Lexington Avenue can be a little overpowering. But if you are usually drawn to warm winter scents, then what is in this colorful shoe-adorned flacon might appeal to you. Overall, predominantly woody scents don’t tickle my fancy as much as citrusy fragrances or light florals, but I would certainly not question the unique identity of Lexington Avenue.

Lexington Avenue is launched in September, and there will also be limited-edition flacons that feature sterling silver shoe pendants designed by Robert Lee Morris.

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A Splash of Color – Gorgeous Gold

by PJ on Monday, July 7, 2008

in _I Love Colors, -Anna Sui, -Coffret d'Or, -Dior, -Elégance, -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, -Majolica Majorca, -YSL, all about Japanese cosmetics, fragrance, makeup, stash focus

I used to like gold more as a (glamorous and opulent) makeup packaging color scheme than as a shade to be worn. But I have tried a couple of gold-toned eye palettes this summer, and I have been enjoying seeing how various shades of gold can do for my eyes.

It seems that gold will be leading the makeup trend for fall and winter 2008, and I think there will be more dazzling hues of gold all the way through the holiday season.

Base
Anna Sui Fluid Foundation
Majolica Majorca Skin Remake Powder Foundation
Versace Concealer & Highlighter Duo

Eyes
Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Gold Variation
Lavshuca Summer Gradually Compact in Shiny Sandy Beach
Elégance Purity Eyes 11

Cheeks
Anna Sui Face Color Stick 302

Lips
Dior Sparkling Lip Gloss Duo
YSL Golden Gloss 03 Golden Pink

Multi-purposed
Dior Golden Dior Luminizing Makeup Jewel
YSL Gold Celebration Palette “Star Glow”

Fragrance
Dior J’Adore Eau de Parfum

Other splashes of color:

Lilting Lilac (Part 1 and 2)

Terrific Turquoise

Citrus Orange

Aqua Blue

New-Leaf Green

Girlie Pink

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Bulgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert Revisited

by PJ on Wednesday, June 25, 2008

in -Bulgari, fragrance

(Bulgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert)

Bulgari’s Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert is one of my three favorite fragrances, and I thought I would go back to this after mentioning it in earlier posts.
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Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert was launched in 1992 and is Bulgari’s first step into the world of fine fragrance. I do like many of Bulgari’s other scents, but this has remained a scent I really love. It includes notes of bergamot, orange blossom, cardamom, coriander, pepper, rose, jasmine, green tea, oakmoss, tonka bean, and beeswax (scent note information from Now Smell This, where you can find a great review of this fragrance).
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(image from www.bulgari.com)


For me, it is a daytime and a spring/summer fragrance. Marketed as a unisex scent, it is a fresh citrusy floral number with the green tea note bringing all the facets together. The whole creation is sophisticated and equally approachable. If I have to describe this fragrance as a person, I would use the words “well-mannered“, “elegant“, and “unassumingly confident“.

One of the reasons that I like Eau Parfumée is that it is clean, crisp and beautifully simple. It carries an invigorating energy, and it is the scent I often go for to get ready for the day ahead. (Among other green-tea scents on the market, I find many of them overly sweet.)

As the scent is by no mean dominated by the green tea note, I’ve observed that people perceive it differently. For example, a friend of mine, upon smelling it, immediately commented on the orange and rose notes and (only after I brought it up) thought the green tea note was not obvious. She had a point, since the scent as a whole does not really bear a lot of resemblance to the actual drink.

As an eau de cologne, I find that it lasts relatively well. But the popularity of it did lead to the launch of Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert Extrême in 1996. An eau de toilette, this is a stronger and longer-lasting version with the same notes. I reach for the original version more since it is a little fresher and lighter, which is how I prefer these notes to perform as a whole, but I do see the Extrême version as a good evening scent. (If you are interested, an review of the Extrême version can also be found on Now Smell This.)

Overall, for me, Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert is nearly impossible to get bored of. As a daily fragrance, its fresh character does not grow tiring. As a green-tea scent among many others, it has been unique enough to remain consistently well-received.

Related Posts:

Bring It Back Sooner – Bulgari Skincare Line

Sheer Stella 2008


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Fragrance Review for Father’s Day 2008: Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne

by PJ on Friday, June 6, 2008

in -Jo Malone London, fragrance

(Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne)

With its first store opened in London in 1994, Jo Malone is the youngest of what I think of as the three classy (in very different ways) British beauty brands, along with Penhaligon’s and Molton Brown. (All three happen to be fragrance-based brands.)

Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne is one of Jo Malone’s 19 modern classics, and this clean citrusy scent will appeal to both men and women. As a Father’s Day present, I think it will appeal to energetic, confident, and debonair dads who are young at heart.

Top notes: lime, mandarin, bergamot
Middle notes: basil, white thyme, lilac, iris
Base notes: patchouli, vetiver, costus

The scent opens with a burst of fresh citrusy energy. Zingy, zesty, but not overpowering. It strikes me as a good morning fragrance. The subtle floral middle notes are not overly sweet at all. Otherwise, I think the flow of notes might become sluggish and the scent would lose its identity very quickly.

There is a distinctive feel of crispness and dryness carried through to the base notes, but the crispness doesn’t feel abrasive or excessively sharp. The woody drydown is still very clean and light.

The scent is long-lasting. With several sprays on the wrists, it lasts for up to 10 hours on me.

Jo Malone advocates scent-layering, and their Fragrance Combining menu shows the array of possibilities. With Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne being beautifully clean, I can see how it can be paired with others.

For me, this is a fresh, modern and seamlessly put-together fragrance with a unisex appeal. I enjoy it as a daytime scent as well as a summer scent. The longer days in the warmer months are definitely a good time to savor the aroma.

You can find out more about Jo Malone and Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne on the About Jo Malone page.

(Jo Malone’s on-line orders are for UK residents only. Please check the FAQ-Delivery page for details about international orders.)

Other fragrance posts:

Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue for Him

Sheer Stella 2008 by Stella McCartney

Escada Moon Sparkle

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Fragrance Review – Escada Moon Sparkle

by PJ on Friday, May 16, 2008

in fragrance

(Escada Moon Sparkle)
(image from Escada)

Escada‘s Moon Sparkle (eau de toilette) is a light and fresh scent for the summer. It reminds me of the abundance of colorful and flavorful summer fruit, which spices up a warm and languid evening.


Top notes: strawberry, blackcurrant, citrus accord, red apple
Middle notes: freesia, jasmine, rose, sweet pea
Base notes: musk, raspberry, sandalwood, amber

The scent opens with a combination of sweetness and a citrusy vibe. The zingy sensation is tamed by the sweetness of strawberry. Initially I found the combination too sweet but it has been growing on me. I think, overall, fruity sweetness does appeal to me a little more than floral sweetness.

The middle notes show up very mildly on me, as the core floral notes seem to blend well with each other and with the top fruity notes.

My favorite part of the fragrance is how it dries down. Musk, sandalwood, and amber are obviously common choices for base notes, but the inclusion of raspberry makes a good deal of difference. The fresh fruity flavor of this fragrance continues to the end, and the air smells as if there were fresh berries in a glass fruit bowl.

Moon Sparkle might not appeal to those who seek depth in a fragrance and who want to travel through the flow of the notes. But I think it is a successful summer fragrance as it is light-hearted and invokes a sense of refreshment. It is a very pleasant and easy-to-wear scent for your beach excursions and for capturing the feel of summer.

More Summer fragrances:

Sheer Stella 2008

Bond No. 9 Coney Island

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Swarovski Stars: Bond No. 9 Mother’s Day 2008 Limited-Edition Collection

by PJ on Saturday, May 3, 2008

in fragrance

(Bond No.9 Swarovski Stars Collection:
Bryant Park (in pink), Bleecker Street (in green),
and Nuits de Noho (in blue))
(image from Bond No. 9)

For Mother’s Day 2008, Bond No. 9 is wrapping dazzling Swarovski crystals all over some of their celebrated fragrances.

My favorite of them is Bryant Park, with rose at the core creating a sensuous feel of femininity and a sense of warmth together with amber.

Bryant Park
Top notes: Lily of the Valley, rhubarb, pink pepper
Middle notes: rose, patchouli
Base notes: raspberry, amber

The unique Bleecker street combines gourmand and woody notes, while Nuits de Noho has a distinct aura of maturity and sophistication.

Bleecker Street
Top notes: violet leaves, cassis, thyme
Middle notes: jasmine, cedarwood, cinnamon
Base notes: oakmoss, suede, patchouli, amber, vanilla

Nuits de Noho
Top notes: bergamot, mandarin, pineapple leaves
Middle notes: jasmine, rosewood
Base notes: creamy vanilla, sheer patchouli, grey musk

Meanwhile, the Swarovski Stars Bon Bon Collection features all the three aforementioned fragrances plus Eau de New York (in white crystals), a cheerful symphony of fresh and vibrant notes. A nice scent to greet the upcoming summer.

(Swarovski Stars Bon Bon Collection)
(image from Bond No. 9)

Eau de New York
Top notes: bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit, petitgrain leaves, green watery accord
Middle notes: neroli, gardenia, cyclamen, white lily, basil verbena, jasmine petals
Base notes: vetiver, oakmoss, skin musk, white woods

(Each Bond No. 9 Swarovski Stars fragrance is 50ml and retails for 650 USD. The Swarovski Bon Bon Collection retails for 700 USD and includes the four fragrances in 6ml (refillable) purse-spray sizes.)

Related Posts:

My favorite Bond No. 9 fragrances:

– The Scent of Peace

– Coney Island

My other recent favorites:

– SUQQU Sanzekan

– Sheer Stella 2008

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Too Cute – Daisy Marc Jacobs pour Sephora

by PJ on Wednesday, April 16, 2008

in -Marc Jacobs, beauty tools/accessories, fashion, fragrance

(Daisy Marc Jacobs pour Sephora)
(image from www.sephora.com)

When I saw the items from the Daisy Marc Jacobs pour Sephora collection, I found myself clicking on each of the items and doing that all over again…

Daisy is not my favorite Marc Jacobs fragrance, but I like the design of the bottle and these items are also seriously cute.

I think the two cases appeal to me the most, especially the round Treasure Beauty Case:

(Daisy Marc Jacobs pour Sephora
Treasure Beauty Case)
(image from www.sephora.com)

I know it is a borderline cuteness overload, but I really like the look of it. I wish Sephora could specify the dimensions of this case, so I can visualize it right in front of me…not that I haven’t been doing that enough already…

This is not my first time to write about Marc Jacobs, and it probably won’t be the last. I enjoyed my trip to the first Marc Jacobs boutique in the UK last year, and I think I will talk about one of my favorite Marc Jacobs fragrances later on…

(Thank you, Betsy (at Autumn Masquerade), for letting me know about this collection!)

Some doses of fashion:

“The new way of selling clothes seems to be not wearing them.”

Budget Favorite: River Island

UK Fashion Hotspot: Nottingham

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Summer Is Approaching – Sheer Stella 2008

by PJ on Friday, April 4, 2008

in -Stella McCartney, 2008 Summer, fragrance, stash focus

(Sheer Stella 2008 takes center stage.)

In my earlier post on Sheer Stella 2008, I mentioned that it would be launched in the UK (in Debenhams stores) on March 16. It was a Monday, and I went to a Debenhams store the day before, thinking that it might already be there. It was, and I happily took it home.

Considering Sheer Stella 2007 and 2006 were launched in mid-April, the mid-March launch of Sheer Stella 2008 seemed unexpectedly early to me (especially since Sheer Stellas are meant to be summer fragrances).

The bottle design is quite different from all the previous versions. The semi-opaque glossed cream-white glass bottle features a large rose motif. For the first time, the cap is white and has white dots spelling out “STELLA”.





As expected, the scent is a lighter and fresher version of Stella and is not too different from all the previous Sheer Stellas. However, this year’s version no longer uses green apple, lemon, or orange as a top note to give that zesty vibe. Instead, the scent opens with more sweetness, thanks to white freesia and raspberry.

(From left to right: Sheer Stella 2004 – 2008)
(My favorite bottles are the 2005 and 2007 ones.)

Sheer Stella 2008 is perhaps the sweetest Sheer Stella of all, but only marginally so. It is still a very pleasing rose fragrance with a modern edge, which is why I fell in love with Stella in the first place.

Related Posts:

Sheer Stella 2004 – 2007
(See all the bottles up-close.)

My Fragrance Favorites
(the tremendous three)

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