Tag: designers

Fragrance Friday

Summer signals the release of fruity, floral, woody and whimsical scents into the air as longer days and lighter nights open our senses to festivals of new textures and colours. Nina Ricci’s entire fragrance collection is irresistible with numerous variations, each bringing out a different story.

Nina’s luscious apples 🍎 🍏

Nina Ricci’s latest scent for Summer 2023 is called Nina Le Parfum and it’s a floral-woody composition presented by well known perfumers Oliver Cresp and Ilias Ermenidis. American actress Kiernan Shipka is the face of the advertising campaign for Nina Le Parfum.

Kiernan Shipka in the ad campaign for Nina Le Parfum 🍎

Kiernan has elaborated on her vision, and she is expressing her desire to make a bold statement by choosing a grand French castle as a backdrop for the shoot. The aim of the ad campaign was to combine a touch of romanticism with some 21st century contemprorary edge.

Kiernan Shipka is the perfect ambassador for a scene of old money romantic vibes revived by some 2020’s modern attitudes. Kiernan embodies the look and feel effortlessly while exuding a youthful optimism.

Launching the newest Nina Le Parfum, Nina Ricci suggest following your instincts and making your dreams come true!

This is a hypnotic fragrance that combines small juicy apples, white flowers, and warm amber, an olfactory orchestra that will awaken your curiosities.

A blend of luscious fruits opens this enchanting scent, crisp apple and Italian lemon. A white floral medley of gardenia, tuberose and orange blossom infuses profound sophistication while a delightful pairing of creamy vanilla and warm amber conclude as base notes.

Like Nina’s existing signature fragrances, Nina Le Parfum is housed in a smooth apple shaped bottle with a chrome cap and top detailling, while the body of the apple is a watermelon pink hue.

Nina Le Parfum from Nina Ricci is available from mid June 23 and comes in 30, 50 and 80ml bottles as Eau De Parfum.

Fragrance Friday

American shoe and accessory designer Jimmy Choo is becoming just as well known for stunning fragrances with light catching bottles as he is for creating some of the world’s most wanted footwear, and there’s a new creation for 2023 that will be beaming into the Spring with a smattering of cerise and golden goodness.

Rose Passion from Jimmy Choo is the designer’s newest scent, and this is a perfume from JC that doesn’t have any actual rose note, as the name suggests. Is this a naming or description oversight or a clever layer of mystery surrounding the fragrance’s orchestra of notes…?

Rose Passion can be described as the tropical melange of joy 2023 ordered that’s floral, white floral, tropical, citrus and vanilla leaning at the same time.

Rose Passion ☀️ 🌺 🌴

Rose Passion commences its solar descent with a refreshing dose of coconut water and frangipani. Soft jasmine and a sweet hit of orchid bloom in the chypre heart for an exciting, playful trail which sits on a dreamy base of vanilla and sandalwood.

The “passion” refers to the experimental and rarely done combination of florals with more tropical accords, and being as you’re unlikely to come across a rose on far flung islands like the Maldives or Tahiti, Jimmy Choo have cleverly and artfully arranged a celebration of the “roses of the tropics,” think mysterious orchids and peachy plumeria (Frangipani).

Can we all take a moment to appreciate the opulence of Jimmy Choo fragrance bottles? JC has this amazing ability to design perfume bottles to maximise on the light-catching glamour, be it for the signature collections or for the “Flash” family of scents that celebrate all the glitz of parties and a night out.

Jimmy Choo’s scents come in some of the most detailed glass bottles that will catch the light and glimmer on your vanity

Jimmy Choo’s Rose Passion will be available in 60 and 100ml bottles as Eau de Parfum at The Perfume Shop, The Fragrance Shop, at larger Boots stores and at department stores very soon!

Scentsational Sunday

Tom Ford’s cherries are branching out much further in 2023. Lost Cherry is an icon in it’s own right and continues to be a highly sought after scent since it’s launch in 2018.

In 2023, Tom Ford are introducing two new takes on the continuously popular cherry theme …

Tempting, tantalising trio: Tom Ford’s Cherries 🍒

The best part of the OG, Lost Cherry, is the accord of fresh, juicy cherries in it’s opening, and the fragrance remains wonderful bringing connotations of cherry pie, cherry liqueur and cherry juice, topped with a hint of Amaretto. A fresh cherry scent is what periodically breaks through all the juice, liqueur and pies! A white floral scent appears throughout the day as the fragrance rises, filled with cherry blossoms.

Tom Ford’s continuation of Cherry themes is a natural progression for the designer, it’s a note that’s worked really well and proved somewhat popular with other perfume brands also getting the memo. Undoubtedly, in the world of smell-a-likes and lookalike products, Lost Cherry has inspired a crop of rather convincing dupes.

Juicy on the go: Lost Cherry atomiser, 10ml, which is available at John Lewis

Lost Cherry’s sidekicks deliver large punnets of cherry notes and associated connotations of this juicy fruit with some unexpected twists … 🍒

🍒 Cherry Smoke 🍒

Cherry Smoke is even more cherry than Lost Cherry itself. Although this one appears to have fewer fruit and berry accords, the cherry note that remains on skin throughout this scent’s life smells primarily of juicy cherries, and that’s without evoking cherry pie, liqueur or juice.

Cherry Smoke has notes of cherry flavoured alcohol mainly cherry brandy. Smoked cherries and cherry tobacco are also present, hence calling it Cherry Smoke. This is sultry, slightly smoky, cool, elastic, sweet and slightly sour, just as it picked from a cherry tree.

🍒 Electric Cherry 🍒

Electric Cherry isn’t too sweet, it’s less sweet than Lost Cherry and Cherry Smoke. Electric Cherry is described as a simpler composition; brighter and more youthful leaning, not usually the deep, darker note selection you’d expect from Tom Ford, so Electric Cherry’s orchestra of scents is rather unexpected. Floral, fruity and soft-spicy is the order of business here, the cherry presents itself in the form of white flowers.

Juicy and sour at first, but then morphing into the sweet scents of a cocktail cherry. The cocktail cherry notes are abundant here and evoke the sweetness of a dessert.

Cherry juice blended with sparking wine lingers. Then the cherries go down to this deeper, amber like and more resinous sweetness, like a large, smooth dark candy made from the resin off cherry trees.

Lost Cherry, Electric Cherry and Cherry Smoke by Tom Ford are now available on the designer’s website in 10, 50 and 100ml flacons, visit http://www.tomford.co.uk 🍒

Fragrance Friday

Italian designer Versace absolutely loves to play with strong, statement making bold colour and their affinity with the colour purple has seen some gorgeous creations.

September 2022 has an exciting offering in store for fans of Versace’s “Dylan” range of scents, as a hot new, ultraviolet perfume is about to enter the villa!

Dylan Purple is inspired by moments spent on the beaches of Italy, those magical Italian ice creams with their ever innovative flavours. Through Dylan Purple, Versace has returned simple, unadorned and happy pleasures to Italy and beyond.

Versace Dylan Purple ad

Dylan Purple is an invitation to explore and travel. Fresh, fruity and utterly addictive on its opening that pays homage to sensational ice cream flavours and iconic citrus fruits. Sunset by the water is represented with a serene floral heart, think purple reflections in the gentle scented breeze. The floral-fruity line-up consists of bitter orange and bergamot from Italy, pear, purple freesia, and and molecules of pomarosa mahonial, iso-e-super ambroxan belambre and sylkkolide.

Versace Pour Femme Dylan Purple’s bottle is just as amazing as previous Dylan Blue and Dylan Turquoise offerings, this time the smooth glass of the flacon has been tinted a vivid violet tone which pops beautifully amongst the opulent signature gold accents Versace are known so well for.

The Dylan’s!

There’s something ultra luxe about Versace’s detailing in gold combined with their use of popping colour, be it on a fragrance bottle, a handbag or purse or evening wear. They are one of the originals and hit the mark every time!

Versace’s Dylan Purple is available in 30, 50, and 100ml and is an Eau de Parfum

Fragrance Friday

Narciso Rodriguez scents are the epitome of clean, understated and often powdery perfumes.

Some of Narciso Rodriguez well known scent favourites!

This is a perfume designer who knows how to embody the elegance of a feminine fragrance be it musky, soft floral or creamy and vanilla leaning.

However, we detect something sparkling in 2022, as if a crystal… a Narciso Cristal in fact!

Narciso‘s newest scent for 2022, on first impressions may strike you as a refreshed version of Narciso Poudree, but this new kid on the block packs a much bolder presentation, thanks to it’s citrus, floral and benzoin accords.

Freesia, Orange Blossom and Bergamot make for a glimmering opening that leads to a refreshing floral uplift of white flowers, rose and jasmine in the heart. This fruity-floral medley is grounded by a base of cashmeran, cedar amber and benzoin, a powdery backdrop which doesn’t go too soft and musky as it’s spiced up thanks to the amber and benzoin.

In keeping with the connotation of crisp transparency, the signature bottle opacity synonymous with most Narciso Rodriguez scents doesn’t appear here.

Instead, a boldly cut, cube shape bottle made up of quality clear glass reveals the sunny, peachy pink goodness inside, crystal glass for Narciso Cristal!

Narciso Cristal by Narciso Rodriguez is available at Fragrance Direct (www.fragrancedirect.co.uk) in 50 and 90ml bottles and is an Eau de Parfum

Fragrance Friday

Tom Ford have always been associated with some of the most superiorly crafted perfumes, some of which have generated a demand for “smell-a-likes” off the back of their popularity. From Black Orchid, to Lost Cherry, ask any fragrance enthusiast their top rated and you’re sure to hear the name Tom Ford crop up.

Earlier this year, as the trend for soft romantic florals, namely roses, bloomed, Tom Ford launched a tempting trio of fragrances which are very rose centred. There’s something about the bottles which is super striking; as with their Private Blend perfumes, the glass is crystal clear, so the goodness inside is visible.

You won’t be able to resist the itrigue of these shades of watercolour pink, magenta and peach – the very colours of blushing roses. Such hues take on an air of juiciness and voluptuousness in the morning, just like roses, so much so you’ll wonder if there was some erotic joke, but no, it’s a genuine tribute to the beauty of the rose and it’s many iterpretations.

Rose De Russie is a surprising leather feeling fragrance that’s coloured a bubblrgum toned pink, but it smells far deeper and darker than this playful, flirtatious pink. Something sweet and saturated could be communicated on initial view, but it’s not. It’s a rose tinged leather.

As the Tom Ford brand has evolved over the years, certain olfactory areas have taken focus, one being leather notes. Leather with Tom Ford has been approached from different angles, from the sweeter side of Tom Ford Noir to the pale blush feeling White Suede to the jasmine rich orris leather in of Ombre Leather Parfum, to name but a few. Rose De Russie sits at the threshold between leather and floral.

Rose D’Amalfi changes tack to quite a different profile, to a sensation bordering on the more acidic edge of rose, only later on it smoothes to a creamier side as it rises later in the day. Perhaps the opening smells the sharper of the three, with the sweet yet ever so slightly sour taste of rose patals as they rest amongst bergamot, Indian mandarin and pink peppercorn.

The bold, invigorating opening suggests an upcoming hit of zesting lemon as fresh citrus oils sptitz your skin and give off a slight numbing effect. A healthy dose of rose comes from each spray so you’re led into the sensual experience straignt away. An energetic start eventually slows down to a serene base, not what you’d typically expect of Tom Ford’s work – such as dark woods, fruit moss or oak moss. Instead, almonds and heliotrope have Rose D’Amalfi grounded as if this was the creamy, cosmetic milkiness of a gourmand.

Rose De Chine is set amongst mysterious amber strokes and old world resins that twist expectations. Upon first spray, you might vision a peony, because it strangely statrs out on the skin smelling like peony. Thanks to some perfume crafting trickery, rose accords bloom some 45 minutes after you spray it. Having set the floral stage, there are two base notes at play in Rose De Chine; myrrh and labadnum.

Myrrh and peony combined create some wonderous magic that’s just like violin solo but for unique, understated scents. Rose De Chine is this rich, adeptly played violin in which roses, in their full dexterity on display, fly over the strings.

Tom Ford’s Private Rose Garden Rose Trio are all Eau de Parfum and they’re available as 50ml and 250ml flacons at Feel Unique, go to: http://www.feelunique.com

Fragrance Friday

Narciso Rodriguez presented their Musc Noir For Her Perfume last year, a tribute to the inner beauty of every woman. 2022 will see the awakening of a new variation of the iconoc musk line For Her.

Musc Noir Rose is the latest launch from the fashion house. Narciso Rodriguez says this is a new chapter for the history of modern feminity, that’s unfiltered and without pretense or imagination.

Musc Noir Rose is said to be more sensual than mysterious compared to last year’s Musc Noir. Musc Noir Rose can be described as a floral-amber composition that’s accompanied by the signature musky cloud. The composition of this scent has been orchestrated with a new bouquet of roses and tuberose. Some sweet, fruity brilliance is provided by notes of bergamot, plum and pink pepper. A warm and resinous base can be accredited to some creamy vanilla notes.

Sonia Constant is the perfume expert who is the nose behind Musc Noir Rose. The fragrance, like all Narciso Rodriguez scents, has a clean, understated, yet beautiful and oh so modern bottle. For Musc Noir Rose this is a completely transparent creation with a touch of blush pink tint.

Musc Noir from Narciso Rodriguez will be available in 30, 50 nd 100ml Eau de Parfum

Happy 100th Birthday Chanel No5!

There’s something distinctive about Chanel No5 that will keep the woody/floral/aldehydic scent an eternal icon. Chanel’s most recognised fragrance was born on May 5, 1921, meaning the golden perfume has been loved by many worldwide for a whole century!

Marilyn Monroe wore No5 to bed

From Marilyn Monroe’s famous admission she wears Chanel No5 to bed, to make-up artist Bobbi Brown, Catherine Deneuve and Celine Dion, to name but a few celebrity fans of a perfume with such a long history, No5 continues to command stellar influence.

Chanel No5 will forever appeal to masses of fragrance wearers of all ages because of it’s ability to remain a timeless classic. Ask any celebrity who loves it, any beauty influencer, any perfume expert, they’ll call it a mainstay as it’s one of the few glamour statements that’s immune to “trends” that fuel a speeding vehicle of fast fashion. Chanel epitomises a Parisian approach, especially to your wardrobe and beauty choices; Chanel is all about the art of loving investment pieces for a long time.

That said, Chanel No5, having had an exciting 100 years, having lived through some of the most clashing and changing decades for fashion, has revelled in a few subtle spin-offs and limited editions.

The lighter versions of the harmonic composition, through Chanel No5 Eau Premiere and Chanel No5 L’eau – an eau de toilette version, remain popular variations on the original.

Chanel No5 Eau Premiere was made possible by Jacques Polge, the nose behind Chanel’s fragrances since 1978, who reinterpreted his predecessor’s orchestration of notes to bring about a more luminous composition in 2008. As with all Chanel No5 versions, as with Mademoiselle, Allure and No19, this beauty brilliance didn’t stop at perfume; Chanel’s perfumed bath and shower products, bar soaps and body lotions still hold a special appeal as pampering treats or gifts.

Fragrance enthusiasts and beauty lovers will always have a go-to signature scent, even if they aren’t using their signature all the time, it’ll always be something they’ll “go back to.” In many polls and beauty related Q and A’s, many credited Chanel No5 for being an ageless classic, a scent that has evoked memories of their mothers or grandmothers wearing it.

Chanel No5. Will there ever be another perfume that will connect in a way words can’t, be passed down several generations, re-ignite memories or feelings thought to have been lost, or inspire a style everyone wants …?

We’ll be waiting for a long, long time!

#ChanelNo5100

Fragrance Friday

At the start of February 2021, Carolina Herrara released a new flanker of their iconic “Good Girl” in the shape of a striking red stiletto shoe. Red will be big news, in all shade variations, in 2021, because many perfume houses have decided to offer new fragrances in red bottles.

Very Good Girl is the new olfactory adventure that’s set to take a surprising turn. Previous scents in the Good Girl family explored the subversive powers of jasmine and tonka bean. Very Good Girl ups the ante, drawing its strength from the potency of rose. This makes Very Good Girl a distinctive scent which treads on entirely new ground.

Very Good Girl has arrived after last year’s Good Girl Supreme and Good Girl Legere from 2018.

They stand out as differently composed to other editions in the collection, which were limited edition bottles of the very original Good Girl that was launched in 2016.

Rose and vetiver make for an idyllic contrast, Very Good Girl is floral-fruity. It’s aromatic journey begins with the red currant, a playfully mischievous wild berry that’s soon joined by the exotic lychee in a unity of confidence. The mysterious qualities of rose come into play at this point, as one of the most important and stand-out ingredients in the history of perfumery, it has seen no end of interpretations. It’s all encompassing and seductive with it’s unique scent, and this makes the rose the ace up any sleeve. This is exactly what perfume mastermind Louise Turner wanted to capitalise on for this chapter of Good Girl’s story.

Here, it’s the creamy and powdery nuances that come into play, with an indulgent romanticism that’s as warm as the most seductive red lipstick.

For the most luxe of ingredients, there’s no need to justify a declaration of love, and if this were reason enough to create a fragrance, Louise Turner is anything but a conformist. Hence why the final burst in Very Good Girl is a veiled vetiver background. It’s the raw form of vetiver that evokes the scent of wood, which is often used in masculine perfumery, for example it’s a note within Carolina Herrera’s Bad Boy, but also in Good Girl Supreme. This accord of vetiver has proved to be a surprising and contemporary base point, and in Very Good Girl it forms an alliance with the warmth of vanilla. A floral fragrance that brings out the natural beauty of its raw ingredients is the result, with no compromise on creativity.

“Fashion is evolution not revolution,” this is what Carolina Herrera has always said, a maxim that totally applies to this latest fragrance. Very Good Girl will be the tour de force for your senses you need in 2021, it’s romantic and chic but it’s also a perfume that is ready to wear and enjoy in the modern world.

Very Good Girl Arrives on the market in mid-February, in 50ml and 80ml bottles.

FRAGRANCE FRIDAY

Juicy Couture has always inspired opulent, gilded and bold styles with their blingy designs for fashion, beauty and fragrance.  JC perfumes have always reflected the vivid characteristics of their clothing and those who wear and love them.

Juicy Couture fans are in for a treat this spring, with a brand new scent on the horizon that’s sure to make a splash!

February 2021 will see the release of Juicy Couture’s Oui Splash.  After the success of the original Oui scent from 2018 and 2019’s Oui Glow,  Oui Splash takes on a cooling, oceanic look and a refreshing personality.  2021’s new flanker is set to epitomise summer for JC, as it’s described as refreshing, juicy and sparkling.

Oui Splash is a fresh, floral and fruit filled composition.  A welcome medley of lemon sorbet and a mix of fruits reminiscent of a summer escape build up to a floral bouquet of jasmine, magnolia and orange flower that’s joyfully feminine.  Ambrox and cedarwood deliver a light earthy drydown that’s slightly spicy, while white moss leaves a luminous trail.  

The bottle for Oui Splash retains Juicy Couture’s well-known chunky glass shape, accessorised with a gold chain, gold bold lettering and a crystal-like cap.  The inner layer of the bottle has been shaded in turquoise and ocean blue as striking as a Hawaiian cocktail.  

Oui Splash from Juicy Couture is available as a 10, 50 and 100ml Eau de Parfum from February. 

Get your taste of something juicy, go to http://www.juicycouturebeauty.com