Beauty Blog » Perfume & Cologne

Tell you the truth, I actually somewhat enjoy the AXE body spray commercials. You know the ones, geeky guy spritzes this stuff on and Eureka! gorgeous women start going nuts. They amuse me, absurd as they are.

They should make one for women, I imagine it would smell something like sporting events and beer. Ha! 

Well my little brother’s birthday is coming up and lord knows the dweeb could use all the help he can get with the “ladies”. I love the rascal but he smells like a mix of diaper rash, fear and sweat. Not the sexiest combo, that’s for sure.

I was thinking of getting him a care package, chalk full of this AXE stuff. But first - does anyone know if it actually smells good? 

Please let the rest of us know before I spend my hard earned dough. - Muchas gracias!

To shop for AXE body sprays, click here.

Source 

What more can we expect from Academy Award-winning, Halle Berry? This down-to-earth, new mother is sleighted to release her new fragrance, Halle by Halle Berry, in March. For over two years, Halle has been working at perfecting a fragrance that all women can benefit from. “For years I have created my own personal scents by mixing and layering fragrances, trying to come up with something unique and different. It’s a wonderful form of self-expression,” Halle says. Halle’s signature fragrance is said to capture “the spirit of a woman who is effortlessly stylish and elegant.” The spicy effect of the olibanum, an African root, and the smooth, woody aroma of sandalwood should make a great combination. You end up with a natural, sexy, smooth fragrance. Doesn’t that just sum up the epitome of Halle Berry? Halle has always won us over with her effortless style.  Can she win us over with her new fragrance? We shall wait and see.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more fragrances.

I am big on scent, especially on men. It’s one of my “things” so I tend not to be a fan of “trendy” scents. The way I figure if you are lucky enough to find a scent that does not assault your senses and you like it, you should stick with it.

If you won the nose lottery would you throw away the ticket and not collect your money? Of course not!

Which is why one of my favorite scents for men is - Acqua di Gio Cologne! 

A resolutely masculine fragrance born from the sea, the sun, the earth, and the breeze of a Mediterranean island. Transparent, aromatic, and woody in nature Aqua Di Gio Pour Homme is a contemporary expression of masculinity, in an aura of marine notes, fruits, herbs, and woods.

In non-marketing terms I think it smells fresh, clean and HOT! If any of you ladies  have smelled this on men yet, it smells beyond nice. Yummy.

If you are interested in bargain shopping for Acqua di Gio Cologne, click here!

What is your favorite Men’s Fragrance? 

Ladies! I think we can all agree that “scent” is a make it/break it factor when it comes to men. I don’t care how fine or hot a man is, IF he smells like sewage its a complete buzzzz kill!!

Do we all agree?

That said I just wanted to promote a scent that I currently love, it’s light and fragrant. I tend to lean away from men’s cologne that is too strong and over powering.. but I realize we are all different and I don’t know what you girls like on your men.

Well check out: Clinique Happy for Men

Happy cologne for men, made by Clinique, was launched in 1999. This fragrance for men contains a blend of citrus, lemon, mandarin, orange and grapefruit. I never really understood all that clinical stuff, but I will say that I tend to prefer scents with a citrus blend and are on lighter side. Both for men and women’s fragrances… and whatever is in Clinique Happy for men - I likes it!

Price varies depending on store and size of bottle but is generally $30-$65 bucks

Click here to bargain shop at a variety of online stores and pick the cheapest price for Clinique Happy for Men.

What men’s fragrance do you love to smell on your man? If men were smart they would wear what women like and not what they prefer,  since ultimately making us happy benefits them the most… hahahah! I’m just sayin’.

Plus it’s my experience that the times I felt obligated to ask a guy what he was wearing because he smells good, the answer often consists of ..”oh my wife/girlfriend got me…”

I rest my case.

The time has come to switch up my signature scent. You know what I am talking about, when you become immune to your favorite fragrance and can no longer smell it on yourself. However just because you become immune to the scent you spray so much on that people around you smell you coming from across the room!

It’s always a sad day when you realize that you and your signature scent need to part ways and you must bask in the fragrant caress of another. Well the fragrance that I swore by was Daisy by Marc Jacobs, but now she has lost her luster. So I was thinking of trying out “Lovely” by Sarah Jessica Parker. Has anyone tried it?

I like light and clean fragrances, and I tend to lean more towards floral scents in lieu of fruit or sweetness. I don’t like smelling like food basically, makes me hungry.

Honestly when it comes to Women’s Fragrances I think the best recommendations come from other women, or better yet MEN! What do you ladies recommend? I need a new signature scent…

One of the scents of my childhood was Estee Lauder’s White Linen. I remember it on my mother’s vanity, a curved glass with a crested white cap. Part of her morning ritual was to mist it on after dressing. It would linger in the room after she left; it followed her in a pretty scented cloud. It was crisp and sophisticated. It symbolized womanhood. That was then. Today, what with new scents arriving with revolving door speed, it rouses feelings of nostalgia. Now we consider it a classic.

Browsing the Neiman Marcus site, I found these beautiful collectible compacts that open up to a solid perfume. Estee Lauder has been releasing one-of-a kind collectible compacts since 1967. There’s even a book about it.  A gold castle? Ribbons? Russian dolls? A fish grabbing a clear crystal? Luxe and lovely, I say. They’re old school and they belong on someone’s vanity. Namely, mine!

Limited edition collectibles open up to reveal a solid perfume. Comes in its own velvet pouch.

White Linen Passementerie Bow

Pure White Linen Fantasy Fish

Exclusive Cathedral Square Compact. Each dome is different with 10 golden spires.

Russian Nesting Dolls

Daisy perfume by Marc Jacobs was one of my favorite new scents last season.  Well now Marc Jacobs has released…

Daisy Intense Eau de Parfum ($72)

“Daisy Eau de Parfum features the same notes as the original Daisy Eau De Toilette. It concentrates the fragrance’s essential oils for a luxurious sensation. The fresh, wild strawberry, violet leaves and ruby red grapefruit notes are softer, while the heart blooms with jasmine petals, violet petals and gardenia. The feminine florals blend seamlessly with the creamy musks, leaving an impression that is rounder, richer, and lusciously floral with a sophisticated touch.”

(source: Bloomingdale’s)

Sounds dreamy. I am going to have to see what this new stuff smells like since I liked the original version so much. Anyone try this yet? Is it good?

Oh controversy! There is no better lubricant for the machine that is marketing. Calvin Klein has yet to actually launch “Secret Obsession” fragrance and yet the product is already hip deep in controversy.

The commercial featuring Eva Mendes has already been banned in the United States! Lucky for you, feel free to view the sultry tidbit on Youtube.com before they decide to take that down as well.

YouTube - Watch 

Warning: NSFW (not safe for work)

In the video, Eva Mendes seductively caresses her naked form and bed head hair. Seducing both the fragrance and the viewer?

As far as controversy goes, this doesn’t seem that big a deal to me personally. Sure there is a frame where you can see her nipple and breast but its CALVIN KLEIN folks! They have been causing a ruckus with their campaigns since the 70’s (Brooke Shields and nothing getting “between” her Calvins!) the 90’s (Marky Mark and Kate Moss) and ewww does anyone remember those seedy, grimy ads where everyone looked sweaty and “tired”. Oh and let’s not forget the age of “heroin chic” that Calvin Klein ushered in …

Love em’ or Hate em’ the man knows how to start a dialogue …

What are your thoughts?

Interested in discount shopping for brand name perfumes and colognes, click here.

Hey Beauty readers,

I’ve been writing on the Home and Garden section, but this week they asked me if I would like to write something in the Beauty section. I jumped at the chance because it’s something I happen to know a thing or two about!

My first thought was to do a blog about my favorite fragrance. For two years I worked at a retail store called Fred Segal located on the famous Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, CA.

The owner of our store, Ron Robinson was incredibly passionate about fragrances. That is an understatement. He would hold staff meetings periodically to introduce us to each of his new scents just before they were going to be released to the public.

During that time I was introduced to the wonderful Eu de Parfum, IF.

R.R. always stressed how an Eu de Parfum is different than a perfume and I can’t remember why. If you know why, then you should be writing this blog and not me, lol.

Anyway, this fragrance is to die for. It smells of an exotic bouquet of flowers with a touch of citrus and a hint of musk. It is light and airy. I love wearing it because it’s subtle yet I always get complimented when I wear it.

It’s a little pricey for me right now at $75 a bottle, but I have samples from when I used to work there and I save them for really special occasions.

It also comes in a smaller travel size for $30.

IF you are lucky enough to live near Fred Segal, you can pick up each and every one of these at the Apothia store located inside Fred Segal and peruse all of their other signature scents (it’s worth it), but if you are not in L.A., fear not.

You can order them online HERE!

And it also comes in a roll-on oil for $58.

I was standing in line at the Pinkberry’s in Pasadena, when this girl walked by me and I got two nostril filled whiffs of her perfume. Immediately my brain triggered hints of nostalgia and I had a flashback of junior high and trying to remember the combination to my locker before the third period bell went off! Holy smokes, what was this girl wearing? Was that?…no it couldn’t be, was that GUESS?!

I didn’t know they even sold it anymore! Isn’t it odd how scents and music can instantly transport you back in time to a particular moment or event? Well Guess Perfume does that for me, followed closely by Liz Claiborne the triangle series. I use to collect all the different size bottles and display them proudly on my nightstand, like tiny trophies of my keen sense of smell and style.

Well after smelling that girl in Pinkberry, I must have experienced some sort of nose damage in my youth because - yeck! It was strong and overpowering! I can’t believe I use to bath myself in this stuff.

Here is a picture of my beloved Liz Claiborne scent circa 1990’s! Certain male colognes bring me back as well; Cool Water for Men, Drakkar Noir, Curve for Men, Acqua Di Gio … ahhhh young amor!

What was your signature scent from the past?