ShopDiary

New Scent: Infusion d’Iris by Prada

Prada is launching a new scent called Infusion d’Iris in September that is expected to be the best-selling fragrance for the fashion house. Infusion d’Iris is a contemporary eau de parfum based on the root of the Florentine iris pallida flower and “is balanced by top notes of orange blossom and mandarin, as well as base notes of galbanum, lentisc, benzoin, incense, vetiver and cedarwood.” It was created in collaboration between Miuccia Prada and Master Perfumer Daniella Andrier of Givaudan.

Pre-order the fragrance at Neiman Marcus now and receive a deluxe mini of Infusion d’Iris Eau de Toilette. Enter code NMSHIP for free shipping (expires 7/28/07 at 11:59 PM CT). Orders are expected to ship no later than August 20 which means it could arrive on your doorstep before it debuts in stores.

News Source, ImageSource

Bond No. 9 Goodies

Look what I got in the mail yesterday:

More Bond No. 9 samples! I got my first set of samples, Chelsea Flowers and Scent of Peace, with my order of Chinatown. Then when I spoke to Shawn of Bond No. 9 about Bryant Park, which is scheduled to debut to the public on March 1, he immediately sent a vial to me. In another packet, he added So New York and Nuits de Noho as well even though I didn’t ask for them. How sweet! I guess my enthusiasm about Chinatown came through on the phone. And Shawn doesn’t even know that I keep a blog!

Here they are in their pretty packaging. I haven’t unwrapped them all yet. Just taking in the eye candy for now.

At any rate, don’t forget Bond No. 9 is offering Free Shipping for Valentine’s. You’ll need to call Shawn at 1(877) 273-3369, mention the magic words “MAKEUPALLEY” and voila! get 15% off as well. Many thanks to Annie of Blogdorf Goodman again for this tip!

Bond No.9 Chinatown

I’ve been intrigued with Bond No.9’s Chinatown ever since I read its rave reviews several months ago. Almost two years after its release, I finally got a chance to sniff this bestselling scent at Saks Fifth Avenue last weekend. I also brought home a tiny vial to test with. I LOVE it! It’s a unique and intoxicating scent that is just fabulous. Its topnote is a burst of peach blossom, blended with creamy-sweet gardenia and sultry tuberose and a hint of patchouli to add a spiky note to the other florals. Other notes are bergamot, peony, orange blossom, cardamom, vanilla, cedar, guaiac wood and sandalwood. The scent is both sweet and spicy, floral and fruity, new and old, modern and traditional. Yin and yang just like the gorgeous bottle it comes in. On one side of the bottle, the plum blossoms are the color of irridescent pearl on a deep fuschia background. Turn it over, and in yin-yang style it’s the same design with the colors reversed.

I prefer light floral scents and this one is not. But I am strangely attracted to it. I can’t stop sniffing my wrists when I have it on. Some reviewers have reported being stopped on the street because of it. And as it is an eau de parfum, the scent lasts for hours (six hours on my wrist). It is full bottle worthy! Just be forewarned that some of my friends did not like it and, like any fragrance, not everyone will. With Chinatown, the patchouli is usually to blame. So go take a whiff of it if you haven’t yet.

Chinatown comes in 3.3oz and 1.7 oz bottles, a Swarovski crystal bottle, a perfumista’s or a crystal pocket spray box, and a candle. Now all I need are lotions and soaps to layer the scent with!

Hot tip: Get a 15% discount and free shipping (and no tax if you live outside of New York) for Valentine’s Day. Check out the details at Blogdorf Goodman. You can also call Bond No.9’s toll free number at (877) 273-3369. Shawn was sweet and threw in some samples for me (I also love Chelsea Flowers). Cheers! Let me know if you ordered. I was so excited to hear about this! And now I can’t wait for my Chinatown to arrive!

Photo Source: saks.com

Juicy Couture Wants to Rule the World

The brand that elevated the lowly pedestrian track suit to a status item wants to have it all. First hoodies and matching pants. Then an expanded clothing line that included mens and children. Then handbags and other accessories. Then jewelry, sunglasses and shoes.

The progression has now evolved to…

Ta da! Fragrance!

What’s next? Watches? Well, apparently so.

Watch out world!*

*And I don’t mean this in a good way.

Miss Dior Cherié

My latest favorite fragrance is Miss Dior Cherié. Launched nine months ago, this eau de parfum spray completely slipped under my radar. With notes of mandarin, strawberry leaf, violet, jasmine, caramel popcorn, wild strawberry sorbet, musk, and patchouli, I probably thought this scent was too sugary pop for me so I stayed away. But a positive review got me interested. It is a youthful scent but not without the overpowering saccharine sweetness associated with scents marketed to the teen set. I find myself smelling my wrist every so often to take a whiff of its refreshing scent. Curiously, the scent tends to dissipate within an hour. It does not have the staying power one would come to expect from a eau de parfum (vs. a eau de toilette) so I find myself having to spray more every so often. Here is a more comprehensive review by my favorite perfume blog, Now Smell This.

What’s your favorite scent right now?

The Scent Event

It’s time to get a new scent for spring or summer! At Neiman Marcus’ scent event, you’ll receive a complimentary tote filled with deluxe fragrance samples with any $85 fragrance purchase.

The canvas totes come in blue, pink and khaki (not pictured) stripes with wooden handles. It’s the perfect beach tote for summer.

The fragrance samples include:
• FRESH Pink Jasmine Eau de Parfum, 1.6ml.
• JO MALONE Living Cologne, 0.05oz
• ANNICK GOUTAL Songes, 0.05oz
• FRACAS Fracas Eau de Parfum, 1.6ml
• LA PRAIRIE Silver Rain Eau de Parfum, 1.6ml
• BOUCHERON Femme or Trouble Eau de Parfum, 1.6ml

Online event starts today and ends May 14. In stores May 6-13. Free shipping with any $150 purchase and promo code “FORMOM”.

Osmanthus Fragrances

I was out of town for a week and while gallivanting in Las Vegas, I dropped by Hermès to take a whiff of their latest fragrance, Osmanthe Yunnan. I’ve been intrigued for awhile now with fragrances made with Osmanthus fragrans, a flower native to China that is valued for its delicate fruity-floral apricot aroma.

The scent is incredibly unique and layered. I love it! They only had a 100ml bottle, which to me, is a bit too much since I usually tire of scents before I finish a bottle. They do come in a Discovery Set of four 15ml Hermèssences, which I forgot to ask about.

According to Now Smell This:

Osmanthe Yunnan is the fifth and most recent of the Hermessence series, which debuted in 2004 with four fragrances: Vetiver Tonka, Ambre Narguile, Rose Ikebana, and Poivre Samarcande. Like the others, it was created by Hermès house nose Jean Claude Ellena and is available exclusively in Hermès boutiques. The perfume notes are tea, orange, freesia, osmanthus and apricot… it is only after trying hundreds and hundreds of fragrances that it becomes obvious how rare it is to find something that is really simple but still worth the wearing.

I believe fragrances made with osmanthus are uncommon though I found a few more brand names aside from Hermès:
 The Different Company Osmanthus
 Ormonde Jayne Osmanthus
 Ava Luxe Parfum d’Osmanthus
 Paco Rabanne’s Ultraviolet
 Serge Luten’s Datura Noir
 Keiko Mecheri’s Fleurs d’Osmanthus

I do love Hermès Osmanthe Yunnan’s combination of complex scents while remaining light and unique. Looks like this will be my scent for this spring and summer!