Sensual Scents for Spring
Celebrate the change of season with something new.
- PJ Gach, BettyConfidential.com
Fragrances are like men; you can never have too many of them. You need fragrances to match your mood, the season, the occasion and of course you want it to match what you're wearing. Back in the day, I used to wear a specific fragrance for each of the guys I was dating. Oh the glory days of college!
We've got brand new scents for you to pair up with every moment of the day or night. There are new perfumes from Zoe Saldana and Eva Longoria. Read on to find your latest love.
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Citrus
Sometimes called clean, sporty or green- these zesty fragrances marry lemon, florals, herbs and sometimes water scents into an elixir that bursts with energy. It's no surprise that many citrus scents are unisex.
Eva by Eva Longoria is just one in a long line of celebs who are tackling the world of perfume. Eva debuts this month, and it was specially created for women who love scent, but have trouble wearing it. "I have always been somewhat allergic to all perfumes and really wanted to create something that every woman could wear," she says. "So I decided to create my own fragrance that is light, fresh and unique." Eva by Eva Longoria combines citrus, bergamot tea, musk, amber, jasmine and freesia. Pricing and shopping information has yet to be released.
If you can't afford a Birkin Bag or one of their classic scarves Hermes- Voyage d'Hermes is a modern classic fragrance that will definitely fit in with your lifestyle and budget. Spray it and you're hit with a light, but invigorating blast of citrus. It settles down with subtle woody and fresh musk undertones. Hermes in-house perfumer, Jean-Claude Ellena decided to create a fragrance that would make people say, "not...it reminds me, but, it's calling to me." Voyage d'Hermes is a unisex fragrance and comes in refillable Eau de Toilettes - 1.2 fluid ounce, ($90), 3.3 fl. Oz ($125). For now they can be purchased at their online store and later this month you'll be able to pick them up at Hermes stores and at fragrance counters.
On a hot summer's day, you grab an orange and start to peel it. The moment your fingers dig into the peel, you're enveloped with the uplifting scent of the fruit. That's exactly how Atelier Cologne's Orange Sanguine smells. Aside from various oranges- Blood and Bitter, there's exotic jasmine, Tonka bean and sandalwood. It's a bit spicy and a bit sweet. Pick up the a 10 fl.oz bottle ($145) at LuckyScent.com.
You know how your mom always told you that dynamite comes in small packages? Urban Decay's first fragrance in six years- Revolver ($26) may be tiny -it's only 0.14 fl. Oz, but the perfume oil packs a big punch. Blend lychee, pineapple leaf, fig, amber and Egyptian musk and you've got a fruity, sassy scent. It's an online exclusive, so you can only pick up the fragrance oil at UrbanDecay.com.
Floral
Traditional floral fragrances were one note scents-roses, jasmine, or violets. As perfumers got more sophisticated, they started cooking up white floral (made only from flowers with white petals) and soft floral fragrances (classic scents like rose, orchid or jasmine are blended with citrus, sweet or delicate flowers like iris).
Essence by Narciso Rodriguez falls into the soft floral category with its mix of musk, iris powder, rose petals and Benzoin Balm. While the scent is not exactly brand spanking new, there is a limited edition perfume and beauty palette ($84) that is out now. The elegant box contains a .33 fl. oz eau de parfum refillable spray, a 1.6 fl. oz bottle of eau de parfum (with funnel), a violet-scented lip balm, and a blush in a soft tan- apricot shade. It can found only at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide.
After five long years, DKNY has created a new fragrance- PUREDKNY. It's a floral vanilla mix of lotus flower, Bulgarian rose and jasmine layered over freesia and orchid with a bit of amber and sandalwood to give the fragrance depth. The vanilla is sourced from Ugandan women farmers. DKNY has partnered with the humanitarian organization CARE to create Village Savings and Loan Associations that allow women to save money and take out loans to fund health care, education or business ventures, including the women farmers. The fragrance line runs from a 6.7 ounce tube of body butter ($38), to a 1 ounce scent spray ($42), and a 3.4 ounce scent spray ($80). While the fragrance won't hit the stores until later on this summer, you can pick it up now at their site.
When innovative designer Issey Miyake was working on his latest fragrance, A Scent by Issey Miyake, he built the eau de parfum florale on the original eau de toilette by making it richer and deeper with jasmine, hyacinth, and peony. It's a very romantic scent- one whiff and you're transported to a starry night and a lover waiting for you on a terrace. The fragrance comes in two sizes: 1.3 ounces ($65) and a 2.6 ounce bottle ($90). Wander over to Nordstrom try out this luscious fragrance for yourself.
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Rose lovers will rejoice with Kilian's latest fragrance- Rose Oud. It's the second fragrance from his Arabian Nights collection. They use Turkish rose petals, saffron, Guaiac wood, cardamom and patchouli, so the classic rose fragrance is updated. This scent could be considered to be a unisex, as there are hints of leather and wood mixed in. While it's pricey for a 1.7 ounce bottle ($395) at LuckyScent.com, you can buy a 7 militer sample ($5) to test drive it.
How many fragrances are inspired by Princess Grace? Just one- Avon's Eternal Magic. Actress Zoe Saldana is the face of this scent and she says, "The mysterious and romantic tones of the fragrance are captivating. I feel beautiful and confident when I wear it." The purple bottle holds a fragrance that combines sheer violet, Sicilian Bergamot, Princess Monaco Rose, Orris, creamy vanilla warmth, and transparent woods. The fragrance comes in a shower gel, eau de toilette and body lotion ($10 - $24). You can layer the fragrance to make it last day into night, or just use the shower gel or body lotion for a whisper of scent. Pick this up from an Avon representative or at avon.com.
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Woody
Spicy scents have floral notes and contain amber, sandalwood, patchouli and sometimes cinnamon or tobacco. Woody fragrances are sometimes called Chypre. A classic woody fragrance is Guerlain's Samsara.
Nicole Miller says, "… I wanted to break away from the conventional and create a new dynamic. I am not about playing it safe, nor are the women who wear Nicole Miller, so I am introducing a fragrance that is young, fun, surprising and a delight to the senses." Her fourth fragrance- Nicole Miller is a mix of florals, fruits and woods. The opening notes are a mix of cassis sorbet, orange and aldehydes. Soon you'll smell yellow gardenia, ylang ylang, orange flower and violet leaves. As the fragrance settles down, you'll pick up the scent of patchouli, cedarwood, amber and oakmoss. The collection ($35 - $80) contains shower crème, body crème, body lotion and a 1.7 and a 3.4 ounce eau de parfum spray. By layering the shower gel, body lotion and scent, your fragrance will last a very long time. Find the collection at Saksfifthavenue.com.
Bond No. 9 is a boutique perfumer that creates scents that evoke New York City and the surrounding environs. Their newest scent, Bond no. 9 Andy Warhol Montauk is unisex woody fragrance that contains unusual ingredients like bergamot, white laurel, blueberry, hyacinth, lily of the valley, honeysuckle, amber, driftwood, silver maple and red oak. The fragrance comes in your choice of two limited edition Warhol Sunset Series prints ($220). The bottled art comes in a 3.4 ounce bottle of eau de parfum. It will be on fragrance counters and at Bond No.9 around Memorial Day.
Like woody scents, but want something light and breezy? The Body Shop has just launched White Musk Breeze, a new summer-light musk fragrance. It has hints of citrus- lime, lemon and grapefruit for a pick-me-up, mixed wit the romance of roses, ylang ylang, white musk, and a touch of vanilla. The collection ($13- $17.50) runs from the White Musk Breeze Sumptuous Silk shower gel to the White Musk Breeze eau de toilette. You can find it at Body Shops nationwide and at TheBodyShop-usa.com.
Oriental
Lush opulent flowers, orchids and roses are mixed with deep spices like cinnamon, rosewood and incense that create mysterious and intriguing aromas.
"Own the catwalk and take center stage," exults Kimora Lee Simmons. Her latest scent Baby Phat Dare Me, in its pink-tinged bottle is an exuberant blend of coconut, velvety blackberry crème, vanilla orchid meshed with crème de musk and sandalwood. Kimora says, "I wanted to create a fragrance that makes women feel like they can conquer anything their hearts desire. To me, DARE ME, is the absolute essence of girl power. My new fragrance embodies all of these aspects of how I want women to feel and I can't wait to share it with my fans." It is definitely not a fragrance for the shy at heart! Pick up either the small bottle, a .5 oz eau de toilette ($17) or the 1 ounce eau de toilette ($28) at Sears, Kohls or at Babyphat.com.
Nanette Lepore makes scrumptious, flirty clothing, so it makes sense that her fragrances echo her design esthetic. Her new scent Nanette, "is a sensual fragrance built around the legendary femininity of the rose and the mystery of amber," says the designer. The vintage looking bottle, it would look right at home sitting on Ginger Rogers' makeup table, contains a sexy, captivating scent made up of pink pepper, glazed rose petals, violet, muguet, cedarwood atlas, incense and amber. It's very boho chic. Wear it lightly by using the Sensual Body lotion ($48), or combine it with the eau de parfum spray (1 ounce $48, 2 ounces $68) Not sure if you'll love it in the long run? Then pick up the eau de parfum rollerball ($18.50), so you can date the fragrance. The entire collection can be found at neimanmarcus.com and Neiman Marcus stores nationwide.
Looking for romantic and sexy lingerie? Look no further than Josie Natori's delicious creations; you can see them all the time on TV's Gossip Girl! Her new fragrance, Natori, says Joise, "for me, this fragrance is a journey like no other: the essence evolves from the body to the soul of the woman. A sophisticate woman's life flows between fantasy and reality, yet her fragrance balances her heart-becoming the essence of happiness, wholeness and freedom." The fragrance is an unusual and deeply sensual mix of deep plum, ylang ylang, purple peony, night blooming jasmine and black patchouli. You can spice up a room with the scented candle ($75), get seductive by spraying the eau de parfum spray on you and the sheets- (3.4 ounce eau de parfum spray $110, 1.7 oz eau de parfum spray $80). Take the scent with you into the shower with the silk shower gel ($55) and finish it all off with the silk body crème ($75). The entire collection can be found at Bloomingdales and Bloomingdales.com.
Tell us: What's your favorite scent?
PJ Gach is a senior editor at BettyConfidential.
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