Fragrance

I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by saying everyone probably likes flowers, chocolate and/or fragrance as a Valentine’s Day gift. But do they LOVE it? Well, “mind-blowing” might not be the first thing I’d think … more like “predictable, but sweet. I’ll take it.” Leave it to Strange Invisible Perfumes to prove me wrong. Their creative take on the ol’ tried and true is simply eye-popping. (Oh men of our lives, are you reading this?!?)

A team effort with floral designer Holly Flora and San Francisco-based chocolate artisan Cocoa Absolute, SIP’s “ultimate Valentine’s Day delivery” offers four options of drop-dead gorgeous, creative bouquets paired with limited-edition organic, botanical perfumes and a delectable box of hand-crafted chocolates. (Just outside of L.A.? Call and see if they’ll make the trip.)

While pricey ($205–$542), the results are absolutely swoon-worthy. In addition, the flowers can be customized by request (if what you want is available), and since the chocolates are optional, you can always adjust according to your budget.

P.S. If you’re in the neighborhood, drop by SIP’s Venice, Calif., boutique tomorrow (Feb. 5) for a trunk show. There will be champagne, cupcakes, jewelry and plenty of limited edition fragrances to sample before you take the plunge!

Strange Invisible Perfumes is located at 1138 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, Calif. To order a V-Day delivery, call them at 310-314-1505 by February 11, 2011.

I have been craving — yes, craving! — that Anthropologie-esque smell (attributed to Capri Blue Jar Candles) in my apartment. But I was so busy last week, I didn’t get myself over to the store to buy one (and I wasn’t completely sure which candle to get, so I didn’t want to order them online just yet). Luckily, I received samples of luxury candles just in time from lifestyle & home décor expert Baroness Monica von Neumann (wife of the late Austrian Baron John von Neumann), and I really like them!

My favorite in the collection of four soy-based candles (Atlas, Savon, Fete and Modena) is Fete, which combines navel orange, Seychelles Cinnamon, Zanzibar Clove, Norwegian Pine, Indonesian Patchouli and exotic Amberwood to create just the type of sweet yet spicy, tangy scent I wanted. (more…)

Having already been a fan of Tocca’s Aqua Profumata (translation: perfumed water) in the Salina scent, I was very excited to try the Amalfi version. What I love about the Aqua Profumatas in general are the light, subtle fragrances that they emit – so they are never overpowering or overwhelming.

The Amalfi fragrance is composed of light and refreshing notes. The top notes begin with crisp Cucumber and Mint, and then reveal a fruity-floral blend of Apple, Jasmine, Musk, Violet Leaves and Lily of the Valley. The instant I spray it onto my skin, it reminds of balmy summer afternoons and has me dreaming of a sunny vacation on the Italian coast — the perfect antidote to a chilly gray day this winter.

Retails for $38 at Tocca.com.

Every time Gwen Stefani comes out with another set of Harajuku Lovers fragrances, I’m compelled to own them all.  The bottles are adorable and for scents that are so different and unique, I’m constantly surprised by how much I like every single one of them.  The new Wicked Style Harajuku Girls collection has the girls sporting brightly colored hair and wild outfits (well, wilder than normal!) and I think they might be my favorite bottles yet.  (The hairstyles they’re wearing are totally adorable).  Here are the five scents you’ll find in the collection:

• Love – A fruity floral with notes of Nectarine, Orangeflower and Blend of Woods
• Lil’ Angel – A sparkling floral with notes of Succulent Plum, Blooming Lotus and Satin Wood
• Music – A woody floral with notes of Juicy Apple, Jasmine and Swirling Cedarwood
• Baby – A vanilla floral with notes of White Peach, Pink Plumeria and Glowing Amber
• G – A fruity floral with notes of Green Apple, Watermelon and Raspberry

As always seems to be the case, my favorite of the bunch is Lil’ Angel.  No matter what incarnation of the scent I pick, I love it equally as much.  It’s light and energetic and the perfect pick me up on a gray, overcast winter morning.  My second favorite Wicked Style scent is a tough call, but it’s probably G.  Her bright yellow hair is perfect for the zesty, fruity fragrance.  (I mean, how can you not love a scent with Watermelon and Raspberry notes?  It’s impossible!)  If you like vanilla-y fragrances, Baby if the one for you.  It’s sweet and pretty in an innocent sort of way.  (She even has light pink hair!)  If you want to try all the scents without making a commitment yet, I suggest the Wicked Style Mini Rollerball Coffret.  It’s only $15, so the rollerballs are definitely tiny, but you’ll be able to figure out which of the girls you like the most and they’re also super convenient to throw in your bag for a quick fragrance touch-up during the day.  They’re just too cute to resist!

Last year when Thymes retired their cult favorite fragrance Filigree, they had so many customers begging for them to bring it back that they decided to listen to all of the demands and have it make a return appearance.  I hadn’t tried it before, but now that I have, I can see why so many people are hooked on it.

Filigree is a really unique scent – it has notes of rich amber, juniper berry and warm cedarwood, and it layers them with neroli and white willow.  It’s a rich, almost spicy scent – definitely one that seems more fitting for colder weather, which is a nice change for me because I feel like I have a ton of scents that are more summer appropriate and only one or two that I want to reach for exclusively in the winter.  I also like that it’s clean smelling, but with the added punch of the amber and juniper berry.  It’s something that seems like it would be equally as perfect paired with jeans and a sweater as it would be with a dress and heels.  When you order it online, it comes packaged in a pretty white box with silver detail on it, so it would make an easy and elegant hostess gift during the holiday season.

Right now, Filigree is available for pre-order here.  Orders will start to ship in November, but the quantities are limited and it will only be available while supplies last, so if you’re a Filigree fan, don’t wait.  You’ll be kicking yourself when it’s all gone.

Move over Michael Kors… 16-year-old Canadian teen heartthrob Justin Bieber is apparently looking to add beauty mogul to his resume (you know, because pop singer, dancer, actor, hair icon, “Bieber or Die” comedian, and rumored MTV “Punk’d” host apparently wasn’t enough).

The new face of Proactiv, Justin has also joined forces with Etoile Nation Beauty to launch “My World,” a unisex fragrance slated to hit Wal-Mart stores on Black Friday. (The $10 scent, embedded in resin, comes in four different, mix-and-matchable designs of dog tags and wristbands, with top notes of bergamot, lychee, an pomegranate, a heart of cedar glimmers, and a drydown of musk, according to WWD.)

Add a bright, glittery, Bieber-inspired line of Nicole by OPI nail polish aptly titled the “One Less Lonely Girl Collection,” coming out in December and January at Wal-Mart (then Sears, Target, and ULTA), and seriously, what’s next… fashion? (Actually, just wait. That’s coming.)

To get a firsthand look at Bieber mania (OK, fine, I’m guilty), I will be joining a host of giddy beauty bloggers tonight at the Proactiv VIP suite for his L.A. concert at the Staples Center. Stay tuned to Twitter @Proactiv and #ProactivVIPSuite for real-time updates!

I used to buy Illume candles all the time, but for some reason, lately I haven’t purchased any because I’m still trying to get through the backlog of candles currently taking up way too much space in my closet.  The problem is, most of those are what I’d call summer scents, and now that we’re heading into the fall, I want to burn richer scents that make me think of autumn.  That’s where Illume’s new Modern Naturals collection comes in.  There are five different scents in the collection and they’re all perfect to bridge the transition from spending your days in the pool to dragging out the hats, scarves and gloves again.  Here are the five scents:

• Citron Basil – Refreshing citron zest and basil leaf infused with Spanish rosemary, green hyacinth and sheer musk
• Earth Rose – An alluring blend of sensual rose and patchouli topped with midnight jasmine and sparkling mandarin leaf and lavender
• Persimmon & Spice – Persimmon and fresh pumpkin top this spicy blend of nutmeg and clove
• Quince Cypress – Cypress, Siberian fir and eucalyptus are infused with quince, black currant and lime
• White Thyme & Pear – Crisp pear and fresh thyme blended with a hint of soft jasmine and rich vanilla

I tested out the Citron Basil and Quince Cypress scents and loved them both.  Citron Basil is lighter – sort of a citrusy, spicy blend and Quince Cypress is a richer, deeper scent.  I could definitely smell the fir and eucalyptus in it, which I love, but neither was overpowering.  What’s great about these scents is that you can get them in several different sizes, from the Mini Glass Candles, which are $7 and burn for 15 hours, to the Boxed Glass Candles, which are $28 and burn for 65 hours.  They’re even available in Reed Diffusers.  (I’m a huge diffuser fan because I’m always nervous that I’ll forget to blow a candle out before I leave my place, so I feel like diffusers give me peace of mind sometimes).  I’m so ready for the cooler weather to start…

Editors’ Note: Ever wonder what makes it out of the beauty closet and into our personal beauty routines? Despite the numerous samples we’re lucky enough to test, some of us are very selective about what we use everyday while others like to have a bit of fun! Our new feature, “Editor’s Closet,” will highlight a few beauty products a TDO editor is using that month…hope you enjoy and we welcome your feedback! (more…)