Fragrance

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…)

I’ve said many, many times on this site that I don’t like floral scents, so I was just as surprised as anyone when I picked up a bottle of STELLANUDE at Sephora, gave it a spritz, and fell instantly in love.  (Especially because I bought the original Stella years ago and ended up giving it away because it just didn’t suit me).  But STELLANUDE is totally me.  It does have floral notes in it, but I think the fact that it also has other contrasting notes is what makes it so different.

Here’s a list of all the notes it contains:  Moroccan Rose, Grapefruit, White Peony, Pink Pepper, Precious Vanilla, Grey Amber, and Musk.  I usually like scents with grapefruit, vanilla, or musk, so maybe those are the difference makers in this scent.  I’m not sure, but I do know that I haven’t stopped wearing it since I got it.  It’s really light and delicate – almost a mix between a floral and the fresh scents that I usually wear and it’s not overpowering, which is one my main problems with some florals.  It makes me feel very girly when I wear it too – like I want to put on a dress and my favorite heels and go out to a nice dinner.  Interestingly enough, the scent is also available in a Linen Scented Mist to spray on your sheets, which sounds delightful.  I must pursue owning it immediately…

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Ask anyone who knows me what my all time favorite fragrance brand is and they’ll immediately tell you that it’s CLEAN.  (Even my mom, who I’m pretty sure tunes me out on the phone at this point when I go on and on about a product I’m obsessed with, knows it.) When I found out that they were coming out with two new scents for the summer, I couldn’t ask for samples fast enough. (more…)

Now that the season is changing for the warmer, I finally got a chance to try a new addition to the Acqua di Parma Blu Meditteraneo fragrance line: Bergamotto di Calabria. The Blu Meditteraneo line aims at capturing the sparkling beauty of the Italian Mediterranean, and Bergamotto really does so perfectly! It’s a citrus blend inspired by the bergamot fruit that grows in the lands around the Mediterranean.

Acqua di Parma sent me small samples to try a few weeks ago, but I held off as the weather here was way too wintry. I finally got a chance to wear the scent while I was out in sunny California and totally fell in love. Bergamotto di Calabria is really fresh and vivacious at first with the bergamot notes, and then softens a bit with floral aspects. The dry down is warm and rich. I don’t usually go for citrus scents, but this one is just so vibrant. Keep reading for the note breakdown and be sure to check it out for yourself! (more…)

We adore the candle line, Paddywax, created by Gretchen Hollingsworth. What started out as a whim, it is now a 14 year old company with many fans (like us!). Paddywax is probably best known for their gorgeously scented and imaginative candles with elegant packaging – together, making the product irresitable! Gretchen clearly has a “nose” for beautiful things, so let’s find out what she’s obsessing about this month! (more…)