BellaSugar

You Know You Want to Design This Fragrance Bottle. . .

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:00:22 -0800

Perfumer Bond No. 9 makes fragrances that capture the essence of New York's distinct neighborhoods. And last month, this Big Apple-loving company announced that its latest fragrance, Brooklyn, would be encased in a glass bottle with graffiti-style, "street" artwork. They received many strong opinions on what the bottle could look like, so they took it to heart, deciding to offer more options by means of a fun, oh-so-artsy, contest.

Two winners will be chosen in the "Brooklyn Bottle Design Competition," and not only will their designs go into production, but their names will be displayed on the bottles, and each winner will receive one bottle of Brooklyn per month for a full year. Not too shabby. See the rules when you read more

Create the design to fit within the outline of the Bond No. 9 superstar flacon and to include the circular “token” logo, downloadable on the Bond No. 9 website.
Any style, whether abstract or figurative, will do.
Inspiration should come from any concept or anywhere in Brooklyn.
Any medium is fine, whether watercolor, acrylic, makeup, ballpoint pen, etc.
The contest goes throughout the month of March. Finished designs should be submitted by March 31, 2009 to: contactus@bondno9.com or Bond No. 9, 9 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012. Have fun, and good luck!

Beauty Byte: Bond No. 9 Founder Talks Coney Island

BellaSugar — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 16:17:32 -0700

I love Bond No. 9 perfumes, and I'm particularly smitten with the brand's festive new Summer scent, Coney Island. Like all of Bond No. 9's perfumes, this one pays tribute to a very New York place. So I was intrigued to read this New York Times story where Bond founder Laurice Rahme talks about creating the Coney Island scent.

According to the article, Rahme decided on the latest New York-themed fragrance after numerous customer requests:

“People are coming in here,” said Ms. Rahme, a former Lancôme executive, gesturing around her flagship boutique on Bond Street, in NoHo. “They are saying, ‘When are you going to do Brooklyn, Brooklyn, Brooklyn?’”

She pondered the neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights and Williamsburg, and its hotspots like the River Cafe and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, but settled on Coney Island as her first olfactory excursion into the borough.

It's really a fun read if you're interested in how a perfume is developed. Rahme takes us through the scents she decided to evoke, such as margaritas, and the ones she avoided, like hot dogs.

Fragrance Review: Is Bond No. 9 Right on the Money?

BellaSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:00:00 -0700

I like perfume and I certainly like money, so I when I heard about a fragrance inspired by cash, I was intrigued by the concept. Add a little Andy Warhol in the mix, and it's all the more intriguing. Next month, Bond No. 9, known for its all-things-New York approach, well-thought-out blends, and colorful, artistic bottles, will release the unisex eau de parfum: Andy Warhol Success Is a Job in New York ($145 to $220).

Possibly one of the longest labels on a perfume ever, the fragrance gets its name from a Glamour article from the 1950s in which Warhol illustrated. The bottle showcases the artist's iconic dollar sign, with drippy paint and sketchy borders, creating an ambiguous line between art and money. As for the juice itself, it's of the gourmand classification with a warm spiciness. While there's not one particular note that sticks out, the top notes of coriander, cardamom, mandarin, bergamot provide a bit of an edge; middle notes of jasmine, rose, plum, and pimento lend some soft tones that aren't at all wimpy; and bottom notes of vanilla, patchouli, and amber deliver a heady, powdery finish. To see what I thought about the parfum, keep reading.

Super Scents That Smell Like Suntan Lotion

BellaSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:01:53 -0700

I have long had an affinity for the tropical, fruity, coconut smells of Coppertone Sunscreen Lotion ($8.50) and Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Oil ($7.60). As much as I'd love to slather those items all over my body, I'm thinking it might not be so practical for everyday non-beach usage.

So, I've done a little research, gathering together some fragrances that have similarities to these classic aromas, which often feature notes of vanilla, coconut, amber, tropical flowers, and citrus (particularly orange). With the official start of Summer coming up in just under two weeks, I can't think of a better way to kick it all off. Life’s a beach, after all.

Get the list version to print out when you read more.

Ensoleille Moi Eau de Toilette ($84)
Miranda by Fragonard ($55 to $75)
L'Aromarine Coco Perfume Extract ($9.50)
Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Coco Eau De Toilette Natural Spray ($53)
Jil Sander Sun ($49)
Songes by Annick Goutal ($80 to $115)
Ebba Miss Marisa Tropical Perfume Oil ($62)
Jean Patou Chaldee ($72)
Hermes Eau de Merveilles ($34 to $49)
Bobbi Brown Beach ($55)
Bond No. 9 Fire Island ($140)
I Hate Perfume at the Beach 1966 ($13 to $65)
Monyette Paris Eau de Parfum Spray ($70)
Demeter Fragrance Library Suntan Lotion ($6 to $39.50)
Guerlain Mahora ($32)
Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche Skinscent ($49.50)
Island Michael Kors Hawaii ($65)
Avon Tahitian Holiday Eau de Toilette Spray ($15)
Jean Paul Gaultier Classique ($58)
Robert Piguet Fracas Perfume ($75 to $110)

Source

Perfumer Bond No. 9 Captures Essence of Brooklyn

BellaSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 07:00:35 -0800

It's no secret that Brooklyn has become the hip place to be over the past few years, and swanky New York perfume house Bond No. 9 is about to deliver once again with a new scent called - what else? - Brooklyn.

Set for a March debut, the unisex blend was designed to capture the essence of the artistic, ever-changing, and edgy vibe of this city-within-a-city. With top notes of cardamom and grapefruit; middle notes of cypress-wood, geranium leaves, and juniper berries; and bottom notes of cedarwood, guaiacwood, and leather, Brooklyn ($145 to $220) is sexy, spicy, and tender. Or as they like to say in the fragrance biz, it's a woody, spicy-filled oriental.

As for the distinctively-shaped bottle, Bond No. 9's Brooklyn is street art all the way with graffit-esque writing in bold eye-catching hues. Look for the new scent at one of Bond No. 9's four New York City boutiques and Saks Fifth Avenue - but alas, it won't be found in Kings County itself.

Bond No. 9: Bryant Park Reeks of Fashion

BellaSugar — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 04:21:22 -0800

Starting today is Fall 2007 Ready-to-Wear New York Fashion Week! The world famous Bryant Park tents will be premiering clothing, accessories and the newest fashion forward fragrance called, Bond No. 9 Bryant Park, $185. This Pucci and late 50s inspired Mod bottle smells just as pretty as it looks.

Created by perfumer Michel Almairac, Bond No. 9's Bryant Park is made of: lily of the valley, rhubarb, pink pepper, patchouli, rose, raspberry and amber. It is hip, distinct, and very wearable. I love that it's not too floral and fruity like other fragrances, it's quite tangy and fun.

For those of you who unfamiliar with Bryant Park, let me paint a little picture of this small oasis smack in the middle of midtown for you.

On 41st Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, lies a tree lined, lush green park amidst high rise buildings, the New York Public Library and the bustle of the garment district. There is a carousel, beautifully manicured flower beds, and WiFi set up for all of those who care to play online while playing outside. It has housed NY Fashion Week for 14 years and is now also the name of Bond No.9's 28th fragrance.

The scent will officially be launching in Bond boutiques, Saks, and the Bond No. 9 website on March 1st and will be available in two Eau de Parfum sizes; 50 ml for $125 or 100 ml for $185.

Beauty Byte: Saks Getting Its Own Scent

BellaSugar — Thu, 17 May 2007 15:42:31 -0700

Here's some more cool news from the New York-centric perfume brand Bond No. 9. Today Fashion Week Daily is reporting that Bond is partnering with Saks to create two fragrances especially for the retailer.

Called Saks Fifth Avenue for Her and Saks Fifth Avenue for Him, the fragrances mark the first time a specialty store like Saks has commissioned a perfumer to create its house blend. As for what they will smell like, FWD writes:

Saks Fifth Avenue for Her signals the return of the classic gardenia eau de parfum, given a chic contemporary twist with the addition of sparkling jasmine and vetiver, along with smooth vanilla. Saks Fifth Avenue for Him is an elegant aqua scent, containing an initial dash of Sicilian bergamot for coolness, followed by cardamom, amber, and cedarwood for warmth. Together, they are intended to capture the fashion-forward essence of 21st-century Saks, while at the same time expressing the eclectic downtown spirit of NoHo-based Bond No. 9.

The scents, which will be branded with both the Bond No. 9 and Saks logos, go on sale at Saks starting Sept. 1. A 1.7-ounce bottle will sell for $125, and a 3.4-ounce bottle will cost $185.

New Product Alert: Bodies By Bond

BellaSugar — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 11:00:05 -0700

The decadent perfume company Bond No. 9 has just released a new range of body lotions called Bodies by Bond. This lotion is for the real player who's serious about her pampering! Not only does it smell divine on its own, but you can layer it with your favorite Bond fragrance to create a lingering, longer-lasting scent.

Bodies by Bond is available in a 6.8-ounce jar in seven of the company's most popular scents: Eau de New York, Nuits de Noho, Chelsea Flowers, West Side, Bryant Park, Chinatown and The Scent of Peace.

This cream really goes above and beyond its call of duty. It's silky, soft and of course, the famous fragrances are divine. I don't know about you, but I've never spent $105 on a body cream. However, if I were to win the lottery tomorrow, this would be high on my shopping list. It's a total dream cream!

The Smell of DNA

BellaSugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:00:05 -0800

The uber-luxe Bond No. 9 New York perfume house has introduced yet another fragrance just in the nick of time for the holidays called DNA. I have a feeling this is a fragrance that all of you gardenia fiends are going to love (minus the strange name choice)!

DNA is a warm and uplifting scent made from tuberose, gardenia, jasmine vetiver and vanilla. It is housed in Bond No. 9's signature bottle with a chic and modern black and white design.

The fragrance was created exclusively for Saks, where it's available in a 3.3 ounce eau de parfum spray for $185, in an incredible 3.3 ounce 2,225 Swarovski crystal studded bottle for $550 and in a 3.3 oz version for guys called DNA For Him ($185). If you happen to be doing any of your holiday shopping in Saks, please take a whiff and report back!

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SavvySugar Shows You How to Look Like a Million Bucks

BellaSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:00:01 -0700

Even though we write about disparate topics, Savvy and I always find ourselves chatting about career and money issues. One of these days, I'm going to reveal the depth of my crush on economist Paul Krugman, and then we'll be BFFs. Fortunately, Savvy was kind enough to reveal her beauty and grooming secrets, and she's quite generous with her advice. Read on.

Which beauty products are your must-haves?
Kanebo Sensai Silk Emulsion, bare minerals foundation, and Kiehl’s lip gloss.

What’s your favorite beauty ritual?
I generally don’t ‘do’ my hair during the week and just let it dry on its own. But I love taking the time on my hair on Friday or Saturday night. A little mousse, a long blow-dry, and we’re talking volume that I absolutely love! It gets me excited to go out and celebrate the weekend.

To find out where Savvy splurges and saves, read more.

What’s your go-to lip product?
It’s Kiehl’s lip gloss in Berry 1851. It’s not sticky at all, which is my glossy pet peeve - hair stuck on lips is not cute or comfortable! And the color is subtle but rich.

What is your morning beauty routine?
I start most days before 5am, so it’s definitely low-key. I call it my five-minute face, and it’s enough to make me appear more awake but it’s a totally natural look.

What’s your signature fragrance?
Bryant Park by Bond no. 9. My sister gave it to me as a gift for being her Maid of Honor, and she was spot on with her choice for me. You may even catch me sniffing my own wrist!

What’s the best beauty advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t forget about your cheekbones. Some foundation can really drown them out, and just a pop of blush makes a world of difference.

And the worst advice?
The more bronze, the better!

Any tips or tricks you want to share with readers?
Beauty-wise, I spend the most money on my eyebrows. I have a professional pluck them for me, because having perfectly-shaped brows for my face makes a big difference. I had to grow them out before I started going to get them done but those shaggy weeks were well worth it.

Your favorite drugstore beauty product?
Does Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner count? I usually don’t buy drugstore makeup, simply because I use so little makeup that it lasts forever.

When do you feel the most beautiful?
After a hard workout. I love the natural flush it gives me and the endorphins released give my mood a huge boost.