BellaSugar

How Well Do You Know Your Famous Fragrance Notes?

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:00:17 -0700

Fragrance notes are a complex and surprising thing. If a fragrance isn't very linear, the accord you get can be totally different than the sum total of its parts, and perfumers are often given to lavish, overstated descriptions of their ingredients. (How does Indonesian vanilla smell different from Tahitian vanilla if they're the same plant species, exactly?) I've gathered up five super-popular perfumes you've almost certainly smelled (or owned) at some point. Can you guess the notes, or are they as elusive as a whiff of fragrance? Take my quiz and see what your favorite scents are really made of.

Question 1 of 5

Chanel No. 5

Beauty Mark It! Because You Cannes, Cannes, Cannes

BellaSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:00:35 -0700

The 61st annual Cannes Film Festival begins today, and you know what that means: international celebrities donning their haute couture and going glamorous with their hair and makeup. If you don't believe me, just check out how stunning Angelina Jolie was last year. In honor of the most prestigious of all film festivals, I'm challenging you to bookmark beauty items that you'd rock on the red carpet.

I'll start you off with the classic fragrance Chanel N°5, because it's oh so French, and it's been represented by such Cannes staples as Catherine Deneuve, Nicole Kidman, and Audrey Tautou. That's my choice. What's yours?

Share your choices by bookmarking items from around the web and tagging them with the phrase Cannes beauty. I'll feature your favorites here next Tuesday.

To learn about Beauty Mark It challenges and how to add your picks, check out this how-to. To see some of my favorite online beauty stores, read more.

Saks Beauty Place
Sephora
Saffron Rouge
Drugstore.com
Fred Segal Beauty
Folica
Amazon.com Beauty
Strawberrynet.com
Nordstrom
Bergdorf Goodman
Beauty.com

Chanel N°5 Is Reborn With Eau Première

BellaSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 08:00:00 -0700

Finally! Chanel N°5 Eau Première is gearing up to make its US, er, premiere! Since Chanel has vowed never to change the original formulas of its fragrances, this is the first variation of the acclaimed Chanel N°5 perfume (which launched in 1921). The new formulation is full of similar notes such as neroli, vetiver lang ylang, rose, jasmine, amber and sandalwood. The difference lies in the modification of concentrations to bring you a lighter and more refreshing rendition of N°5 by Jacques Polge.

What makes this perfume so special is that it still maintains the wonderful qualities of N°5 since it uses the same ingredients, but it ends with a more subtle scent, as if it were an Eau de Toilette. This modern incarnation is a treat to your senses and I can only hope this means more reinventions for Chanel essences.

Chanel N°5 Eau Première was supposed to be launched this month, but it seems the release has been postponed until an indefinite date in '08. So keep your eyes open for the five ounce bottle ($125) in coming months. I think I’m going to set up a little compare and contrast “smell test” to see if I can distinguish between the original N°5 and N°5 Eau Première, so stay tuned for my review!

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I Smell Dead People

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:41 -0800

If you want to smell like Marilyn Monroe, it's well-known that she was a Chanel No. 5 devotee. But what if you just want to smell like her genetic code? Well, now there's a fragrance out there to help you do it. A company in LA has come out with a line of perfumes called Antiquity that it says are supposed to smell like various deceased stars' DNA.

I, personally, was unaware that my DNA smelled any way. But the company says that it's got a "secret process" using hair strands collected from people like Marilyn, Einstein, Elvis, and a ton of others that it uses to make these scents. Which still doesn't at all explain how you could make a fragrance based on genes. What do you think about this? Does the vagueness, secrecy, and appeal to "science" make it sound like a crock, or do you think there's something to this idea?

Tour of Beauty: Chanel's Jasmine Fields in Grasse, France

BellaSugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:00:34 -0700

Long before a blast of perfume reaches your skin, the fragrance-creation process begins with a flower. For Chanel N°5, those flowers are May rose and jasmine - and twice a year, those flowers are harvested in Grasse, France. Last month, Chanel invited me to view the jasmine harvest. Combined with last year's perfumery visit, it's safe to say that I've gained a new appreciation for how many steps are involved in creating the world's best-selling fragrance. Read on to see some beautiful scenes from the south of France, to learn about what happens in the fields, and to watch the first steps of the fragrance come together.

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Beauty Byte: Audrey Tautou to Be No. 5 Alive?

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:00:17 -0700

Magnifique! WWD reports that French actress Audrey Tautou is rumored to be the next face of Chanel No. 5 perfume. If it's true - and considering WWD's insider reports are almost always right, it probably is - then Audrey will follow icons such as Nicole Kidman and Catherine Deneuve in representing the scent.

Truthfully, I'm surprised that Chanel hasn't signed her before. Audrey Tautou's gamine charm is unmatched, and she's playing Coco Chanel in an upcoming biopic. (She also seems a little more approachable than current spokesmodel Nicole Kidman, but that's just my opinion.) Seems like a perfect fit to me.

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Link Time!

BellaSugar — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 07:01:31 -0700

Chanel's Jade nail polish is bound to sell out - Stylelist
Ted Gibson knocks $5 off his shampoo for you - Daily Makeover
Carol Shaw of LORAC gives brow-perfecting tips - Beauty and the Blog
How to wear liquid highlighter - Makeup and Beauty Blog
The Mandarin Oriental spa is luxe to the max - Beauty Snob
Daphne Guinness teams up with Comme des Garçons for a scent - The Moment
Shu Uemura goes manga-style for its new oils - The Cut

Can You Match the Celebrity to the Beauty Quote?

BellaSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:00:29 -0700

Are you someone who's always on top of what celebrities are saying or doing? Or perhaps you have a detective-like knack for making accurate guesses based on context.

Maybe you know which actress prefers a man that loves Chanel No. 5 just as much as she does? Or maybe you can figure out who has an affinity for a certain sweet-smelling rapper? Let's see if you can sleuth your way through this quiz to find out.

Take the quiz

Audrey Tautou Hops the Night Train With Chanel

BellaSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:00:33 -0700

As the best-selling perfume in the world, Chanel N°5 is a true classic. And in a bit of French serendipity, the new face of the fragrance, Audrey Tautou, stars in the forthcoming film Coco Avant Chanel. While the film hasn't opened, here's a taste of Audrey and Chanel together. Train De Nuit is an extended commercial directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who directed the actress in her famous role as Amélie Poulain. In it, Audrey and a dreamy stranger take the night train to Istanbul (not Constantinople), where romance is in the air. Check out the spot - it's more like a beautiful short film than a promo-heavy commercial - and flip through this collection of storyboard sketches for a fun look into the filmmaker's creative process.

View Slideshow ›

Link Time!

BellaSugar — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:00:00 -0700

Interview with Drew's makeup artist from Grey Gardens – Beauty Snob
Nude is not nude for every skin tone – Afrobella
First look at Audrey Tautou on set for Chanel N°5 – FabSugar UK
OMG, is Claire's going under? – The Cut
How would you say no to sugar to save your skin? – Lucky
2009 Healthy Beauty Award winners – Self
Learn DIY milkmaid braids – Style.com
Quick tips for bad day beauty routines – Makeup and Beauty Blog
Chantecaille's La Baleine draws attention to endangered marine life – The Moment

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