Fragrance
Cute Valentine's Ideas For Every Budget
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and gift buying can be tricky. To prevent you from having to slog through the morass of chintzy gifts and help you give something that your recipient will really appreciate, I've put together a selection of gifts that range in price from $5.50 to $65. To see what you can give your sweetheart or friends — or yourself, if you happen to be your own valentine — just read on.
What's Your Least Favorite Scent?
I was talking to CasaSugar today and found out that she isn't the biggest fan of vanilla-scented things, which got a bunch of us into a conversation about different common scents we're not so fond of inhaling.
It turns out PartySugar doesn't like incense and I cannot condone that waxy fake chocolate scent (organic and real chocolate notes, though, I love.) It seems like all of us have at least one Achilles' heel when it comes to smells. So now I want to know if there's a common scent you can't stand, and if you have one, what is it?
Bella's February Must Haves
February may be the shortest month, but it's also one of the most romantic and exciting, with Valentine's Day, the gorgeous escapism of Fashion Week, and the first small hints of warmer weather to come. This month's must haves range from the extravagant to great everyday bargains that'll get you in the mood for love and the season ahead. Happy perusing!
Definition: Drydown
This term from the world of perfumery describes the last stage in the evolution of a fragrance. After the top notes have faded (usually 30 minutes to an hour after application), the middle and base notes remain to mingle, forming the body of the scent. After that, it's the drydown, or the endnotes of the fragrance, that stick around on your skin.
Which 2010 Fragrance Trend Appeals to You Most?
From the fashion to food to decorating industries, and just about everything in between, it's all about trend forecasting. And as for the beauty industry, with the start of a new year freshly upon us, Bell's Flavor and Fragrances, a company that helps develop flavors, fragrances, and botanicals for the food, beverage, and cosmetic arenas, has just announced its top 10 fragrance trends for 2010.
If you recall, last year's trends were more along the fragrance category-type, but this year, it's a bit more specific.
Knockoff Perfumes Made With Pee, Might Support Terrorism
The headline basically says it all. Good Morning America did an investigation and found that counterfeit perfumes, which often end up being sold in kiosks, on the street, and sometimes even at the mall, can contain disgusting, dangerous substances like urine, antifreeze, and bacteria. And even worse, the proceeds from them often go to organizations that fund terrorism, drug cartels, and child labor.
DKNY Delicious Candy Apples: Do They Satisfy My Sweet Tooth?
I was a big fan of DKNY Be Delicious when it first came out. Everything about it appealed to me: the adorable packaging, the crisp, sweet, totally recognizable scent, even the pretty, cider-ish color of the juice. So I was pretty excited to see the new Delicious flankers, the Candy Apples ($55).
Will You Pay the Cost of Smelling Divine?
People are incredibly discerning about fragrances, and everybody wants a signature scent, but how much are you willing to pay to get it? We've already covered Clive Christian No. 1 Pure Perfume ($735), the world's most expensive fragrance, which is still selling despite the recession.
What Do You Smell Like? Aromachology Thinks It Knows
The other day, I received a mysterious package in the mail. When I opened it, there was a box marked "Aromachology" inside, and a funny, clever note that totally surprised me. It seems that Aromachology is a perfume line, and they decided to blend up a fragrance to "embody the BellaSugar reader" and then send it on over to us for review.
Paris: The Scents of the City of Light
Paris is an incredible city. It's played muse to most of the great perfumers (not to mention designers, writers, and actors) of the last two centuries, which I think deserves some recognition. In honor of this most magical place, I've put together some of the most fabulous fragrances inspired by the city.
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