BellaSugar

Six Fragrance Types at a Glance

BellaSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:00:31 PST

The big trend right now in fragrance is gourmand, or food-based aromas, according to perfume expert Mandy Aftel. So what does it all mean anyway? Are you a floral kind of gal or does chypre do it for you? In case you're uncertain, check out six of some of the more popular fragrance category definitions below. Then, impress your friends with your olfactory group knowledge about the "juice" - 'cuz you know, that's how it's referred to in the biz.

Chypre: fresh, mossy, and leatherish	Gourmand: sweet and food-inspired	Florals: romantic, feminine, and smooth
Fougère: fresh, floral, and herbaceous	Orientals: sensual, exotic, and spicy	Citrus: crisp, light, and energizing

Definition: Citrus

BellaSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:00:27 PDT

As the name might suggest, the citrus family of fragrances includes such notes as bergamot, lemon, orange, tangerine and grapefruit. Typically, other parts of the orange tree (petit grain, orange blossoms, and/or neroli oil) are added, which lend a slightly exotic feel.

Words used to describe these types of refreshing fragrances are: fresh, light, tangy, crisp, sharp, energizing, and uplifting. Loved by both men and women alike, notes of florals or chypres are often mixed in for complementary effects.

One of the oldest classifications of aromas, the first Eau de Cologne was a spirit-citrus perfume developed by an Italian perfumer in Cologne, Germany in 1709. A classic example of a citrus aroma in modern times is Mugler Cologne ($48 to $68), a unisex fragrance that has notes of bergamot, orange blossom, neroli, petit grain, green sap, and white musk.

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Definition: Orientals

BellaSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:00:08 PDT

When it comes to women's perfume, orientals are one of the more intense, longer lasting fragrance groups. Warm, sensual, exotic, and spicy, orientals are composed of rich notes such as musk, vanilla, balsam, and oakmoss. Floral types (aka, florientals) are naturally softer, while spicier versions can include nutmeg, cinnamon, and/or clove. This type of fragrance doesn't mess around.

A great example of an oriental fragrance is the classic Opium by Yves Saint Laurent ($50 to $95), which has notes of tangerine, plum, cloves, coriander, carnation, lily of the valley, rose, myrrh, cedarwood, and sandalwood. Also try, Guerlain L'Heure Bleue ($68), with notes of rose, iris, jasmine, vanilla, and musk.

Want to learn more about some other fragrance categories? Check them out here.

Definition: Fougère

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:00:11 PDT

Fougère, which means "fern" in French, is a fragrance family including fresh, floral, herbaceous and woody/warm elements, typically blended with notes like: bergamot, oakmoss, lavender, coumarin (tonka bean), sandalwood, and geranium. While a fern doesn't have a distinctive smell per se, this particular fragrance classification implies a mossy green, forest-like aroma.

Pronounced "foozh-air," fragrances from this group take their name from the 1885 scent, Houbigant's Fougère Royale. Although predominately found in men's fragrances, fougères are popular in several women's fragrances, as well.

Classic examples? Davidoff Cool Water ($48 to $65), with notes of Lavender, Rosemary, Mint, Coriander, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Geranium, Sandalwood, Moss, Ambergris, and Musk. Also, Revlon Jean Nate ($16.99), which has notes of lemon, bergamot, lavender, rose, jasmine, muguet, geranium, spices, amber, musk, and patchouli.

Definition: Florals

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:00:34 PDT

While it's not an exact science, fragrances can be separated into various categories, or olfactory groups, if you will. Florals comprise the most popular and largest group of all of the perfume blends. Often carefully mixed with elements of fruity, spicy, or powdery notes, florals are known for their natural smoothness and feminine, romantic qualities.

Florals can be delicately blended together to create a wonderfully balanced bouquet or they can be "soli flora," meaning one floral note is used - the ever popular scent of rose, for instance.

Perhaps one of the most quintessential of the florals is the classic Chanel N°5 (price varies by type), which contains notes of ylang ylang, neroli, and jasmine, among others.

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Definition: Gourmand

BellaSugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:00:38 PDT

If you're a "foodie" like Yum, a gourmand is someone who truly appreciates good food. In Bella's world, however, gourmand is a classification of the fragrance kind.

While often associated with sweeter notes, gourmand fragrances encompass edible, food-flavored aromas, such as coffee, cupcake, whiskey, chocolate, almond, caramel, vanilla, and even cotton candy. Sweet or spicy, gourmand fragrances have gained popularity in recent times, as these types of aromas possess relaxing, nourishing qualities.

An excellent example of a gourmand scent is the pioneering Angel by Thierry Mugler ($25 to $157), which includes such culinary delights as bergamot, honey, dewberry, red berries, vanilla, caramel, and chocolate. Mmm.

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Definition: Chypre

BellaSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:00:58 PDT

Chypre - that's French for cyprus - is a family of fragrances featuring fresh notes (usually citrus) blended with herbaceous, woody-animalic notes like patchouli, oakmoss, and/or labdanum. Woody and warm, chypres often have leatherish characteristics, and are often paired with fruity or floral notes.

Since Coty's 1917 perfume called Chypre was so wildly popular, the term chypre (pronounced "sheepra") became the generic word to describe these rich, aromatic blends.

A great example of a chypre fragrance is Estée Lauder Knowing Eau de Parfum Spray ($28 to $63), which has notes of tuberose, mimosa, plum, jasmine, patchouli, orange flower, oakmoss, vetiver, sandalwood, and amber.

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Hidden Chemicals in These Products May Increase Your Risk of Breast Cancer

Leta Shy — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:50:11 PST

When buying products, reading labels may be one of the best ways to figure out if something contains chemicals that you'd rather not be exposed to. But a study released today found chemicals that may increase your risk of developing cancer or disrupt reproduction in many products, and many of those chemicals weren't listed on product labels.

The study, partly funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, tested 213 commercial products in 50 different categories. The study included many popular consumer products, including "alternative" products marketed as being safer and more eco-friendly.

The results were worrying; the study found that the products contained high levels of chemicals that have been linked to higher breast cancer risk, reproduction and growth problems, and asthma - even in those alternative products thought to be safer - including BPA, parabens, glycol ether, triclosan, and synthetic fragrances. And since many of these chemicals weren't listed on their labels, it can be hard for people to tell how much of a possibly unsafe chemical is in their favorite brands.

Want to know which types of products to try to avoid? Read on for the list.

Kate Walsh on Bond Girls, Polo, and Eating Perfume

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 06:04:58 PST

Private Practice star Kate Walsh is also a perfume impresario, and she just came out with her second scent, Billionaire Boyfriend. We recently talked to Kate about what it's really like to design a celebrity fragrance, what scents she associates with actual boyfriends, and whether she has any intention of following in Justin Bieber's footsteps. Check out the world premiere of her newest commercial above (there's an octopus and a mermaid, so you know it's good), and find out more about Kate's Boyfriend experience below when you read more.

Louis Vuitton Expected to Launch New Perfume

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:40:00 PDT

Iconic (and often knocked-off) leather goods brand Louis Vuitton has hired perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud to come up with its first scent in decades, and now the beauty world is abuzz with speculation about what kind of scent Vuitton will come out with. Cavallier-Belletrud is a third-generation scentmaker from Grasse, France, (perhaps the world's most famed perfume region), and he's the nose behind lots of designer fragrances, including perfumes as diverse as Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey, Jean Paul Gaultier Classique, Stella McCartney Stella, and Christian Dior Midnight Poison.

Given Cavallier-Belletrud's varied roster, it might be best to look at Vuitton's head designer, Marc Jacobs, to discern what genre the perfume is likely to fit into. Luckily, Marc already has several fragrances of his own, which tend to skew into the light floral category. Grasse perfumers are also known for their florals (and they're the dominant scent varietal in the current market), so perhaps we'll be looking at something fancy and flowery.

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