BellaSugar

Reader Review of the Day: Aquolina Pink Sugar Eau de Toilette

BellaSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:02:05 -0700

If you like sweet scents, aka gourmand, here's a real treat for you. Reader RacerWife7 loves the sugary sweetness of Aquolina Pink Sugar Eau de Toilette Natural Spray ($55). It's a bit too candy-shop for me, but it's a popular scent that features notes of cotton candy, strawberry, vanilla, and musk.

To me, this smells like cotton candy. Mmm! It's so good. It's a young scent, really - and I'm not all that young. I just like it. And I've been complimented on it when I wear it. If you don't like sweet-smelling perfume, skip it because that's what this is.

Have any sweet scents to share with us? How about any scents at all? We'd love to hear from you on our Product Reviews website. Who knows. You might just be featured here on this daily post.

Six Fragrance Types at a Glance

BellaSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:00:31 -0800

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

Perfumer Mandy Aftel on Food-Based Fragrance Trend

BellaSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:00:11 -0800

Last week, I met renowned natural perfumer, author, and owner of Aftelier Perfumes, Mandy Aftel, in her visually stunning Berkeley, CA studio.

With wood built-ins, glass bottles lining the windows, and apothecary style furnishings, it was a little Frank Lloyd Wright with a pinch of Harry Potter. Topped off with the collective smell of essential oils and perfumes? Yeah, it was pretty much like heaven.

When it comes to industry trends, "Food-based smells are quite popular right now," she says. Oh, gourmand, you say? I sampled her Layering Gourmand Trio ($125), which was complex, inviting, and - well, delicious.

"Natural materials really mix with your body chemistry in a very interesting way, then they kind of fade away," she says. . .They have that soft arc that I think is very sexy." Humina, humina. As for this set? The three pieces can be worn apart or together for maximum sensuality. Find out which aromas are included when you read more.

Cassis: A great Fall fragrance with notes of black currant and rum.
Cocao: A blend of jasmine, blood orange, and cocao from a Costa Rican plantation. Psst - Aftel distills the cocao herself.
Fig: A mix of fir absolute, jasmine sambac, and yuzu, duplicating the aroma of this sweet fruit to a tee. Speaking of "tea," she makes that, too - of the perfumed variety, of course.

Photo courtesy of Mandy Aftel

Definition: Gourmand

BellaSugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:00:38 -0700

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.

Source

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.

Chocolate: The Best Perfume Note?

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Yesterday, I snuck in a packet of delicious milk chocolate raisins after my healthy salad lunch, and afterward, I was awash in sugary sweet happiness (and guilt). But my candy got me thinking about the smell of chocolate which, inevitably, made me think of fragrance. And I realized what a delicious note chocolate is. It's present in lots of the girliest florals, sweet or spicy gourmands, but also in several richer, more mature fragrances. Your favorite fragrance may have a chocolate note that you don't even know about. I've assembled some of the most popular fragrances with chocolate notes-is your signature scent one of them?

Crazylibellule & The Poppies Les Garconnes - Josephine Jonquille - $18.00	Demeter Fragrance Library Reese - $20.00
Bvlgari Fragrance Omnia Eau de Parfum, 2.2oz - $88.00	Ralph lauren notorious eau de parfum spray - $45.00
Miller harris coeur d'ete eau de parfum spray - $140.00	Tokyomilk - Cherry Bomb Parfum 05 - 1oz - $28.00
mark Self Sanctuary Chocolate Orchid Scent Mist - $12.00	Baby Phat Golden Goddess Perfume Collection - $10.00
Missoni Missoni - $50.00	Vera Wang Princess - $25.00
Bvlgari BLV Notte for Women Eau de Parfum, 2.5oz - $82.00	Serendipity 3 - Serendipitous Eau de Parfum - 50ml - $37.50
Trance Essence - Genie in a Bottle Perfume Oil - Roll On - 3.75ml - $46.00	Thierry Mugler Parfums Angel Caprice de Star - $190.00
Fresh Cannabis Rose - $75.00	Candie's® Heartbreaker Perfume Collection - $14.50
Britney Spears Fantasy Perfume Collection - $14.99

What to do When Your Favorite Fragrance Gets Discontinued

BellaSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Recently, a fragrance that I've loved for years, Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Peche, disappeared from Sephora and from store shelves in general. I use a ton of different fragrances, and I fall in love with something new every week, but there was something special about this one; it just smelled like me. I was incredibly bummed and almost panicked. Even Mr. Bella was sad. But then I decided to stop freaking out, pull myself up by my bootstraps, and do what anyone who really loves perfume, and a good challenge, would do: go on a quest for a fragrance that either replicated my original scent or smelled just as good on me. Along the way, I picked up some tips to make the journey a little easier. To find out how you can get back to good, too, just read more

Coming Soon: Thierry Mugler A*Men Pure Malt

BellaSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:00:32 -0700

Not sure I'd want Mr. Bella to show up at home, or the office, smelling like whiskey. But something about a boozy-based fragrance piques my curiosity. Thierry Mugler - the mind behind the honey-vanilla-chocolate gourmand scent Angel - will release A*Men Pure Malt, a limited-edition man's fragrance based on pure malt whiskey extract. Hic.

Much like liquor's aging process, the cologne is aged in oak casks to reveal a peaty, lingering scent when done. Finishing up the sophisticated bouquet are hints of cedarwood, patchouli, and coffee. Coupled with the sweet confection that is his trademark female fragrance, the two of you could smell like dessert and an after-dinner drink. I'd bet this scent will be more complex than a whiff of any old Jim or Jack, but we'll have to wait a few months to find out. (It will be available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdales for $70.) Will you sniff it out?

Beauty Mark It Results: Fragrances Under $25

BellaSugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:00:48 -0800

Cheap perfume - doesn't exactly conjure up pleasant images, now does it? But, there are several on-the-cheap perfumes available that are actually quite low on the funk factor. For last week's Beauty Mark It challenge, I asked you to share your opinions on perfumes under the $25 mark. Thanks to all who submitted their reviews, and here are my three favorites:

Team member Ranksubjugation gave Aquolina Pink Sugar Rollerball ($19) five stars - "Floral perfumes give me headaches for days, but I swoon at the gourmands. This smells like yummy cotton candy, and somehow communicates a sense of warmth, too. Very comforting, sweet, fun, cozy!"
Saucymerlot was a fan of Fresh Sugar Lemon To Go ($24.50) - "The lemon top note is a bit too intense initially, but after a couple hours, it is subtly sweet and citrus-y, though complex. . . You definitely think sugar and sweetness when smelling this, though it actually smells nothing like sugar. I also use in a pinch as a home fragrance. That being said, my boyfriend thinks I smell like lemon dish soap when I wear it."
It was a great "accidental find" for Smashedpotatoe13, who reviewed Lucky You Perfume ($21.89) - "A friend left her sample-sized Lucky You in my makeup bag a while back. . . let's just say I 'forgot' to give it back to her. I like that I can buy it at any Target in case I forget to pack my everyday perfume when I'm going out of town."

Angel the Fragrance Has a (Perfume) Posse

BellaSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:00:06 -0700

Even if you don't think you know Thierry Mugler's famous fragrance, Angel, you would probably recognize it. Launched in 1992, the scent is a perennial best-seller in both France and the United States. It's a honey-vanilla-chocolate confection - after all, it did launch the gourmand genre - and it's definitely a classic.

But every classic needs an update now and then, and Angel's no exception. Naomi Watts, who's fabulous at forty, appears in a new ad campaign to promote a line of new Angel body products. "Bella, you crazy," you might be thinking. "Angel already has body lotions and what-not." Touché. But the new ones have been tweaked, and in a sense, completely redone to make the perfume longer lasting. Having sniffed how well the Perfuming Body Cream ($80) held up through multiple hand washings, I can tell you that the scents do last a long time without fading or mutating. Is it too punny to say that this is heaven for Angel fans?