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Neroli is the note that makes warm-weather fragrances so intoxicating, and also one of the world's oldest perfumes. (People have been making it out of orange blossoms for thousands of years.) It's in season now, so why not see how it goes from a tree in Tunisia to your atomizer at home? Lush's footage is gorgeous and the process is really cool, so if you always loved those Sesame Street and "How Read more
Neroli is an extremely precious and expensive material. It is a fragrant oil that comes from the orange blossom (also known as the bitter orange flower) and it grows mainly in Morocco, Tunisia, Spain and various other areas of southern Europe. It has a soft, fruity smell that has become increasingly popular in many of today's fragrances. One of the reasons neroli oil is so costly is because Read more
When a product makes you feel good not only because of the skin-enhancing benefits it provides, you know you've hit the so-called beauty jackpot. Such is the case with celebrity makeup artist Lina Hanson's new Global Face Serum ($85). The feel-good part? Several of the ingredients used in the oil blend are harvested by women all over the world to help support their economies. Free of parabens, Read more
Earlier this week the NPR radio show This America Life claimed to have discovered the secret recipe to Coca-Cola. However, yesterday, Coca-Cola made it clear that the original formula is still safe. Every so often, this sort of news story pops up, where someone says they've found the secret recipe to a certain insanely popular dish, like Coke or Kentucky Fried Chicken's spice blend. But what I'm Read more
Lush's Gorilla Perfumes line has been a smashing success since it debuted in the UK, and now it's arrived stateside, with five new scents (plus a relaunch of both Karma and Vanillary) designed to appeal to natural-fragrance fans of all stripes. I sniffed and liked its first Gorilla release, Tuca Tuca, so I decided to give the rest a try, too. To find out what I thought about each of the new Read more
Lisa Hoffman has recently released her new line of fragrances called Variations, and these aren't your average "spray once in the morning" kind of scents. Each of the three types (Clary Sage, Tunisian Neroli and Tuscan Fig) come with four roll-on oil vials that vary in strength to be used at different times throughout the day. The concept stems from the idea that not all fragrances are suitable Read more
I've just learned about a relatively new, natural, and organic fragrance brand called Tsi~La Organics (pronounced chee-la). Founders Annie Morton and Natalie Szapowalo have a background in beauty, an education in natural health sciences and aromatherapy, and a love for fragrances. This foundation is what inspired them to create a line of good-for-you products made from essential oils, botanicals, Read more
I think almost everything from Italy is romantic: the fragrances, the language, the makeup, the men (!), and the skin care. Fresh Italian ingredients such as virgin olive oil, grapefruit, and neroli are often used in beauty products, especially in fragrances. Italians once believed that aside from a wonderful smell, colognes also helped protect you from disease and harm. So it's no wonder that Read more
Trish McEvoy is an amazing makeup artist and perfumer who is on her ninth scent right now, but Trish McEvoy Fragrance #8, $68, is what really makes me swoon. This year old fragrance is nothing new to the beauty world, but it is so deliciously airy and refreshing for Spring that I just had to share it. This fragrance has a very light, citrusy-orange smell to it that is reminiscent of a Read more
