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Take Our Fun-Filled Valentine's Day Fragrance Survey!

Jaime Richards — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:11:45 PST

Valentine's Day and perfume go hand in hand, but one person's prized potion collection is another person's splitting headache. Since perfume is so subjective, we'd like to hear what you have to say about it. Take our Valentine's Day-inspired survey now, and tell us all about what your nose knows.

Sex and the City Perfume Fakes Flood the Market

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:06:59 PST

Sex and the City isn't just popular with video bootleggers: according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's list of top seizures, it's also the most popular counterfeit perfume, WWD reports. Out of 138 commercial perfume shipments Customs intercepted for counterfeit scents, 52 contained fake SATC fragrances. And in total, the agency seized more than a million bogus bottles of the stuff last year.

Fake perfumes aren't just a problem for the company that makes them legally, either. "In addition to the economic harm," Customs said in its statement, "counterfeit perfumes are also often contaminated with unknown chemicals that can cause serious injury." There's no regulation on this stuff, and tests have found some truly heinous ingredients, from urine to known carcinogens. So when it comes to perfume, you're almost always better off biting the bullet and paying full price at the department store. Carrie wouldn't tolerate a knockoff, and neither should you.

10 Sexy Perfumes Perfect For Valentine's Day

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:46:14 PST

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and nothing puts one in the mood for love like an alluring fragrance. Sexy doesn't smell exactly alike to everyone, though; if it did, we'd all be spritzing on Chanel No. 5 day and night. This Valentine's, get caught out wearing a scent that's just the right balance of flirty and carnal for you, whether you have a massive sweet tooth, love Anthropologie, or just hate perfume altogether.

Foolproof Valentine: The Ring and Perfume Gift Set

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:05:00 PST

This Valentine's Day, two Brooklyn brands have teamed up to create one brilliant little present. MCMC Fragrances and Odette New York are a perfume and jewelry brand, respectively, which share a studio space in Greenpoint. And this year, they happened upon a simple but rather canny idea: why not combine their products for the ultimate Valentine's bundle? The result is this cute perfume oil and ring set ($99). It has MCMC's sexy citrus and magnolia fragrance, Love, and an adorable Cupid's arrow brass ring made by Odette. It should appeal to a wide range of giftees: fragrance lovers, jewelry hounds, fans of niche and artisanal brands, etc. So if you're still shopping around, giving this gift a look; it might just be your saving grace.

Let Your Favorite Dessert Help You Find a Perfume

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:00:42 PST

Your senses of taste and smell are inextricably linked. In fact, most of what you believe you're "tasting" actually comes from your nose. Your tongue can only taste five flavors (sweet, sour, salty, savory, and bitter), so it's up to your nose to determine whether you're eating a cream puff or peach preserves, for example. Your nose, not your tongue, really determines your favorite foods, so why not use your flavor knowledge to find a perfume you'll love, too? Find out what your favorite dessert might say about your scent preferences.

Source: Flickr User Louis Beche

This Is What Happens When Iggy Pop Invades a Perfume Ad

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:33:49 PST

Perfume commercials are always trying to be provocative and sexy to attract consumers, but the new ads for Paco Rabane Black XS seem to be reaching out in a very different way: specifically, to glam rock fans in the early punk era. What else could possibly explain this frenetic new ad, which has everything a young David Bowie could want: Iggy Pop sensuously wrapping himself in an American flag, models licking a Damien Hirst-y jewel-encrusted skull, a couple writhing in money like a pair of proto-punk Scrooge McDucks, etc. It's as if someone turned Velvet Goldmine into a perfume.

As big fans of Mr. Stardust and his spiders from Mars, the campy elements of the ad are pretty appealing to us. But given the otherwise small overlap between perfumistas and '70s-rock aficionados, this spot seems pretty niche indeed. Still, it's always nice to see Iggy, and maybe now, with a perfume campaign under his belt, he can finally fulfill his beauty destiny by starting a hair care line.

What's Your Sign, Beautiful? Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Jaime Richards — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:15:00 PST

If popularity contests existed in the literal sense, Aquarians would probably be the winners. Often thought of as cool and somewhat eccentric, Aquarians love to surround themselves with family and friends. Those born under Aquarius, the 11th sign of the zodiac, are typically inventive, original, and want to make the world a better place. This free-spirited bunch is also known for wearing effortless, boho styles. Famous Aquarians include Brandy, Kelly Rowland, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Christina Ricci, Mischa Barton, and Denise Richards.

To bring out your inner Aquarian beauty: Accentuate your sparkling eyes with a pretty blue or violet shadow, toss your hair back into a carefree ponytail, and spritz yourself with fragrances that are citrus-based, crisp, and airy. Think: eucalyptus, bergamot, blue florals, and purple florals, like lavender. To find out more about the Aquarian-centric products featured above, just keep reading.

Pretty, Purse-Perfect Solid Perfumes

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:00:13 PST

Solid perfume has been popular since at least ancient Egyptian times, and for good reason. It's eminently portable, won't leak, and the base makes for soft, skin-flattering scents that don't give bystanders a headache. Solid scents get a bad rap as literal one-note affairs, but the five following fragrances are as beautiful as the tins they come in. To see which scent you should be carrying around in your purse, learn more below.

Minitrend to Watch: Macarons

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:01:00 PST

Macarons are the delightful little French cookies that took American patisseries by storm a few years back, and now it appears they're making a go with beauty brands as well. Parisian macaron masters Ladurée are coming out with their own makeup line in Japan, and over the past few months we've seen the debut of several products inspired by the sweet treats. Mor launched a macaron-themed lip balm ($10), Chantecaille introduced a macaron palette ($68), and Kate Spade's new fragrance, Twirl ($65), includes a macaron note. Now, even Etsy shops are getting in on the confection craze, with sweet offerings like these raspberry macaron bobby pins ($5). Bon appétit, beauty fans!

Yes, There's a Right (and Wrong) Way to Apply Perfume

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:10:45 PST

Fragrance is highly personal, and generally, as long as it smells good to you, there's no real "right" or "wrong." However, if you want to get the full experience of your favorite perfume and have it wear as beautifully as possible, there actually is an optimal way to put it on. To find out how, see our tips below.