Baxter of California and original Parisian cool-girl boutique Colette have teamed up to give California its very own honorary candle: Cruel Summer ($30). While it's fittingly scented with a green floral accord "inspired by the scent and ambience of California," this definitely sounds a little bit more like So Cal to this Northern California girl. But still, it got me thinking about what other Read more

It's hard enough to remember to put on sunscreen when you leave the house, but now you also need to make sure your sunscreen is safe to use. The Environmental Working Group has just released its 2012 Sunscreen Guide, and in order to make the list, a sunscreen must be free of oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate, not have an SPF above 50, and must be broad spectrum (protects against both UVA and UVB Read more

You've done everything you can to prep your pup for that major life event on the horizon. Now all that's left is to play your role as mediator during the crucial first meeting of your beloved canine child and your newborn. A baby who's just a few days old is unlikely to have any reaction to his new four-legged sibling, but the dog? That's another story. To ensure that the first introduction goes Read more

If you've never been exposed to tasty Thai cuisine, the time to check it out is now. Thai food is known for its spicy, seductive flavors influenced by Chinese traditions, beautifully blended with other cuisines from Southeast Asia including Burmese, Laotian, and Cambodian food. One size does not fit all when speaking about traditional Thai dishes. Vast differences between regions correlate to Read more

A fancy new flame designed to fill your home with the scent of the Gray Lady herself is now available for newspaper lovers and candle aficionados alike. The Times of New York candle ($65) was conceived by artist Tobias Wong as both a tribute to The New York Times and a commentary on the current state of print media. It's a woody but interesting-sounding scent, redolent of cedar, musk, spices, Read more

Forgive us for stating the obvious, but Paul Walker is a good-looking man. This is no surprise to anyone who's seen his blue eyes in films like The Fast and the Furious, and the sight of him running shirtless in the new Davidoff Cool Water ad campaign just drives the point home. But if Walker, 38, is even remotely aware of his sex symbol status, he definitely doesn't let on. While talking with Read more

The majority of you said you were tired of stores pumping perfumes into the air — particularly Abercrombie and Fitch. Now, Teens Turning Green, a student-led group advocating the elimination of harmful substances, isn't going to take it anymore. Today at Abercrombie's flagship location on 5th Avenue in New York, the organization plans to stage a protest, claiming that the combination of Read more

I've always loved the work of specific perfumers, my long-term obsession perhaps being Christopher Brosius, but until recently, the names of perfumers were intentionally obfuscated. Even now, because perfumes are supposed to sell a lifestyle or an idea, all the attention usually goes to a celebrity face or the imagery of an ad campaign. That may be changing, though. High-end and niche brands, Read more

Achieving an orgasm is a hot topic. Women want more, are faking it, and are looking for ways to make it easier and more enjoyable. Can you imagine what it's like to have too many orgasms then, as in 100 to 200 a day? This condition is known as persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) or persistent sexual arousal syndrome (PSAS) and can leave the affected woman in a state of arousal for hours, Read more