BellaSugar

20 Fan-Made Twilight Beauty Items You've Got to See to Believe

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:04 -0800

Sure, there's already an official Twilight makeup collection. But when it comes to Twilight-inspired creativity, there's nothing like fan-created handmade beauty goods. I've used my werewolf-like powers to sniff out 20 of the cutest, wildest, - and in one case, X-rated - soaps, candles, and perfumes inspired by the saga of Bella and Edward. Whether you're a huge fan or you're so over the vamp craze, there's something here to make you crack a smile. Trust.

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I Smell Dead People

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:41 -0800

If you want to smell like Marilyn Monroe, it's well-known that she was a Chanel No. 5 devotee. But what if you just want to smell like her genetic code? Well, now there's a fragrance out there to help you do it. A company in LA has come out with a line of perfumes called Antiquity that it says are supposed to smell like various deceased stars' DNA.

I, personally, was unaware that my DNA smelled any way. But the company says that it's got a "secret process" using hair strands collected from people like Marilyn, Einstein, Elvis, and a ton of others that it uses to make these scents. Which still doesn't at all explain how you could make a fragrance based on genes. What do you think about this? Does the vagueness, secrecy, and appeal to "science" make it sound like a crock, or do you think there's something to this idea?

Reformulation Station: Why Your Favorite Perfume Smells Different

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:00:18 -0800

Have you ever loved a scent, forgotten about it, then come back a few years later only to find that you aren't at all fond of it anymore? Recently, I was reading about the new version of YSL Opium, and it made me think about the prevalence of scent retooling. Most fragrances that stay out for more than a couple of years will be reformulated as a way to freshen the scent and attract a new audience, with new notes and sometimes an entirely different scent. Fragrance companies, however, don't usually make that clear when they relaunch a product. And while reformulation can sometimes mean the addition of cruelty-free ingredients or a subtle update to suit the tastes of a new generation, it can also spell disaster for the fragrance's original fans. Have you ever had something like this happen with a fragrance you love? And did you use the new version, or have to find a different scent?

Fragrance Review: Jil by Jil Sander

BellaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:00:11 -0800

You might know Jil Sander as a German designer with a minimalistic style, and that's exactly the kind aesthetic you'll get with her new fragrance, Jil ($58-$70), a floral amber that just launched last week. The scent, which has powdery characteristics, contains top notes of pink pepper and tangerine for a bit of brightness, with lavender mellowing it out. At the heart is where you get most of the action, with lily of the valley bringing a hint of sweetness, orris lending an earthiness, and heliotrope providing a musky quality. To round it off, musk, vanilla, and ambergris make for a slightly exotic, sensual finish. To find out what I thought about the fragrance, just keep reading.

Smell the Rainbow: Fragrances Across the Spectrum

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:01:51 -0800

Skittles and Lucky Charms must have too much influence on me, because whenever I see a rainbow, I just want to eat it like hard candy. Mmmmm, rainbow Jolly Rancher. But besides my pop cultural conditioning, I think that a rainbow's appeal lies in its very immateriality - rainbows are pure color, ethereal entities composed of some of nature's juiciest hues. That also may be why I love colorful fragrances. They're like little bottled bits of rainbow that you can consume with a spritz. The scent, while less fleeting than a rainbow, changes and eventually fades as well, and there's a rare beauty in that. It's a moment of joy we all need once in a while, so even if there's no naturally occurring atmospheric phenomenon outside your window right now, I put these scents together to brighten your day.

Play-Doh Scents For Your Grown-Up Self

BellaSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:00:36 -0800

I have yet to meet a person that doesn't get nostalgic when Play-Doh is mentioned. Whether you were a fan of the spaghetti-making attachment or the hair-growing factory, there was something for everyone when it came to that colorful modeling compound. We all know that Play-Doh has that distinctive musky almond scent, which has been described as an oriental vanilla, but you don't have to go around smelling exactly like the concoction to get the same effect. Here are some options reminiscent of this popular childhood favorite, but with a decidedly more grown-up appeal.

Warm Up With These Comfy Cold-Weather Scents

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:37 -0800

When the air starts to get a little nippy and my sweaters come out of the closet, I start daydreaming about cold weather perfumes. I put away my beachy scents and find creamy, spicy, deep fragrances with the rich, comforting notes of cinnamon, cardamom, labdanum, almond, Tahitian vanilla, bergamot tea, and warm woods. I'm still on my way to finding the perfect sweater scent, but I thought I'd put together a few that might be a good bet for you. From heavy-hitting classics like Penhaligon's Bluebell (woody, earthy and soft, with a few sweet florals) to inexpensive but delicious scents like Carol's Daughter Almond Cookie (just plain yummy), there are fragrances here for every taste and budget, but all of the entries promise to make you feel like you're curled up under a comfy throw with something warm to sip on. Click through to get a little scentspiration.

How Well Do You Know Your Famous Fragrance Notes?

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:00:17 -0700

Fragrance notes are a complex and surprising thing. If a fragrance isn't very linear, the accord you get can be totally different than the sum total of its parts, and perfumers are often given to lavish, overstated descriptions of their ingredients. (How does Indonesian vanilla smell different from Tahitian vanilla if they're the same plant species, exactly?) I've gathered up five super-popular perfumes you've almost certainly smelled (or owned) at some point. Can you guess the notes, or are they as elusive as a whiff of fragrance? Take my quiz and see what your favorite scents are really made of.

Question 1 of 5

Chanel No. 5

Fragrance Is About to Get Fergalicious

BellaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:02:19 -0700

There's a new Avon lady in town, and she's more rock-and-roll than most. WWD reports that Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie has signed a deal with Avon. She's no stranger to the beauty world, having represented MAC Viva Glam lipstick, but now she'll have her own product to promote.

The most lucrative part of multi-year contract is expected to involve Fergie's fragrance, which will launch next year. While the juice is still being developed, Fergie says that it will be "fresh and alluring." (As opposed to...?) "The vibe for the scent is for the woman who wears it to feel confident and not be afraid to be noticed," she told WWD. No word yet on the name of the fragrance, but I'll guess that its name will be more ladylike than My Humps. Are you excited for this development? And what do you think the name might be?

Fragrance Name or Tarot Card?

BellaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:29 -0700

Since it's the month for spooky thrills and otherworldly activity, I thought I'd test your knowledge of the mystic tarot. Almost all of us have had our cards read sometime or another, however inexpertly (sorry Lana, I totally made that stuff up), but when it comes to remembering the names of the cards, well, it's a little more difficult than you would imagine. Can you tell which of these is a fragrance, and which a sign of the tarot? Or is it as much a mystery to you as your future is?

Take the quiz

Fresh Redcurrant Basil Eau de Parfum - $75.00	Carol's daughter almond cookie eau de toilette spray - $27.00
The Comforter Solid Perfume - $7.95	Parfums Intimes Cashmere Vanilla Jasmine Eau de Parfum - $45.00
Burberry Brit Perfume Collection - $46.00	Vanillary Fragrance - $41.95
Bergamot Tea Eau De Toilette - $46.00	Red Flower Hammam - Cardamom Amber Oil - 2.4 Oz. - $44.00
Dolce And Gabbana No. 6 L'amoureux - $65.00	Agraria Bitter Orange - $40.00
Demeter Sugar & Spice Cologne Spray - $20.00	Le Labo Labdanum 18 100ml - $200.00
Montale Amandes Orientales - $135.00	Penhaligon's Bluebell - $80.00
Fresh Cannabis Rose - $75.00	Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Luxe Edition - $70.00