I was talking to CasaSugar today and found out that she isn't the biggest fan of vanilla-scented things, which got a bunch of us into a conversation about different common scents we're not so fond of inhaling. It turns out PartySugar doesn't like incense and I cannot condone that waxy fake chocolate scent (organic and real chocolate notes, though, I love.) It seems like all of us have at least Read more

Much like their symbol, the ram, Arians possess an animal magnetism. The first sign of the zodiac, those born under its rule can be described as confident, bold, and energetic. At their worst, however, Aries folk are characterized by their bossy, self-centered, and blunt natures. These folks are born leaders and are known for their abilities to be both enthusiastic and ambitious. Famous Aries Read more

Yes, we have already discovered a candle that smells just like Fall, but if amber-scented ambiance isn't your thing, you might like Stark Waxing Studio's Cactus Flower candle ($24) instead. With ingredients that inspire autumnal thoughts, including ginger and Frankincense, it has a clean, earthy quality. But something about the way this soy wax-based candle is mixed up also brings to mind those Read more

From Marilyn Monroe to Jackie Kennedy, artist Andy Warhol was inspired by a variety of muses, but sometimes the motive came straight from within. That's just what New York-based perfumer Bond No. 9 wanted to capture when creating its latest Warhol series, Andy Warhol by Bond No. 9 ($180 to $240). In this sixth scent of the series, the fragrance and packaging are meant to celebrate Warhol's Read more

This year, the Fragrance Foundation has nominated three of Many Aftel's fragrances for prestigious FiFi Awards. Mandy's fragrances are truly all natural, and most of her ingredients are organically sourced, so wearing them is a very different experience if you're used to synthetics the way I am. I gave all three of her FiFi finalists (Candide, Honey Blossom, and Lumiere) a wear, so to see what I Read more

Eighteenth-century French women had a wealth of at-home beauty treatments, and luckily many of them survive in the Toilet au Flora, a book of recipes compiled by French naturalist Pierre-Joseph Buc'hoz. Some of the treatments are still great DIYs, and some are absolutely horrifying. Here are five simple, effective recipes you should try, plus three treatments from the book you definitely Read more

I came to an odd realization this morning: I love soap, but I never actually use it on my body. When I get a fancy bar, in fact, I recoil at the suggestion that I would ever actually put it in the shower. It's not that I'm a soap hoarder, or even that I have a problem with using soap to clean yourself up. To see what actually makes my soap usage out of the ordinary, just keep reading. Read more

There are endless ways to pair together various notes to get a fragrance that's uniquely you. I lust after cherry-tobacco scents for instance, but one of my go-to parings is Aveda's Vanilla Absolute ($26) with Sandalwood Essential Oil ($26). Renowned perfumer Mandal Aftel recommends clary sage and rosewood or patchouli with either rose, ylang ylang, or frankincense. But what about you? What scent Read more

When you've directed nearly 50 films and you've won an Oscar, what's next? If you're Martin Scorsese, you direct a commercial for Chanel's forthcoming men's fragrance, Bleu de Chanel ($59-$79). The fragrance, described as a "woody aromatic," will also come in an aftershave lotion ($50). With top notes of peppermint, grapefruit, pink pepper, ginger, and nutmeg; middle notes of jasmine and cedar; Read more