BellaSugar

If Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness, Where Does Perfume Fit In?

BellaSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:00:11 -0700

Last month I told you about Virtue, a Christian fragrance. This weekend I came across Holyland Perfume and Cologne, which makes such olfactorily ambiguous scents as King David Cologne and Essence of Jerusalem Purse Spray. According to the company, the bottles were crafted to resemble ancient perfume bottles dug up by archaeologists in Israel, and the scents were inspired by flowers and plant essences mentioned in the Bible. I will concede that Rose of Sharon smelled delicious, but how do you feel about smelling Biblical?

Heaven Scent: A Fragrance for the Faithful

BellaSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:00:49 -0700

Have you ever smelled your perfume and thought, "This just isn't godly enough?" You're in luck, because Virtue is a an absolutely divine fragrance. No, really. The perfume is "scent from the Bible" and is, as far as I know, the world's only Christian fragrance.

Virtue's notes come from plants and oils mentioned in the Bible; some of the things you'll smell are fig, pomegranate, cinnamon, frankincense, and myrrh. And as Virtue's creators put it, you'll smell just heavenly:

"In practically all religions and Spiritual practices, persons of high spiritual attainment are known to give off a fragrance, attributed to their Virtue. Christ, many of the Saints, and numerous others with highly developed spirituality, are, historically, known to have given off such a fragrance."

Lord knows how Virtue smells, because at $80 a bottle, it's a little too expensive for me to try out on blind faith alone. Think you'd give it a sniff, or do you think the idea reeks of sacrilege?

Bella Book: Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me

BellaSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:00:56 -0800

Last night I plowed through the newly updated edition of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, Paula Begoun's famous cosmetics bible. (Yes, it's a big book, but I'm a very quick reader!) Begoun, known as the Cosmetics Cop, tests and reviews just about every single beauty product available. The seventh edition analyzes thousands of products, evaluating each for its effectiveness, texture, ingredients, and other fact-based properties.

If you're obsessed with beauty, this book is a must-buy; it'll pay for itself the first time it saves you from buying an ineffective product. Begoun isn't shy about ripping apart a lousy product, and she'll tell you when a cream or treatment is effective but overpriced. Her detailed descriptions of texture, scent, and other features of a product are invaluable; you'll never need to approach a makeup counter wondering whether a foundation will be too heavy again.

But there are some drawbacks to her approach, too. To find out where I disagree with Begoun, read more.

As knowledgeable as Begoun is, I'm not crazy about some of her opinions. She hates shimmery eye shadows, for instance, and insists that nobody should ever wear bold colors such as blue, purple, or green. She also pours some major haterade on essential oils, arguing that most irritate or damage skin; while some can be irritating for sensitive skin, they're hardly the terrifying substances she claims them to be.

Then - and this is the biggest problem I have with the book - she reviews her own line of cosmetics. And of course, they're all fabulous. While the products might indeed be good, it makes me question her objectivity. This criticism isn't new, but it's worth mentioning.

Still, despite these nitpicks, the book is well worth buying. As an introduction to cosmetic basics, a product encyclopedia, or a thorough reference, it's tops.