BellaSugar

Definition: Vetiver

BellaSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:00:15 -0800

Vetiver is a common ingredient in fragrances and after shave for men, but until I became a beauty editor, I had no idea what it actually was. As it turns out, vetiver is a tall grass that grows in volcanic areas of India and Haiti.

The essential oil that comes from vetiver is derived from its extensive network of roots. They are washed, chopped, soaked in water, and distilled to create a green, herbal scent similar to a really fresh potato peeling.

Vetiver oil also has other uses than fragrance. It has antiseptic and muscle-relaxing qualities, and it can be taken orally to calm nervous tension or used topically to heal redness, skin irritation, and inflammation on sensitive or oily skin. If you are interested in layering vetiver, it also very much complements lavender, patchouli, and sandalwood.

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Michael Kors's Very Hollywood Is Very Nice

BellaSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:01:04 -0700

These ads for Very Hollywood ($45), the new Michael Kors fragrance, are up all over the place, looking glitzy and sexy. But what does it actually smell like, you ask? The short answer: sweet, floral, and a little bit like Marc Jacobs. The long answer: It starts off with a floral burst and pink grapefruit. After that, I got a lot of ylang ylang and gardenia. The body of the scent stood up off my skin, so I had a halo of the fragrance around me all the time; nice for a date when you actually want someone besides you to smell your perfume. The dry down stays flowery, with a little vetiver to liven things up. Overall, it's a very wearable floral that won't make you headache-y, which is usually my complaint with these kinds of fragrances. It doesn't smell even vaguely like Hollywood to me, but it is nice, and would probably make a good back-to-school gift for your favorite ProjRun fan.

Crazylibellule & the Poppies Steps Back into the Roaring '20s

BellaSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:00:23 -0700

It's been a while since I've written about Crazylibellule & the Poppies CrazySticks, which are so French, so travel-friendly. The line of delicately crafted solid perfumes was created in 2005 by one of the cofounders of Sephora. Each of its ultrafeminine scents, which are free of alcohol, parabens, and artificial colors, provides 269 swipes per stick. Not too bad, eh? And next week, the brand is about to release its fourth collection, Les Garçonnes (about $17 each), aux États-Unis.
The seven new scents pay tribute to the Roaring '20s, and each stick is named in honor of an independent woman - famous or not - who changed her time, including Josephine, Gabrielle, Louise, Tamara, Jeanne, Rose, and Pompon. My favorites are the sweet, powdery smelling Rose à Saïgon, with notes of rose, patchouli, mango, and vetiver; and the crisp, clean Hommage à Gabrielle, with notes of peony, cedar, vanilla, jasmine, and leather. Look for the talisman-like scents to make their debut on BeautyHabit.com and B-Glowing.com early next week. Let the good times roll.

Coming Soon: Estée Lauder Summer 2009 Bronze Goddess Collection

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:00:15 -0800

Although it might not seem like it, Summer's really not that far away. Estée Lauder's popular Bronze Goddess Collection is back with limited-edition products in skin care, fragrance, and makeup. As you might expect, the makeup collection includes warm, amber tones with shimmery finishes. Last year, we saw some fuchsia and gold shades in the collection, and this year, expect a few aqua tones and the new ultraglossy Pure Color Gloss Stick Collection, with shades ranging from berry to coral.

Back for '09 is the Bronze Goddess fragrance, with the beachy scent of coconut and citrus. And if that's not enough, the Bronze Goddess Skin Care Collection is infused with amber, coconut, and vetiver. Check out a gallery of pictures below, along with a price list after the jump.

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For a list of products and prices, read more.

Bronze Goddess Makeup Collection:

Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer ($30)
Bronze Goddess Soft Shimmer Bronzer ($30)
Bronze Goddess Soft Duo Bronzer ($31)
Pure Color Gloss Stick in Orange Poppy and Pop Pink ($18.50)

Limited-Edition Items:

Bronze Goddess Luminous Liquid Bronzer ($28.50)
New Bronze Goddess SunBlush Illuminator ($32)
New Bronze Goddess Sand and Sea EyeShadow Palette ($40)
New Duo Tone Eye Pencil ($18.50)
Pure Color Lipstick in new Golden Goddess ($18.50)
High Gloss in new Golden Goddess, Coral Goddess, and Rose Goddess ($17)
Pure Color Nail Lacquer in new Golden Goddess ($18)

Bronze Goddess Skincare Collection:

Sun Indulgence Lotion For Face SPF 30 ($22)
Golden Perfection Self-Tanning Lotion For Face ($22.50)
Golden Perfection Self-Tanning Milk For Body ($26.50)
Golden Perfection Tinted Self-Tanning Gelée For Body ($28.50)

Bronze Goddess Fragrance Collection:

Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche 100ml ($52)
Bronze Goddess Body Oil 100ml ($32)
Bronze Goddess Luminous Body Lotion 200ml ($32)

Fragrance Review: Patrick Dempsey Unscripted

BellaSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:45 -0800

Back in April, I told you about Patrick Dempsey's collaboration with Avon. "Not another celeb fragrance," I thought. Flash forward to present day and Patrick Dempsey Unscripted ($32) has arrived. And it's surprisingly delightful, unexpected . . . dare I say, McSexy?

The fragrance is reminiscent of classic colognes, but with a modern, crisp feel. You might even say it could qualify as unisex, somehow managing to have a substantive, yet light, airy feel all at once. Top notes of cardamom and black peppercorn provide a clean spiciness; Middle notes of fig and lavender impart a soft, sweet characteristics; And bottom notes of leatherwood, patchouli heart, vetiver, and musk lend to the earthy, outdoorsy, and lingering quality.

If you're looking to purchase some Unscripted for the man in your life, Avon's scripted out an offer. With an order of $30 or more, standard shipping is free when you enter the promo code Jingle30. Seeing that Dempsey's fragrance is $32, you get the idea.

Avon Puts Courteney Cox in the Spotlight

BellaSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:05:11 -0800

You might know that actress Courteney Cox currently serves as celeb spokesperson for the antiaging skincare line, Kinerase. Well, now she's headed to the fragrance category.

Nope, the botox dabbling Cox isn't joining the already crowded bundle of celebrity perfume makers. She is, however, set to be the face of Spotlight, ($22.50) a new fragrance from Avon.

According to WWD, the juice will have a fresh, oriental scent with top notes of mandarin, shining silver, and bergamot; middle notes of mimosa, tuberose absolute, and white freesia; and bottom notes of sandalwood, cashmere, white vanilla musk, and vetiver.

Want to be in the Spotlight? Check out Avon.com or go through one of the company's 600,000 sales reps next Summer, when the scent is officially released. “Since I’m the kind of person that’s very loyal to a fragrance, having worn the same fragrance for 10 years, it’s nice to have a new one that I’m so proud of,” said Cox.

Photos courtesy of WWD

Try Bergamot on Your Pits

BellaSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:00:13 -0800

One of my friends is a true follower of all things natural. Food? All organic and local. Clothing? Either recycled or handsewn. Beauty? When it comes to products, nothing of the paraben/synthetic nature remotely touches her body.

So, when I saw her splash a little bergamot oil on her pits one day, I was intrigued. "It's a natural deodorizer," she said. I gave it a whirl. With surprising results, I was practically stink-free. From what I could tell, my underarms smelled rather nice - well, like citrus. She also recommended I dab on a little baking soda if I ever felt a little drippy.

Like playing mad scientist? You can always mix up your own custom scent. Try Aura Cacia Bergamot Essential Oil ($13.59) paired with a complementary aroma such as sandalwood, nutmeg, vetiver, geranium, lavender, lemon, neroli, or ylang ylang.

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Fragrance Review: Isabela Capeto

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:00:13 -0800

One of the highlights of visiting the beauty breakfast was meeting Isabela Capeto, a Brazilian designer with an eye for creating quirky, bright, breezy clothing. She was there to introduce her signature fragrance, which is available exclusively at Henri Bendel in the states.

After smelling so many floral and citrus scents lately, exploring Isabela Capeto - the fragrance, not the woman - was a wonderful change of pace. The scent is complex with distinctive notes, rather than a muddle of too-similar scents. It's spicy, warm, and earthy without being too Burning Man.

At first sniff, you'll discover top notes lifted straight from the kitchen. The cardamom and black pepper are intriguing, and they'll definitely perk you up. From there, the scent becomes cinnamon-y, with just the right hint of apricot and Brazilian lily. After a few moments, it dries down to a woodsy mix of cedar, amber, sandalwood, and vetiver.

This might sound like a lot, but it works: The scent isn't heavy at all. And although it's marketed as a women's perfume, the vetiver adds a touch of androgyny, making this a fragrance that would wear well on both men and women. It's also available as a set of three candles, which I'm planning to use to create a warm, bring-the-outdoors-in environment during this chilly weekend.

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Coming Soon: Prada Infusion d'Iris

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 07:00:18 -0700

If you can't afford Prada's fall 2007 collection but still want a bit of Italian fabulousness, you'll be in luck come September. That's when Prada introduces its third fragrance for women, Infusion d'Iris.

According to WWD, this fragrance is somewhat non-traditional for a women's scent:

The fragrance is balanced by top notes of orange blossom and mandarin, as well as base notes of galbanum, lentisc, benzoin, incense, vetiver and cedarwood. ... Executives said that notes like vetiver and cedarwood, which are often found in men's scents, differentiate Infusion d'Iris from other women's scents.

To view a gallery of all of the Infusion d'Iris products, read more

Like the new Estee Lauder fragrance, Infusion d'Iris reaches back into the company's heritage for inspiration. The packaging, inspired by vintage fragrance bottles, was designed by Miuccia Prada herself. It features Prada's signature pale green color and the Prada crest, which was designed by Prada's grandfather in 1913.

Infusion d'Iris debuts in September at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus (where you can pre-order now) and Prada boutiques. It comes in three sprays ($67–$125) and two splash versions ($210, $350). There's also a shower gel ($45), a body lotion ($50), bath salts ($70!), and a set of two perfumed soaps ($40). But wait, there's more! You can buy a $75 candle, linen water ($75), a pack of 10 cotton towelettes for $60, and perfumed drawer inserts for $60. The question is, will you?

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A Note on Notes

BellaSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:00:39 -0700

Every Good Boy Does Fine. Remember that helpful little reminder for determining a note's horizontal position on the staff? Like music, fragrances depend on a delicate balance of notes, each working to bring harmony to the composition.

Fragrances are specifically designed with top, middle, and base notes, which individually bring something different to the table. A perfume's smell is not only affected by your body chemistry, but by the evaporation process of each note itself.

To learn more about each of the three notes read more.

Top Notes: Fresh and light, they're the most volatile of the bunch, meaning they evaporate the fastest - around 5-30 minutes. Often used as the "selling point" for the perfume, since it's the aroma you smell first. They comprise about 20-40 percent of the blend.
Examples: basil, bergamot, lemon, orange, tea tree oil, grapefruit
Middle Notes: Known as the "heart" of the fragrance, middle notes make up the most of the mix - anywhere from 40-80 percent. They become more noticeable after the top notes linger off, and take 10-30 minutes to unfold on the skin. Warm and balancing, they cut some of the edge off of the base notes.
Examples: Lavender, black pepper, pine, geranium, rosemary, juniper
Base Notes: Making up about 10-25 percent of the fragrance, base notes are what remains when the middle note aroma fades off. They are the longest lasting of the trio and actually help boost the staying power of the top and middle notes. Grounding, deep, and rich, they become stronger with time, usually developing about 30 minutes after application.
Examples: Sandalwood, rose, vetiver, patchouli, jasmine, cedarwood

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