The Parisienne Life

I once dreamed of living a Bohemian-chic lifestyle in Paris, and Yves Saint Laurent's Parisienne almost makes me believe that I am. It's a feminine scent, with notes of blackberry, damask rose, and sandalwood. It's elegant without being stuffy and is ideal for evenings out. I'm normally not drawn to floral scents, but this has what the French refer to as "je ne sais quoi." It's upfront yet mysterious, and has quickly become my go-to fragrance.

Marc and Lola Love Affair

Exclusively at Bloomingdale's, Marc Jacobs latest scent, Lola, smells as fun and whimsical as it looks. The eau de toilette has notes that feature pink peppercorn, pear d’anjou, ruby red grapefruit, fuchsia peony, rose, geranium, vanilla, tonka bean and creamy musk. Described as "a modern free spirit with an irresistible attitude. Lola is an intoxicating swirl of rich layers, wrapping the skin in sensuous florals blooming with a signature note of fuchsia peony. Playfully alluring and irresistibly tempting." It smells very young to me, like something you would buy a teenager--trendy and funky, with a hint of maturity.

Tocca Brigitte Solid Perfume

My love of the Tocca scent Montcristo is well documented; the only problem being that while I love the scent for a candle, I wouldn't want to walk around smelling like it. However, Tocca's newest scent, Brigitte, is definitely something I would wear. "Inspired by the playful and sensual beauty of French film siren Brigitte Bardot, Tocca's Brigitte fragrance evokes the intoxicating scent of a stroll through the spice markets of Provence. Under the blue skies of the Cote d'Azur, rich notes of saffron, ginger and papaya mingle with the delicate perfume of Moroccan rose wafting from petal-filled baskets. Sultry and soft sandalwood and musk linger in the air." The Brigitte Eau de Parfum has done so well that they've added it as a solid perfume. Ideal for travel, the perfume is packaged in a gold decorated compact and has a gold, shimmery finish. I've been applying it to my hair and I love the whiff of it I get as I go about my day. I may not be Brigitte Bardot, but with this sexy scent I can feel like her.

Sexy Little Things Noir

I don't like posting about perfumes because everyone's taste is scents is so different, but I'm making an exception for Victoria's Secret's Sexy Little Things Noir. There's something about this scent that I find so sexy--it's a little bit sweet, a little bit naughty. It would be a great scent for evening, and the bottle is just too cute not to display. Victoria's Secret claims that Noir is "elegant and playfully provocative, it's an enchanting blend of sparkling nectarine, sultry amber and exotic cattelaya orchid."



Side Note: If you don't like anything musky, you probably won't like this scent.

Two Gifts In One

After years of lusting after all things Missoni I can finally say that Missoni charm bracelets are a practical necessity: one of the charms opens to reveal a solid perfume. It comes in the original Missoni fragrance or the Acqua (I prefer Acqua, the original is a little too chocolaty for me). I love that it is a collectible that you will continue to wear even after the perfume is gone. Also, where else can you get anything Missoni for only $50?

MAC Monogram Collection

The new collection from MAC is something very different for them: a high end line. The prices are near double to what they normally are, ranging from $22-$70. The collection is packaged in gold and browns and includes lipstick, lip gloss, powder, brushes, fragrance, and a clutch. All in all, the colors are nice, but it reminds me of something I'd find from Estee Lauder. I would just as soon stick to their regular line (which is still fabulous), and save my money--you're basically just paying for the packaging.

Spider Scents

I think this solid perfume from Estee Lauder's Pleasures is so cool Designed exclusively for Saks, the clear crystal is surrounded by gold with tiny glittery crystals on the head and neck. Spiders don't jump to mind when I think of beauty, but this update on a vintage look is a collectible that you'll keep forever--it's absolutely fascinating. Beautifully boxed, with a velvety pouch. $250

Sephora Scent Sampler

Sephora's Scent Sampler kit includes 9 scent samples to try, an atomizer, as well as certificate for a full size product of your favorite scent. There are three women's scent samplers and one men's, but this one is my favorite because it includes the Prada Iris scent, which you know I'm currently obsessed with. If you're looking for a new perfume, and are not sure which one to buy, this is a great was to try it out first.

Everything's coming up 'Iris'...

If someone asked me my top ten smells, Iris would not be one of them. Until I smelled the offerings from Prada and Acqua di Parma, that is. Like the bottles themselves, the scents are straightfoward, yet mysterious, with tons of class and glamour. It's not a sweet floral, but a musky, woody floral. It's a sensual smell that I imagine women in the 1920's wearing for a night out. It doesn't assault the senses, but slowly creeps up on you until your wondering "is it me that smells this good?"

As a side note, the Acqua di Parma image is a special packaging for the holidays--I love the cute purple box.