Hundreds of fragrances were released in 2011 and it’s impossible to recall all of them , let alone test them. But I try. What follows is my take on the high points in the world of perfume.
BIGGEST LAUNCH: Like it or not, Justin Bieber Someday. Fans snatched up bottles of his perfume like crazy. I haven’t heard word of a flanker (aka companion /new version) for it, but don’t be surprised if there is one. ($ 45 www.macys.com )
BEST OF THE YEAR: Elie Saab. Exactly how a fragrance should be done, created by one of the masters in perfumery Francis Kurkdjian. It’s elegant, well done, lasts long , strong but soft and pretty much perfect with it’s woody floral blend of patchouli , cedar, rose honey and jasmine . ($ 90 www.saks.com )
BEST OF THE YEAR 2: Douglas Hannant by Robert Piguet . Another example of how it should be done. A tuberose /white floral made more modern than Piguet’s glorious and timeless Fracas perfume. This one is lighter but still full bodied with jasmine, orange blossom and gardenia alongside the tuberose with a light touch of woods, mainly sandalwood to ground the florals. ($ 85.00 at www.robertpiguet.com )
BEST BACK TO THE 80’s: Tom Ford Violet Blonde. Do not takes that as a bad thing. This was in the running as one of the best this year also but is definitely a throwback to the blowsy big ‘80s perfumes. It’s not in your face but it’s not quiet either. Beautiful and bold just like Tom Ford with iris and violet leaf. It’s a bit cold but warms up as it dries down. Not for the shy. ($ 100 www.saks.com )
BEST NAME FOR A NEW LAUNCH: LUSH Dirty. The name can go so many ways, right? But Dirty here means dirt that needs cleaned. A fab line meant for men but unisex with its fresh green minty scent. Comes in body spray, shower gel, soap and hair gel. ($ 7.95 -$ 19.95 www.lushusa.com )
BEST IN BUDGET: Yardley London Winter Spice soap. A limited edition for Christmas but still available in some stores (mainly Walgreens) this soap is perfect for men and women and is winter comfort scent in a bar. Deep spices of clove, cinnamon and more in a moisturizing soap for $ 1.25. https://yardleylondon.com
BEST HOME SCENT: Salty Caramel by Slatkin for Bath and Body Works. Words do not do justice to this delicious candle released this past fall continuing the tradition of Slatkin’s creating some of the best candles ever. Smells exactly as the name says rich caramel, vanilla and nuts. Warning: Do not burn when hungry. www.bathandbodyworks.com
GIVEAWAY: We are giving away a full-size bottle of Tom Ford’s Violet Blonde perfume (worth $100). Simply post a comment below letting us know what perfume you’ve been wearing lately. We will pick a winner at random in a couple of weeks (contest is for US only, we apologize to our international fans). Good luck!
ANNOUNCING THE WINNER: The winner chosen by Random Number Generator is Jessica S. Jessica, we just emailed you to let you know that you won. Congratulations!
– Diane Artzberger of TheBeautyAlchemist.com
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