Fragrance

The Playboy empire is spreading -- aside from the nudie magazines and clothing, it's reaching out into fragrances, too. The ladies from The Girls Next Door attended a party in the penthouse of Manhattan's Hotel on Rivington to celebrate the launch last week, and shared some details about their favorite scents.

Sure, we miss the excitement and drama of the Sopranos, but probably not enough to douse ourselves, or the men we love, in the new cologne Paolo Per Uomo. The name means "Paul for Men" in Italian, which we fear loses a bit in the translation.

We know all about James Bond's brand preferences: he wears an Omega watch, drinks Bollinger champagne and drives an Aston Martin DBS. But what of the Bond Girls? For years they've been a mystery.

This isn't quite synesthesia, but being able to see your perfume is still pretty darn cool. This fragrance, Wode by Boudicca, sprays on blue and fades to nothing right before your eyes. We have no idea how it smells, despite our best efforts in repeatedly pressing our noses against our monitors, but the artsiness of it all is enough to make us want to try. We quite like that fancy little spray can it comes in, as well.

Just to be clear, we're not lusting after pop star Jesse McCartney -- we'll leave that to his teen fan base. He'd better be hoping that those fans get a decent allowance, though, because he's about to launch his first fragrance, Wanted.

Last night, upstairs at Dylan's Candy Bar's flagship store on 60th Street and Third Avenue in New York City, the launch party for Re-Treat was held.

Dylan's Candy Bar, founded by Dylan Lauren, the daughter of designer Ralph Lauren and photographer Ricky Lauren (a.k.a. The Royal Family of Androgynous Names), is considered one of the top destinations for sweets both in New York and internationally. The store is brightly colored and feels a bit like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, only less scary.

Re-Treat is like, the best idea ever.

One of the first makeup tips you learn in middle school is to emphasize either your eyes or your lips, but never both. Shortly after you master that lesson, you learn that really dark makeup shouldn't be paired with a light, flirty, feminine outfit. So, did Jennifer Lopez miss out on all of the middle school beauty gossip, or what?

Sonya Rykiel is having a party and she wants everyone to come along for the ride.

In honor of the Parisian label's 40th anniversary, they've created an oriental scent that comes equipped with frankincense-lavender accord, mouth-watering notes of red currant, coffee-blossom and a sweetness of heliotrope and vanilla. In addition, the label also put on a rather spectacular fashion show that consisted of those iconic knit sweaters and playful dresses that Rykiel has become known for, but since our economy is pretty much in the trash right now, we'd advise anyone interested in buying into the big celebration should take the fragrance route.

Why? Fragrances last much longer than trendy tops, the bottles the lovely scents come in make great counter top decorations, and they cost much less than the designer's expensive duds.

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Halle Berry is having a big year. The Oscar-winning actress gave birth to her first child, daughter Nahla Ariela, in March, is producing and starring in three films, and is now doing something brand new -- launching her own fragrance, Halle by Halle Berry (seriously, when are these actors going to come up with unique fragrance names? Aren't they supposed to be all creative and stuff?).

More than 50 Madison Avenue retailers have joined together to raise money for breast cancer awareness and research with the ninth annual Pink Ribbon Project. And this year, the Project is introducing something new.

This year's Pink Ribbon Project has a website offering Pink Ribbon items created by participating retailers, momsshop.com, all of which benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and The Mount Sinai Breast Health Resource Program.

As the world of fashion reacts to the tanking economy, some high-end players are making bold new compromises partnerships in order to break into a recession-friendly lower price point. For example, in an attempt to scoop up some consumers that will be broke bargain shopping for the foreseeable future (like us), Esteé Lauder will be launching a trio of fragrances exclusively at the fashion hub that is Wal-Mart.

The new line will be sold under the name C-Thru, as in the bottles are transparent -- or as in 'wow, the economy must really suck for Esteé Lauder to make such a transparent attempt to reach out to Wal-Mart shoppers.' While the move is totally uncharacteristic for the historically highbrow cosmetics firm, launching a Wal-Mart line is probably one of their best chances to grow in these tough times.



The C-Thru trio will consist of gem-inspired fragrances like Ruby, Purple Diamond, and Blue Opal. After their exclusive launch at Wal-Mart this December, EL's low-end fragrances will eventually be sold at other luxury stores such as Kohl's and Target. Weird.

[via HauteConcept]

Zirh, one of our favorite men's grooming lines, has a few notable additions. First off, a new eau de toilette, Ikon, with a woody sensation and notes of cedar wood and vetiver. There's also a matching deodorant plus a hair and body wash.

The face of Ikon is model David Gandy (shown at right). He'll be on hand for the launch at Bloomingdale's 59th Street (Saturday, October, 4, 1-3pm). Purchase the scent in either a 2.5 oz or 4.2 oz bottle and Gandy will sign the box.

Next up, the Warrior Collection (shown below), a series of shower gels inspired by the likes of Alexander, Ulysses, Charlemagne and Julius Caesar. Each gel is formulated from ingredients, local to regions where each warrior reigned. And the packaging was designed by Chad Lavigne, known for collaborations with Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs and Vinita Skincare.

Chanel is revamping its makeup and fragrance counter at Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship New York store.

The new, 850 square-foot space--bigger than most New York apartments--will offer fragrance experts to introduce customers to Chanel's 43 perfume concentrates, eight makeup artist stations, and a digital history book about the French fashion house.

Our favorite feature is Chanel's Miroir Lumiere light-box mirror, tucked away inside the "VIP consultation room." The mirror mimics sunlight at different times of day and in different seasons.

After all, if a shade of lipstick works whether it's summer or winter, morning or night, we might be able to justify its $36 price tag.

By now you've all seen the racy Eva Mends ads for Calvin Klein Secret Obsession that were deemed too sexy (oooh, nipple!) for tv. In all the nudity hulabaloo, it's easy to forget that it was an ad for an actual product, the modern update of the iconic Obsession perfume.

Do you remember Hard Candy? The beauty line that every blue-blooded pre-tween had some interaction with during such sadistic childhood rituals like school dances and first day of school appearances.

Well, they kind of don't want to make make-up anymore. We know, weird. As of late, the brand has been practically giving all of its glitter eye shadow and coal eyeliner away for free, offering up to 50% off on most items at the brand's site.

Don't call them Mother Theresa just yet, though. There's a method to this oh so cheap madness. The company is trying to phase out its beauty line, most likely because of slagging sells, so it can focus on "new strategies."

In the meantime, the Hard Candy fragrance that launched last fall is still going strong. The fruity scent will be accompanied with a shower gel and a body lotion in the near future.

[via WWD]