Beauty Maverick

Gaiac 10 Goes Global for Japan

For a limited time only, Le Labo is offering Gaiac 10 — a Tokyo-exclusive blend built on gaïac wood and surrounded by musc, with hints of cedar and olibanum — for purchase in-store and online in support of the Japanese Red Cross.

Un Rendez-Vous

Joining the likes of Martin Scorsese, Frank Miller & Wong Kar Wai, Guy Ritchie is the latest filmmaker to add his signature to a luxury fragrance. 

Late-Summer Scents

5 brilliant summer scents that can carry you through fall:

Hermes Voyage d’Hermes
A breezy, unisex fragrance that boasts notes of juniper berry, angelica and cedar. 

Kilian Rose Oud
An unusual combination of rose with oud that's opulent yet comfortably familiar.

Jo Malone Vetyver
This slightly spicy, aromatic cologne works beautifully on its own or layered under lighter scents.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Cologne Pour Le Matin
Bergamote, lemon, lavender and orange blossom combine to produce a harmonious bouquet.

Acqua di Parma Colonia
A timeless (men's) scent filled with a luminous blend of Bulgarian rose, Sicilian citrus fruits and verbena.

Tom Ford Private Blend Collection

Tom Ford has produced some of the most controversial, provocative & awe-inspiring works of our time, and his Private Blend Eau de Parfum collection is no exception. 

Choice blends:

Oud Wood
Chinese pepper, tonka bean.

Moss Breches
Beeswax absolute, benzoin.

Tuscan Leather
Leather, saffron, black suede.

Retailer: Nordstrom.com
Cost: $180.00- $450.00

CREED Captures the Essence of Firenze

An Olivier and Erwin Creed collaboration, Acqua Fiorentina is the first fragrance to be launched by the brand in over two years.

The fruity, Florentine-inspired scent is currently available at Harrods and Harvey Nics in the UK, and set to debut on our side of the pond via Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman later this month.

Click here to reserve your fix.

CHANEL "Train de Nuit"

Tuesday, May 5th marks a special day for CHANEL, and for all of us who adore the iconic brand.

The excitement begins at the stroke of midnight tonight, with the premiere of the latest CHANEL N˚5 masterpiece, "Train de Nuit." The third collaboration between acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and actress Audrey Tautou, this short promises to be far more than a fragrance commercial. I can't give away too much quite yet, but the storyboard above should give you an idea of how Audrey's journey begins...

And in honor of this latest campaign, May 5, 2009 has been designated by the city of New York as CHANEL N˚5 Day. CHANEL and Saks Fifth Avenue have also partnered for this significant occasion, during which a portion of Fifth Avenue will be renamed Avenue N˚5 for the week. (Fun, no?)

Of course, the festivities will be celebrating more than just beauty in the form of fragrance and film. In thanks to the City of New York, CHANEL and Saks have also partnered to create a new arts program at P.S. 5, the Ellen Lurie Elementary School. The donation will provide funding for the arts program, specifically four separate after-school arts classes—graphic arts, photography, chess and drama—as well supplies and field trips to a local museum or cultural institution for each class.

Click here for a behind-the-scenes glimpse of "Train de Nuit," and here (on/after May 5th) to view the full feature. For additional information on the upcoming Saks event, click here.

Orange Crush

Fresh, floral and sweet, orange blossom is an irresistible scent for spring. Find your  signature in one of these six luxurious formulations:

For those who enjoy...

Bright, citrusy scents: Le Labo Fleur D’Oranger 27
Orange blossom enhanced by a delicious blend of bergamot, petit grain, lemon, and musk.

Soft, feminine fragrances: L'Artisan Parfumeur Fleur d'Oranger 2007
Delicate and sweet, this harvest highlights the star note by including ingredients from the entire orange tree (neroli, orange essential oil, the seed, extract of the twig, the bud and the leaves).

Warmer, spicier scents: Santa Maria Novella Zagara
Though quite sharp at first, this fragrance develops into an enticing blend of bitter orange and sandalwood.

Fresh, floral fragrances: Prada Infusion de Fleur d'Oranger
A sparkling fusion of tuberose, jasmin, neroli, and serenolide (white musk).

Men's colognes: Miller Harris Cuir d'Oranger
This masculine blend boasts notes of leather and oak, balanced by a green, floral finish.

Flirtatiously sweet fragrances: Serge Lutens Fleur d'Oranger
The ultimate "come hither" scent for spring. Composed of white rose, Indian tuberose, and jasmin.

Fresh Citron de Vigne

Inspired by the breathtaking vineyards that produce La Grande Dame, Fresh co-founder Alina Roytberg created Citron de Vigne— an intoxicating fragrance that captures both the sweet and earthy scents that are synonymous with Reims.

Upon first sniff, the crisp, delicate nature of Citron de Vigne transports you to a world of plush vines, ripe fruits, and sun-soaked soil. Your nose is first tickled with an effervescent blend of grapefruit, neroli, and jasmine, then introduced to a complex pinot noir accord of dark almond, bergamot, white sandalwood, and musk. This unique combination of notes results in a scent that's as innocent as it is inviting.

Retailer: Fresh.com
Cost: $14.00- $75.00

Note: If you're near a Fresh boutique with an in-house eSpace Spa, be sure to schedule one of their rejuvenating facial or body treatments (I adore the Sake & Rice) as the service is fully redeemable in product. Yes, you read correctly. Purchase a spa service, and you'll be gifted with anything you'd like (totalling the same amount)— from this brilliant new collection to your tried & true favorites.

Chanel Cuir de Russie Parfum

Imagine that you've walked into the main room of what was once a French gentlemen's club. Taking a deep breath, you inhale a harmony of scents: the bittersweet fragrance of tobacco, aged oak, and the warmth of worn leather with a hint of vetiver from patrons past.

The combination of these rich elements engage your senses, and transport you to a pre-War Paris seduced by Russian opulence. Luxurious furs, jewels, and tea served with black cherry preserves...

Then, just as your mind begins to envelope these notes into one single scent, your nose picks up a hint of Chanel No.5 and this once masculine composition is transformed into an exotic, utterly feminine experience unlike any other.

That, in short, is Cuir de Russie.

Available in both Eau de Toilette and Parfum (recommended) at select Chanel boutiques, including the new Fragrance and Beauté counter at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Boudicca Wode Paint EdP

Boudicca Wode Paint is quite possibly the most intriguing fragrances I've ever experienced. Unlike a traditional EdP, the scent is encapsulated in a spray can and bright blue when applied. Then, within seconds, the cobalt pigment fades and you're left with a warm, radiant fragrance.

Why blue? Wode Paint aims to further explore the myths surrounding Queen Boadicea, the last queen of the Celts. She, and her tribe, were said to have worn blue war paint in battle to make them appear mythical and ferocious. There is a certain air of excitement that surrounds each application of this azure mist but, thankfully, it's only external for a moment.

Retailer: Barneys.com
Cost: $130.00