Passive Fragrance for Your Surroundings

   Another safe way to add lovely fragrance to any room is with reed diffusers. These work slowly and steadily—diffusing the scent of the oil up through the porous reeds and throughout your surroundings. There is no flame so this is another safe but sure way to bring fragrance home. The Fragrance Collection from Glade offers Lotus Bamboo, Sheer White Cotton, Pomegranate and Cranberry, Fresh Pine and Cedar among others, each one as delightfully fragrant as the next.  

 http://www.fragrancecollection.com

As Fragrant as a Perfumed Breeze

The Febreze fragrance collection for your surroundings will infuse your environment with subtle, yet very appealing scents. Their newest collection includes soy candles and Flameless Luminaries and both will create an atmosphere of warmth and relaxation.   

 The scented oils in the soy candles, which come with a wooden lid,  are locked within the soy and diffuse an enticing fragrance whenever lighted.

The Flameless Luminaries provide fragrance and ambient light and will add loveliness to any room. All you have to do to enjoy the scented glow is to place one of the many scented shade styles onto the wooden base to activate a flickering flameless glow as the fragrance of the shade permeates your environment. You can change the shade design and refresh the scent to match a specific room décor or time of year. There are a few holiday-themed shades as well.

What is especially nice about the Flameless Luminaries is that since there is no flame involved—just the illusion of one—they are safe. The light appears to flicker like a real candle and the scent is infused in the shade.

Both are available in Cranberry Pear, Green Tea Citrus, Willow Blossom, Pomegranate Mango, Caramel Crisp (seasonal), Orchard Cider (seasonal), and Vanilla Frost (seasonal).

http://www.febreze.com

                                                                                                            

Graceful and Luxurious Gift Sets from Jo Malone

You can count on British Fragrance House Jo Malone to offer a spellbinding array of lovely treasures for gift season. Each offering is elegantly presented in the iconic cream-colored box and tied with a grosgrain ribbon. Lovely even before the ribbon is undone and the lid is lifted, when opened, the Jo Malone experience begins to unfold. Here  are a few inspirations:

 The Cologne Collection celebrates the artistry of scent. Six colognes delicately encompassed in glass bottles with spray pumps may be worn alone or layered to create unique combinations. The collection includes Grapefruit, Nectarine Blossom and Honey, Pomegranate Noir, Sweet Lime and Cedar, Lime Basil and Mandarin, and White Jasmine and Mint.

For a sensual and sophisticated bath experience there is the Pamper Kit in rich, regal Pomegranate Noir. Pomegranate Noir combines the sweet, fruity notes of raspberry, pink pepper and pomegranate with patchouli, frankincense and spicy woods. This limited edition includes a Glass Decanter of Bath Oil, Shimmer Body Powder with an Ultra Luxe Puff and Body Crème. The Pamper Kit is elegantly presented in a Jo Malone signature gift box.

 The Bath Oil Collection is an invitation to unwind. Beautifully presented in glass decanters, six distinct scents may be used singly or combined to capture the senses. The collection includes Grapefruit, Nectarine Blossom & Honey, Pomegranate Noir, Sweet Lime and Cedar, Lime Basil and Mandarin, and White Jasmine and Mint.

 

The Lime Basil and Mandarin Fragrance Chronicle™ tells the story of a rich citrus accord embellished with notes of aromatic herbs and sensual woods. Reminiscent of the scent of limes carried on a Caribbean breeze, this addictive fragrance balances dewy translucency with a warm, woody dry down. Transform Lime Basil and Mandarin with the accords of Mandarin, Sweet Basil and Amberwood to create your own compelling signature blend of this modern classic.

The Tea Box Deluxe Candle Collection is elegantly understated. A suite of three Deluxe Candles are presented in a stately cream-colored box accompanied with a silver-plated wick trimmer, candle snuffer and key. The Collection features Eau De Cologne, Parma Violets and Sweet Almond Macaroon Deluxe Candles; each candle includes an engraved Jo Malone Candle Lid.

  

The Pine and Eucalyptus Collection allows you to savor the season with Pine & Eucalyptus, a limited-edition scent from Jo Malone. The crisp aroma of pine is entwined with velvety eucalyptus to evoke the sense of winter. The Collection includes Bath Soaps, Bath Oil , Living Cologne, Home Candle, and Luxury.

       These are just some of the enchanting gift collections. For more click on www.jomalone.com 

an enchanting place to visit.

A Fragrant and Charitable Wreath

This is the season to bring beautiful fragrance into your home so that the inside warmth will permeate with pleasing scents and Lindsay Olives is offering compassion-minded shoppers two sizes of its gorgeous handmade wreaths of olive, bay and eucalyptus branches to hang as a sweet-smelling front door welcome or enjoy as natural, lovely centerpieces.

All proceeds—that’s correct—all proceeds from the wreath sales go to The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), the oldest and largest national organization in the United States, representing programs that provide meals to people in need.

Lindsay Olives is offering gift-ready wreaths in two sizes, each a fragrant restyling of the traditional olive branch wreath. Holiday shoppers can give a charming 14-inch round wreath, or an impressive 18-inch round wreath. The wreaths are hand-woven from freshly harvested olive branches, universally recognized as a symbol of peace, along with branches from bay and eucalyptus trees.

The branches are harvested from California groves and, over time, dry to a beautiful silvery green. Fragrant bay and eucalyptus branches add that special holiday aroma. Each wreath is packaged gift-ready in holiday red tissue paper with a personalized gift card.

The Lindsay Olive Holiday Wreath is available exclusively at www.lindsayolives.com or by calling (800) 765-2029. The 14-inch wreath is $30 and the 18-inch wreath is $35 plus shipping, with delivery until December 31, 2009.

The olive tree is one of the oldest trees on Earth. Archives of ancient civilizations dating back thousands of years refer to the olive branch as a symbol of peace and goodwill.

About Meals on Wheels

The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest national organization in the United States representing those programs that provide meals to people in need. To obtain more information about MOWAA or to locate a local Meals On Wheels program, visit the MOWAA website at www.mowaa.org.

Enigmatic Alien

Alien, the intriguing fragrance from Thierry Mugler, is now available in an Eau de Toilette. The scent is spicy yet delicate; refreshing, woody, serious, and yet with an underplay of mischief. Tangy and zesty Tangerine, Moroccan Jasmine, White Amber and Kashmir Wood are all blended skillfully together to stir the senses without overwhelming them.

Alien is a very timely addition to your fall fragrance wardrobe. The fragrance will delight your eyes as well. The beguiling amethyst crystal inspired bottle is an inspiration in itself.

www.thierrymugler.com

A Flawless Fragrance

British Fragrance house Jo Malone is synonymous with the art of fragrance blending. Not only are many of their fragrances intriguing mixes of delicious notes, including spicy, floral, citrus, fruity or woody to name a few, each and all of the scents are perfect for layering so you can create your own signature combination or combinations.

Their newest fragrance is Vanilla & Anise and it is one to treasure.

The top notes of Sicilian Bergamot, Tunisian Neroli, Wild Fennel Flower and Star Anise are the first to arouse your senses. Middle notes of Oleander, Tuberose, Frangipani and Purple Vanilla Orchid are next, followed by base notes of Madagascar Clove, White Amber. Vetiver Bourbon, Vanilla Bourbon Absolute and Tonka. The result is a soft scent with a powerful pleasurable effect.

The balance of heady spices and warm vanilla in Vanilla and Anise is especially enchanting this time of year as we segue, not always smoothly, from crisp/warm Autumn to frigid/thawing Winter to confused Spring. One spray of Vanilla Anise and you will find yourself in your own perfect season.

http://www.jomalone.com

Our Policy

This page is published completely unfettered by any company, corporation or entity. We occasionally get samples of products, but we are resolutely independent and will never endorse any product to please the manufacturer. We write only what we honestly are enthusiastic about and what we think might be of interest to our readers.

Wear Fragrance No Matter What the Economy

Sometimes it’s nice to wear a single note fragrance. Like Honeysuckle or Heather or Jasmine, or Mimosa (made famous in the film The Uninvited) or Geranium or Cilantro. Saguaro Cactus or Laundromat or Earl Grey Tea or Lavender Martini..…

Not the usual choice for a fragrance? Think again! Thanks to the Demeter Fragrance

Library you have a wide collection of single note fragrances—some vintage and some so new and unusual you might not think of them as a base for a perfume. But, somehow, they work. (And you might be surprised at some of the unusual scents that are found in some of the most expensive perfumes.)

The 250 plus fragrances can be worn alone or layered, so that the fragrance you diffuse s you walk through a room is uniquely yours. You might wear one or all four of the scents in the Tropical Zone Collection (including Coconut and Frozen Margarita) or maybe something or all from the Vintage Collection (available from the Demeter site and Sephora exclusively) Patchouli, Mimosa, Geranium, Rose Bush, Lilac

In the mood for something fresh and vibrant? There’s the Herbology Take-out (Fresh Ginger, Green Tea, and Ginseng Root) or the Clean and Cleaner Mini-of four (including Rain and Pure Soap)

Feeling Sweet? How about something from The Sugar Cookie Collection or the Hershey Collection? The Angel Food Collection? Chocolate Covered Cherries?

Something floral—there’s the Virtual Bouquet Duo, I and II. Or White Bouquet and Wet Garden.

Or put together your own collection—remember there are more than 250 scents. Think what you might come up with if you layered Black Pepper with, say, Almond or Lime? Raspberry Jam and Russian Leather?

In short, there is a scent for every mood and they are priced so that you can indulge your many moods. Many are available in a half-ounce cologne purse spray and half-ounce bottles. Go to their site to browse the selections and read an entertaining history of each of the scents, ie Geranium:

“This is scent of the leaves of the scented Geranium. Geranium Bourbon, is a sometimes hard-to-get oil that comes mostly from Reunion Island via Cairo, a big marketer of essential oils. It is so lovely (and scarce) that another fragrance house cornered the supply several years ago, but it hasn't happened again. We have our ways!

Demeter’s Geranium is a beautiful, bright green, slightly lemon scent that, once used, will become a favorite. A necessary and essential refreshment from heat, tropical or otherwise.”

We say: Have fun with fragrance!

http://www.demeterfragrance.com/

Sweet, Subtle, and Echanting

Noodle & Boo states that it offers Luxury for Sensitive Skin. And it truly does.(We'll have more on that later on our Beauty Products Page.) Noodle & Boo (nicknames for founder Christine Burger’s children) also has an enchanting room spray, Crème Douce, and a sweetly fragrant candle, Glowology Love Light.

Even before you light it, the soy candle disperses a fragrant bouquet of oils and natural extracts throughout the room. The fragrance is fresh and sweet—slightly reminiscent of candy floss, vanilla and baby powder. Inhaling it is like smelling the fresh aroma you might inhale while strolling by a French pastry shop.

For more instant fragrance gratification, try the room spray. With one push of the button the room is filled with a truly heavenly fragrance blend of peach and water blossoms, a soupcon of berries and vanilla that will relax and inspire you and your surroundings.

http://www.noodleandboo.com/

Solid Scents

Sometimes is nice to have a perfume in a handy and nonspillable container--something you can easily tuck in your purse or pocket so that you can refresh yourself with a dab or two of fragrance whenever you like.

Soap & Paper Factory offers hand-poured scents in pocket- size lightweight, round jars-- and lovely scents they are--Verbena, Green Tea, Fig, Rosewood, and Orange Blossom.

Each fragrance is natural and true and feels delightful and is quickly absorbed on the skin. And there is a generous .5 ounces in each jar.

And, as they state on their page, they created this line..."to combine all natural, beautifully scented, handmade products wrapped in exquisite, earth friendly packages. Each pattern and fragrance are created together. Each fragrance is designed to stimulate the mind, body and spirit...Our line is designed with the environment in mind. We never test on animals. We never use petroleum, parabens, or phthalates. We chose recycled papers to wrap our boxes.."

Visit their lovely site for these and other elegantly presented products.
http://www.soapandpaperfactory.com/

Absynthe

Avon's new Christian Lacroix Absynthe fragrance is as cutting edge and stylish as you would expect. Named after absinthe, la Fée Verte , the notorious drink that inspired many turn-of- the-19^th century bohemians and was the downfall of others, this lovely intoxicating perfume is evocative of warm Spring and spicy Summer evenings and makes a lovely addition to your fragrance wardrobe.

Absinthe, by the way, may not have been as sinister as legend holds. One of the reasons it was so popular is that the drink, which is a spirit and not a liqueur, came to the forefront at a time when wine was very expensive due to a blight that wiped out much of the wine grape crop. But Absinthe was very high in alcohol—45% to 74%-- and contained thujone, which was perceived as an addictive psychoactive drug. By 1915 . Absinthe was eventually banned in the United States and in many European countries.

Forgo the glass of Absinthe, however, and consider the enthralling Absynthe eau de parfum fragrance from Avon. A heady mix of vivid florals and rich woods, the scent has top notes of absinthe extract, golden freesia and green anise and mid notes of orchid, saffron, and narcissus nectar and a drydown to antique wood, ebony musk, myrrh and amber. It is lovely to behold and even lovelier to wear.

Absynthe joins two other recent Avon fragrances: Spotlight, a refreshing mingling of citrus, bergamot, white freesia, tuberose and sandalwood that is so right for warmer months, and Jet Femme, a light-hearted yet heady scent for any season. There is an invigorating Jet Homme as well.

Keep some, give some but you really cannot have too many fragrances, especially this time of year.

www.avon.com

Fragrant Treasures

Lancome has introduced lighter versions of two signature fragrances.

Tresor Sheer, the newest version of Tresor, a lovely elixir to start with--lighthearted and yet thoughtful. It is the scent of Spring and is now available in a lighter embrace of bergamot, white pepper and freesia. Now you can surround yourself with a veil of this intoxicating scent.

Magnifique Eau de Toilette is an airier manifestation of the vibrant Magnifique, a magical mystery of spicy saffron, rose and deeply exotic nagarmota wood. Make no mistake, this Magnifique is every bit as heady and stirring as the original but perfect for warmer weather.

Try each, try both and have a deliciously heady Spring and Summer.

The Season for Sweet Lime and Cedar

It seems to really be Spring--finally! Time to surround yourself with your own personal warmth, light and fragrance. Sweet Lime & Cedar from British fragrance house Jo Malone was introduced last fall and now the line has expanded to include Shower Gel, Body Crème, a Home Candle, and the newest, a Body Oil. Now you can completely immerse yourself in this most lovely fragrance from dawn to dusk.

The fragrance itself is, like all of the scents from Jo Malone, singular. The first whiff of Sweet Lime & Cedar will transport you to the land where its inspiration was born, Siam, now Thailand. Top notes such as Kaffir Lime, Blood Orange, Spearmint and Pink Pepper along with middles notes that include Clary Sage, Coconut, Coriander, Lavender, layered on base notes such as Cedarwood, Amber and Tamarind. How deliciously delightful and at the same time, subtle, mysterious and unmistakable.

Jo Malone's unique philosophy encourages you to experiment with scent. Each of her original fragrances was designed to be worn alone or layered on the skin. By combining two or three, you can create an unexpected signature scent of your own. Think Wild Fig and Cassis, veiled with Honeysuckle and Jasmine or Amber and Lavender combined with Nutmeg and Ginger.

The fragrance collections can be combined as you wish and can be elegantly gift-boxed. Sweet Lime & Cedar Fragrance Collection makes a thoughtful and beautiful gift for you or for someone else. Or both.

Find it at Jo Malone Shops, http://www.jomalone.com/, and specialty stores including Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and select Neiman Marcus stores.