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.