Inside SOS: Making Sense of Scents

My Science of Sephora trainings officially wrapped this afternoon, with an eaumazing section on fragrance. I smell more insider tips, tricks, and stats coming on...

-If people are exposed to rose scents as they study or sleep, their memory can improve by 15%!

-The top notes of a fragrance last for the first 5-10 minutes. Middle notes appear after 20-30 minutes, and the base notes emerge after 2 hours.

-When you close your eyes, your sense of smell is heightened!

-It takes 4,000 pounds of rose petals to produce 1 pound of rose absolute (what they use in fragrance). 1 pound of rose absolute costs about $6,000!

-Solid perfume is alcohol-free and has one of the highest percentages of essential oil concentrations!

-After it's opened, a fragrance has an average shelf life of 18 months.

-Store your fragrances in a cool, dry place with the cap on to avoid evaporation and changes in aroma.

-Men's skin is much more acidic than women's skin. Therefore, the essential oil concentration is much less in men's products. (Otherwise, you'd be able to smell your man from a mile away!)

-Single-note body butters can enhance the smell of your fragrance and make it last longer.

I hope you've learned something this week with all my SOS roundups! There's more where those came from. I'll be sure to share in the coming weeks, so hold tight my pretties!

No Scents In Committing When You Have A New One Every Night

Last Saturday made it official: It's summer. You know what that means?

The summer fling!

Time to pick two, three (four? Naughty!) numbers to keep you amused by day and ocupado by night. No commitment required, honey: These hot tickets weren't built with strings - just built for pockets.

Mini-perfumes and rollerball fragrances are the perfect no-commit spritz. They cost a fraction of their full-size counterparts so you can play the perfume field. Plus, they're so teeny you can stash a mini in every bag, purse, and pocket you own - they definitely love travel (sorry, airport security, but these sniffers stay in the carry on!)

If you're locked in a relationship with a 6-ouncer, it may be best to tuck it away for the summer. Otherwise, it may get jealous when you start stepping out with one -or more! - of these:

Pucci Vivara To Go
Interests: Beach, bbqs, and hot sunny days
Perfect Date: Pool party with the whole crew

Juicy Couture To Go
Interests: Shopping, makeovers, and reading dishy gossip mags
Perfect Date: Lunch al fresco at a trendy bistro

Fracas Eau de Parfum Roll-On

Interests: Art-house flicks, indie music, backpacking through Europe

Perfect Date: Wine country picnic for two

Got room in your handbag for a few more? Of course you do. Sniff 'em out here!

Tried + Tested: Benefit bSpot

It looks like the self-imposed ban has been lifted, because I just couldn't help myself.

I just needed to test the soon-to-be released fragrance bSpot by Benefit ($38). Regular readers of this blog will know that this is the part in the movie where the gush-fest begins. So cue the Peter Gabriel because I'm about to get all Lloyd Dobler boom-box.

The company's second fragrance is a gentle mix of florals, including fresh freesia and my fave of the moment peony, with a bit of sweet mango and tangerine. And there's a lingering scent of sandalwood with a hint of amber. The result is a scent that's light and fresh with a just-enough twist of that playful sexy kitten we all wish we could secretly be, but no lady would ever admit to aloud.

The box highlights "bSpots" (or in regular people talk, application tips) across the body. And the That 70s Show style packaging just makes the whole banana a little more fun.

xoxox - Jenna Mahoney

Borrowing Boy Stuff: "MMmm! Somethin' sure smells good!"

"I've been wearing Guerlain Vetiver for the past 25 years."

That's Elle Macpherson revealing her fragrance to Allure magazine. Is it shocking that this scent is actually pour l'homme?

Depends on who you're asking. Me? My answer is, "Bring on the menswear." Honestly, what would you rather steal? His fragrance? Or his underwear?

Exactly.

Go raid your honey's cabinet, and see if you can find - and steal! - one of these "smells too sweet not to share" scents:


Jean Paul Gualtier Fleur Du Male









Dior Fahrenheit















Chanel Allure Homme

Smells Like A Sweet, Sweet Summer

Reasons to love summer:
1. Vacations involving sparkling beaches
2. Strappy sandals
3. Summer fragrances at Sephora

Summer means switching your scent to something fresher (shopping excuse!).

For one, a lighter l'eau contains less alcohol - some are even alcohol free. Why? Because when sun hits skin splashed with alcohol, it can actually stain. Ick! Besides, do you really need a drying dose of alcohol in your summer skin routine?

Secondly, the lighter scent of a summer fragrance is just simple math. Humidity + Heavy Scents = Nothing you'd want to stand next to on a crowded subway in the middle of a hot summer.

So tuck your favorite musk into a drawer, and start the season with a magnifiscent summer scent like:


Jean Paul Gaulthier's Classique Summer







Givenchy Very Irresistible Summer Cocktail









DKNY Be Delicious Charmingly Delicious

Sweet Music: New Usher Fragrance

File this under: I can't believe this is my life. Last night I got an unbelievable-last-minute invite. And I was among a few selected guests at a dinner to celebrate R&B superstar and JT duet-er Usher's limited edition fragrance which will be available in September (Usher For Him is available now). Yeah I know totally crazy (!) and yes you can say you know me…

The dinz was yumz and the company was too. Usher brought along his wife (one word—totally gorge! Her skin is absolute perfection) his manager (who also works with my latest obsession Nicole) and his adorably cute and smiley son. But instead of fawning over the amazing talent and hot bod of this young phenom, I was—honestly—focused on the fragrance. Just like the last batch he has developed one for men and another for women. I'm love, love loving the ladies' version. It is so sweet, light and delicio that I'm actually thinking it may be my wedding scent.

The mix of jasmine and gardenia is feminine with touch of innocence. And the peach top note is what makes the mix subtly linger. Yeah, I'm in love. Oh and my new bestie Usher gave me a copy of his new album. It rules…swoon… xoxox. - Jenna Mahoney

Let The Computer Pick Your Next Perfume!

Sephora has a fancy new way to find a fragrance...other than the old-fashioned "sniff test."

Meet the fabulously intuitive Scentsa.

Scentsa is a touchscreen kiosk that you'll see in select Sephora stores, and this high-tech honey can tell you everything you want to know about a scent in a jiffy.


You can browse both his & hers perfumes based on favorite notes or scents (Woodsy? Citrusy? Flowery?), by designer (Chanel? Marc Jacobs? Cartier?), or even by name (Angel!).

Scentsa can even show you other perfumes with the same notes as your current favorite fragrance (Note: I believe this is called, "Broadening one's horizons.").

Since I'm currently having a moment with Marc Jacob's Splash, I used Scentsa at Sephora's Powell Street shop to discover that:

• This fresh-herb inspired perfume contains notes of tomato and basil (um, so I like pizza and things that smell like it, ok??)
• Splash is in the fresh-herb-inspired family of notes
• Similar-scented picks include Privet Bloom, Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine-Basilic, and Fresh Redcurrant

Scentsa also gives a perfume's history, the year is was created, and for those of us who couldn't crack Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey on the first try, there's a phonetic pronunciation guide, too.

Try it! Seek out your Sephora store for a Scentsa near you:

• New York City (42nd & Madison, 711 Lexington, 150 Broadway, Flatiron, Times Square)
• Chicago (Northbridge)
• Las Vegas (Miracle Mile, Venetian)
• Orlando (Florida Mall)
• Dallas (Northpark)
• Atlanta (Lenox Square)
• Honolulu (Ala Moana)
• Massachusetts (Burlington)
• California (Powell Street, South Coast Plaza, Fresno)
• New Jersey (Garden State, Short Hills)
• Washington, DC (Tyson’s Corner, Georgetown)

Suds In The Tub, Suds In The Mug: Soap Made From Beer

Yes, what you are looking at is soap made from actual PBR beer.

To me, this is #6 on the list with those other seven signs of the Apocalypse. To others, beer apparently makes a great soap. No word on specifically how anyone found this out.

As I've never taken a can of beer with me to the shower, I'm having trouble imagining this process of discovery. Was this created by someone who regularly raids kitchens for "soap-like things?" Not that I'm judging. Hey, I get it. We all need a break from smelling like roses...uh, I guess.


But beer? I have some better ideas.

How about coconuts?

Philosophy's The Tiki Hut Gift Set comes with coconut-scented treats that smell just like pie. Or, for you beer-washers, just like a pina colada.







Or! Brown sugar?



Fresh's Brown Sugar Body Wash can make your whole tub smell like a bakery. And doesn't that sound nicer than a brewery?





Or how about an entire fruit basket?


Sephora's got an entire line of bubble bath that smells like fresh fruit. Guava? Lime? Nectarine? Peaches? Grapefruit?









Plus, just think: By not turning that beer into soap, you won't have to field any more of those pesky, "Whoa, someone have a late night last night?" questions from your coworkers.


Beauty Counterpoint Alert! We just heard from a soapmaker who uses brews in his bubbly blends. Here's the haps on those hops: The barley in beer can soothe skin (hey, we've done it with our oatmeal), and hops are full of b vitamins, calcium, zinc, and manganese. How about a toast to your tub!

A Scents Of Style

I'm recruiting partners for the high crime of stealing another person’s great idea.

What we’re lifting: Gorgeous perfume bottles re-purposed as single bloom or bud vases.

I freely admit to occasionally buying a bottle of perfume not really for the fragrance, but more for the vessel (I’m not the only one, right? Right??). Some of these glittery glass works are too pretty to put away - ever. But when the glass is no longer even half full, you’ve got a sad little empty sitting purposeless amidst those other scentsible but less pretty replacements.

Unless, of course, you say, "Recycle me!” with flowers.

Here’s what I’d get just for the glass:

Classique by Jean Paul Gaultier

L de Lolita Lempicka

Young Sexy Lovely Collector Edition by Yves Saint Laurent

Now find a blown glass beauty of your own!

Aisle Style: More Wedding-Season Beauty

Piggybacking off of Jenna's bridesmaid beauty post, I decided to round up a few more bridal buys for wedding season.

Tarte Seal the Deal: My friend Justin actually used the phrase "Seal the deal," when he proposed to his now-wife Devon. (Sooo him--love it!) Of course I had to buy this for her immediately after I heard the story. It's also very wedding-day appropriate, since it seals your lip color. In other words, it's you-may-now-kiss-the-bride-proof.

Philosophy The Bridal Party: Beyond cute! Gift this to the bride-to-be so she can indulge in Wedding Cake, Bubbly, and Bridal Bouquet Shower Gels before she gets showered with attention on her big day.

Vera Wang The Fragrance is inspired by the intense romance and the passion a man and a woman share on their wedding day—and beyond. Created by the iconic wedding-dress designer, it's the perfect bridal blend of Bulgarian rose, calla lily, mandarin flower, gardenia, white stephanotis, and sheer musk.

Do you have something else to add to our bride beauty guide? Please share--or forever hold your pretty peace.

Sephora in Miami: All in the Sugar Fam!

Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree—apparently, neither does the sugar. As Aquolina was dolling out samples of their sugary-sweet EDT and body mousse today, we made an adorable discovery: It’s a family thing! That’s General Manager Isis Torres at right with sister-in-law and fellow Aquolin-er Guelsy Torres. Guelsy’s daughter Desiree, “the littlest family member in training”, was also on site helping out. But family ties weren’t the only thing peaking interest. Torres says Aquolina’s new hair perfume—which just hit Sephora shelves—is creating quite the buzz in store. "It's a fantastic spray," she said. "There's no alcohol in it, so it's not drying on your hair at all." Sweet-smelling summer strands … watch out, cabana boys.

Obessed: Gwen Stefani Harajuku Lovers

I ain't no Hollaback Girl, but I'm so a Harajuku girl!

Today's WWD debuts Gwen Stefani's new Harajuku Lovers collection, available this fall--and I'm literally panting over it. I mean, how cute are these bottles?!

As a cheeky follow up to her recent L.A.M.B. fragrance launch, Stefani created the dolls as little amine-inspired versions of herself and her four backup singers, who are based on Tokyo's famous Harajuku Girls. (btw, I'll be live-blogging from Tokyo next week, but more on that later.)

From the article: The scents are all inspired by Stefani's views of her backup singers. Love is described as "sweet, caring, free-spirited and always off in her own little world." Lil' Angel is "constantly looking out for others," but is no saint. Music is "always looking to make someone laugh" and is "charismatic." Baby is "enticing in her frilly innocence." (And, naturally, G is the leader of the pack.)

Image courtesy of WWD.

The Fragrance Foundation Announces 2008 Fragrance of the Year FiFi® Award Finalists

Hat's off to this year's Fragrance Foundation FiFi Awards nominees! Considered the "Oscars" of the fragrance world, the star studded 36th Annual FiFi Awards & Celebration will be held on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. Here are the top finalists for Fragrance of the Year Award in each category (in alphabetical order):



WOMEN’S LUXE
• Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche
• Coach
• Daisy Marc Jacobs
• DKNY Delicious Night Eau de Parfum
• Dolce & Gabbana the one
• Emporio Armani Diamonds
• Hermès Kelly Calèche (available in Sephora stores)
• M by Mariah Carey
• Nina by Nina Ricci
• Ralph Rocks by Ralph Lauren
• Usher She

MEN’S LUXE
• Attitude by Giorgio Armani
• Burberry Summer for Men
• Calvin Klein MAN
• Chrome Legend by Azzaro
• Diesel Fuel for Life Men
• Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme
• Fleur du Male Jean Paul Gaultier
• “For Him” Narciso Rodriguez
• Guess Suede
• Polo Explorer Ralph Lauren
• Tommy Bahama Set Sail St. Barts Him
• Usher He

WOMEN’S NOUVEAU NICHE
• Agent Provocateur Maitresse
• Armani Privé Rose Alexandrie
• Bond No. 9 New York Andy Warhol Silver Factory (unisex)
• Bond No. 9 New York Bryant Park
• Bond No. 9 New York Saks Fifth Avenue for Her
• Burberry Brit Sheer
• Gucci by Gucci
• Iris Pallida
• L’Eau de Jatamansi
• Prada Infusion D’Iris
• Versace Versace
• Visa de Robert Piguet

MEN’S NOUVEAU NICHE
• Armani Privé Vetiver Babylone
• Bond No. 9 New York Andy Warhol Silver Factory (unisex)
• Bond No. 9 New York Saks Fifth Avenue for Him
• Courvoisier L’Edition Imperiale
• Cravache Robert Piguet
• Givenchy Classic Fragrances
• Kiton Black Eau de Toilette Spray
• L’Oeuvre Noire by Kilian
• Tom Ford for Men
• West Indian Lime by Crabtree & Evelyn

WOMEN’S POPULAR APPEAL
• Bijan Nude Women
• Celine Dion Enchanting
• Flirtatious
• Florecita Shelbie Bruce
• Intimately Beckham Women
• Samba Sexy Woman
• So Luxurious by Daisy Fuentes

MEN’S POPULAR APPEAL
• Bijan Nude Men
• Blue Seduction for Men by Antonio Banderas
• Intimately Beckham Men
• Mustang Cologne Spray
• Samba Sexy Man

WOMEN’S PRIVATE LABEL/DIRECT SELL
• Banana Republic Malachite
• Christian Lacroix Rouge
• Gapbody Washed Cotton
• Gap Individuals – The Original (unisex)
• Secrets d’Essence Rose Absolute by Yves Rocher
• Bath and Body Works Signature Collection Velvet Tuberose EDT
• Supermodel by Victoria’s Secret

MEN’S PRIVATE LABEL/DIRECT SELL
• Banana Republic Cordovan
• C.O. Bigelow Barber Cologne Elixir Blue
• Derek Jeter Driven Black
• G7 Gapmen Daily Grooming
• Gap Individuals

Daisy Marc Jacobs For Sephora!

Fashion Week is over, but the posh designer trendiness? Just gettin' started. This summer, Sephora's making a nod to the flower child days of yesteryear with a brilliant bouquet of Daisy Marc Jacobs accessories. An itty-bitty candle collection, a soap trio, brush sets, and beauty bags and cases—all with that fabulous gold and yellow color scheme and imprinted daisy. So bust out those bell-bottoms, baby. Things are about to get beautifully nostalgic—and florally fragrant—in here! —Jessica Anderson, Sephora

The Perfect Eau For Your Beau

Maybe he's just not that into you —ooor, maybe you gave him a cologne that smells like takeout curry. But hey, no need to bust out the Ben&Jerry's just yet ... with V-day coming up, we've gotcha covered. Our lovely Joannie McIntyre sat down with our pals over at Gift Rap and decoded all the manly spritzes out there, helping you pick the one that'll suit your EDPicky sugar-pie. If this doesn't do the trick? Maybe you just weren't that into him either. —Jessica Anderson, Sephora
image: pukeariki.com

An Apple A Day

Our boy blogger Cade says… Working mostly in the fragrance world of sephora.com, I’ve come to realize there are a handful of wonderful scents seemingly straight from the fruit cart. Nina Ricci is back with a new fragrance in the vision of a gorgeous an apple, complete with a white metal top, leaves, and all. For the ladies, it smells light and flowery, but with a nice crisp apple undertone. Another recent apple-inspired scent is DK’s Delicious Night. It has the crisp apple, but combines black orchids—sensuous in every bit of the word. I held it hostage on my desk for a couple weeks, it's that hot, and it looks gorgeous—a modern gem-like apple. DKNY offers a few siblings to the new Delicious Night, which include a couple for men. You rock, Donna! And lastly, Demeter, the maker of the too-real-to-be-true scents, has a couple as well. The Guava Nectar is great, especially if you're planning a tropical vacation this winter. Any way you slice it, Mother Nature provides some of the best classic scents around. — Cade Peterson, Sephora

Tote-ally Trendy Stella

Confession: I used to raise an eyebrow at the types to trek around town with earthy satchels ... now? I officially want to join the ranks. It's trendy! Stella McCartney has designed an adorable, 100% organic cotton tote just for Sephora, filled with a full-size CARE By Stella McCartney 5 Benefits Moisturizing Cream and Stella EDP Roll-On. Its extremely limited edition—Sephora US has the worldwide exclusive, and once it sells out, thaaaaz it—so don't drag your feet on getting yours online. At $90, with a $180 value, it certainly outscores your other designer duds ... not to mention, everyone and their mamma's going natural. Why miss that boat? —Jessica Anderson, Sephora

Armani Code: A Sure Bet

Our boy blogger, Cade, says ... I saw this and had to share it. I’m not sure if it’s that I’m a guy, that I love playing poker, that I moved here from Texas (it is Texas Hold `Em, after all), or what, but there’s a new fragrance set that is hawt. Yeah, I said it! Armani just released a new fragrance set for men. It includes a cool bottle upgrade (limited collector’s edition) and the best part? A sleek Giorgio Armani signature set deck of playing cards. IMHGO (In My Humble Guy Opinion), that beats the heck out of the aftershave or deodorant that usually comes with fragrance sets. So, for anyone out there with a man in their life who has the Texas Hold `Em fever, likes poker nights with his buddies, or is just a gambling enthusiast, this is the gift of the year. P.S. Guys secretly love to be spoiled too (cough, Valentine’s Day, cough). Armani Code is one excellent scent, and when combined into this themed set, there’s nothing to lose! I know when I’m playing poker, I like to know I’m betting on a sure thing.—Cade Peterson, Sephora

I Object To Your Perfume?

CNN just posted a list of Weirdest Work Stories of the Year, and there's one that waaaaaay too many of us can relate to: "An employee in the Detroit planning department sued the city, saying a female coworker's strong fragrance prohibited her from working. The woman claimed she is severely sensitive to perfumes and her coworker not only wore a strong scent, but also plugged in a scented room deodorizer." A) How did we not hear about this hilarity earlier? and B) To all the over-dousers out there: Get to know the fragrance finder, people, the fragrance finder! —Jessica Anderson, Sephora

REDBOOK Beauty Awards!

REDBOOK just named their annual beauty award picks, and who cleaned house? Our Sephora Blockbuster Palette! The triple-tiered palette received an MVP award—Most Valuable Product, get it?—and was featured in the "Luxe Goods We Crave And, Yes, Deserve" category. Other beauty-full shout-outs? Marc Jacobs Daisy, Benefit Justine Case, Lavanila The Healthy Body Butter in Vanilla, Givenchy Rouge Interdit, and Juice Beauty Green Apple Body Peel. Congrats to the winners! — Jessica Anderson, Sephora