Unique, feminine, sensual – three almost common descriptives for the Fall 2012 perfume picks. I love the balance of sweet (vanilla, patchouli, orange blossom) with spicy and woodsy notes, and these fragrances do a beautiful job at that. I hope each of these scents will surprise your senses.
[Lancome] La Vie Est Belle
They’ve captured this perfume in the name – life is beautiful. It is no wonder that this wonderful new fragrance from Lancome will make you feel like your life is just beginning. You can’t miss the radiant face of Julia Roberts in all the ads. The perfume bottle is whimsical and beautifully representative of this fragrance. The little would-be gauzy scarf tied around the top and the curves around the bottom give this perfume bottle a feminine touch. The key notes are a blend of sweet iris, vanilla and patchouli, but it’s nicely counter-balanced by tart orange and black currant. I think this perfume is incredibly luxe – the more you wear it, the more you will realize that there is a bigger story behind the almost-oriental front. It is these understated fragrance notes that make it feel so beautiful, for lack of a better word.
You will feel: radiant, energized, confident, hopeful
[Lady Gaga] Fame
Leave it to Lady Gaga to come up with one of the most striking scents and an over-the-top striking perfume bottle. Even the tagline “The first ever Black Eau de Parfum” is true to the look – a grotesque and dazzling black bottle with a gold set of gold claws on top (like a hand of the little monster). The fragrance carries over this mystique – it’s spicy and sweet and lingering at the same time. The notes of incense and belladonna cast a shadow with the opulence of fame and its dark side. The sweet jasmine, honey and tiger orchidea add sensuality. This one is not for the faint of heart.
You will feel: femme fatale
[Jimmy Choo] Jimmy Choo
What’s a perfect accessory to any outfit, that can instantly transform your look and your mood? Perfume, of course. So no surprise to see Jimmy Choo perfume. This fragrance – simply perfect for a night on the town – is glamorous, sensual and sophisticated. At first, the sweetness of caramel, sweet orange, patchouli and sweet toffee is overpowering, and then the woodsy/musky notes provide a nice balance. The bouquet will be your throne. It’s perfectly exotic for Fall. The luminous bottle is a reflection of how it will make you feel.
You will feel: charged, glamorous, sexy and modern
[Elie Saab] Elie Saab
This perfume instantly brought a smile to my face. The sheer gorgeousness of orange blossom is magnetic. I was not prepared to fall in love with a designer perfume, it’s a rare perfume event. But as much as I loved the dominant orange blossom in Elie Saab, along with the sweet patchouli and jasmine, it was nice to get the peppery, woody cedar to keep it balanced. I talk about balance a lot, but balance is what makes a good fragrance great, in my opinion. This is certainly not a new fragrance from Elie Saab but it feels fresh and it’s perfect for the crisp Fall days, with its glowing consistency of orange blossoms. Shaped like a diamond, the bottle reflects the light, to go with the ode to light motif.
You will feel: unique, intense, bright
