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I’m in the mood to celebrate the life of a very special man.  Yves Saint Laurent left his mark on the world of beauty and fashion.  Saint Laurent’s pantsuits were liberating and turned women’s work and recreational wear into high-fashion power wear.

YSL also created cosmetics and fragrance that was very popular with the YUPPIE set when I was growing up.  My mother received a lot of YSL gifts during that time, possibly because she is French and there is nothing more French than YSL!  My personal favorite was, OPIUM, the dark perfume bottle looks like the lacquered boxes from the Orient.  The tassle I would fix constantly drove me crazy - in a good way! Maybe those hours of playing with that Opium bottle and tassle inspired my love of Chinoiserie.

Now, for the purpose of this post… to tell you about two limited edition Yves Saint Laurent items!

YSL Baby Doll fragrance (pic below) is totally different in appearance, light, eye candy at it’s best. The box holding the four mini Baby Doll scents in place looks like a traditional macaroon box.  They are the perfect size for travel but I am concerned about the caps twisting off and making a mess so I will have to investigate the closure some time. 

YSL also has a Baby Doll sparkling body powder with a delicate scent,  “the Baby Doll woman has never been so seductive!”  If no one has ever told you, let me be the first, there is nothing more luxurious then a thin veil of body powder.  Get them while they last!

John Varvatos has been on the fashion scene for quite some time now, to capitalize on that success, JV has now splashed into the fragrance arena.  There is men’s fragrance available but I don’t know much about that.  My hubby has made it pretty clear that he wants to pick out his own fragrance and that’s just fine with me.

The subject for today is John Varvatos’ new fragrance for women.  It comes in the sweetest little bottle.  It is so cute, if I were a genie, I’d want to be in this bottle, the curves, the rosy peach color.  The scent is amazing as well, created by Rodrigo Flores-Roux (Givaudan) with direction from John Varvatos himself. 

Scent at first whiff delivers Aromatic Grappa, Georgian apricot, damascus plum and golden mandarin which is the hook leading into the top note of Egyptian jasmine and Turkish rose.  In the background there is oak moss, patchouli, tonka beans and wild honey.  All together an alluring, sensual fragrance, run out and sniff it.

CEW 2008 Beauty Award Nominee

Estee Lauder’s PRIVATE COLLECTION Tuberose Gardenia was created by Aerin Lauder and is described as “Two magnificent white flowers captured in a luxurious, elegantly simple bouquet.”

The Top Notes: Neroli, Lilac, Rosewood, Middle Notes: Tuberose Nature Intact and Gardenia. Surrounded by Orangeflower Nature Intact, Jasmine, White Lilies and Orangeflowers, Final Notes: Carnation, Vanilla Bourbon

Available as Parfum and Eau de Parfum Spray and readily available online.  The smell is pleasant enough but personally it seems like a scent more appropriate for an older woman, what is an older woman? not sure but older than me is all I can say! I really wanted to love this because I’ve always loved Estee Lauder products. Maybe it’s the Vanilla Bourbon at the end that is cooling me off on this perfume because I really can’t stand anything Vanilla. 

Thank-you to CEW and Total Beauty for the opportunity to test this perfume.  We don’t have to wait much longer to find out who the big CEW Beauty Award winners are, May 2, 2008!

Available @ EsteeLauder.com $125/2.5 oz.

Something making me very happy this season is Escada’s Signature Fragrance for Women.   I’ve always been curious about Escada, it’s been around forever and always makes it mark on the times.  Most of the times it’s for their fashions on and off the runway and red carpet but the fact is Escada fragrances are equally deserving.

Signature is a light floral perfume that has all-day staying power.  Originally released in 2005 it’s still being spritzed daily by adoring fans.  

Sniff notes of  jasmine, orange blossom, musk, amber, patchouli, black currant, leafy greens, cucumber, magnolia, Italian lemon, nectarine, muguet, rose, vanilla, and Bergamot. Perfect mix for anytime but it’s my choice for spring.  Escada is a brand that makes you feel like a woman, it’s elegant and feminine without the fluff and frou frou.  

With true vision of a global luxury brand they are opening (and re-opening) clubs all over the world, that’s not just sexy and beautiful - it’s smart!  Visit Club Escada in places like Beverly Hills, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Berlin.  Hopefully more locations will be added but I’m not holding my breath on Maine getting one anytime soon!

Escada Signature smells of  glamour, aspiration and style.  A perfume that will keep you partying into the night or smelling sweet at work, while gardening, running errands and all the other things women do daily.

I’m prepared to spritz whatever she does.

Ralph Wild is Ralph Lauren’s newest fragrance.  It’s described as a Wild Fruity Floral fragrance.  The topnotes are wild strawberries and luscious watermelon fuzed together. The midnotes are a blend of Cherry Blossom, Sheer Jasmine and Red Rose Petals. The drydown completes the experience with a creamy musk and smooth sandalwood. 

Go Wild with Ralph Wild, you can even enter to win a Vespa! Don’t go before you chant this name…

She’s the not-so-new face for Ralph Wild, Amanda Charlwood.  Amanda once did a children’s campaign for Ralph Lauren, and has built up her modeling repertoire in publications like Vanity Fair and Teen Vogue.  Stay tuned, we’re sure to see much more of her…

I heart Amanda’s Hair!  Huge Hair Envy!!!

It’s the dead of winter, few months to go ’til spring.  I’ve been spending way to much time inside, I need to get a mental trip. 

So what do Brazil ’s Carnaval and Fresh Sugar Lemon have in common?  they both make me think of summer! There’s no better way to do that than with music and fragrance! 

Winter is a great time to listen to tropical music like samba.  There are tons of samba compilation cds available to get you in the mood for Carnaval in Brazil (February 2 - 5, 2008). I wish American tv would play Carnaval, I watched it a few years ago on Brazilian tv and it seems very tame compared to when I was growing up. 

I never really thought about it but I’m sure I can find somewhere on the web to watch… hmmm…   Fragrance is another way you can bring that tropical feel to your wintry abode.  I’ve been using Fresh Sugar Lemon Eau de Parfum and it’s been taking me down memory lane. 

Summers in Brazil, getting fresh orange juice, churascaria’s with lemon juice on the table and of course fresh sugar-y lemonade. 

Summer just wouldn’t be summer without lemonade wherever you are.  Sugar Lemon has notes of Italian Bergamot, Yuzu, Mandarin, Lychee Flower, Orange Blossom, Ginger Flower, Oak Moss, Caramel, White Santal.  It is refreshing and invigorating and a must for any fragrance lover.  Not to mention a lot cheaper than going to Brazil!

Photo Credits: Sephora and People’s Daily