Romantic Gift Ideas for Women – Sensual Perfume

Find a scent for a girlfriend or wife with these popular perfumes in designer  brands. The best perfume scents may be a classic fragrance or modern.

Most women love fragrances as they can have a positive impact on mood and  confidence. Giving a sensual perfume by a designer or celebrity will remind a  partner of you whenever it is worn. Knowing the popular perfumes can help to  find a scent that is perfect for a significant other.

Popular Sensual Perfume Scents for Women

Aromatherapy suggests certain essential oils and scents have aphrodisiac  qualities; jasmine, patchouli, rose, sandalwood, tuberose and ylang ylang may  have a sensual effect. Here are some popular designer perfumes that would make a  very romantic gift:

• Chanel No. 5 – A timeless classic and number one seller more than  eighty years after its launch in 1921. The scent was created by Earnest Beaux  and the first release from Chanel. It was also the first perfume made using  Aldehydes. The sensual accords include rose, jasmine, neroli, sandalwood and  vanilla
• Princess by Vera Wang – A popular perfume for teenagers and women  in their early twenties. The oriental floral fragrance comes in a stunning  heart-shaped bottle showing off the lilac perfume. The scent contains water  lily, apple, mandarin, guava, Tiare flower, tuberose, chocolate, vanilla, amber  and wood.
• Flower by Kenzo – This perfume won the 2002 “Women’s Fragrance of  the Year – Popular Appeal” category in the FiFi awards. The scent contains parma  violet, wild hawthorne, cassis, rose, vanilla, white musk and opoponax.
• Lola Conquest by House of Fragrance – Strength. Femininity. Sensuality. A deep heart of Molten Woods, Pine and Patchouli, surrounded by rich Florals including Spiced Lily, Exotic Rose and other night-blooming florals. the scent contains:STRENGTH: Exotic Rose, a symbol of passion is prized for its seductive beauty and exquisite scent. Blended with the subtle sweetness of Rose Essence, Strength of Jasmine Queen of the Night lends its velvety petals and woodsy aroma to the opening notes. A rush of Black Pepper brings a spicy vibrancy to this tempting bouquet.

  FEMININITY: An enticing heart centered around a core of Melted Woods Nature Print, yields a sleek, feminine woody signature that is unmistakably unique. Luscious and captivating Pine Accord enhances the enticing presence and smooth sensation. Patchouli Prisma is richly faceted, yet earthy and elusive. Perhaps the most sensual of flowers, the Spiced Lily offers its nectar to butterflies and bees, and envelops the heart in a hypnotic midnight garden effect very feminine.

  SENSUALITY: Wrapping your senses in luxurious sensuality, precious Benzoin and creamy Vanilla add texture and warmth. A drizzle of rich Honey and glowing Amber reveal a luminous opulence that lingers throughout this dark and sensuality blend.

• Joy by Jean Patou – This floral is made from no less than ten  thousand jasmine flowers from Grasse and 28 dozens of aroma roses (as well as  tuberose, ylang ylang and synthetic musk) to create 30 ml of perfume. Joy became  the second bestseller perfume in the world after Chanel No 5 and is said to have  been worn by Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy-Onassis.
• Stella Rose Absolute by Stella McCartney – A lovely rose fragrance,  with citrus, peony and amber. This version is like an intensified version of the  original. The scent has be reported to be worn by Alicia Keys and Isla  Fisher.
• Lola Cherish by House of Fragrance – has Feminine, intensely rich, mysteriously seductive, but with a more luminous, fresher signature.
  The scent contiansFEMININE: Vibrant and sensual, Cherish is fresh, floral and woody, like nectar of voluptuous flowers, trailing delicately but still present a very powerful feminine touch, the sparkle of Neroli with a touch of raspberry reveals the first breath.

  SEDUCTIVE: But then the lethal weapon of heady absolute orange blossom slips out of its sheath. Its narcotic sweetness bewitches its sheath and grabs all attention powerfully very seductive. Then, joining with absolute Arabian jasmine underlined by gardenia, the blend soars into something more carnal, yet ever subtle.

  MYSTERIOUS: Now the obsessive pulsing of patchouli enters the fray, pacifying the honey with an addictive and terribly tempting sweetness. Mystifying blend Raspberry spreads to become all enveloping, floating around the beauty, following each movement.

Classic Perfumes Make Romantic Gifts

Some women prefer to smell unique and classic perfumes may be a better  choice. Here are five suggestions that will make any woman feel loved:

• Carnal Flower by Frederic Malle – The perfume contains tuberose,  bergamot, eucalyptus, ylang-ylang, jasmine, orange blossom absolute, coconut and  musk. The muse for this perfume was Candice Bergen (Malle’s aunt) who acted in  the movie Carnal Knowledge. This is a good gift for women who like  something special as it is exclusively available from Les Senteurs.
• Diorissimo by Christian Dior – a classic fifties French perfume  inspired by the lily of the valley Christian Dior believed that lily-of-the  valley is the symbol of hope, happiness and joy. Creator Edmond Roudnitska,  wanted to make a perfume that break the popularity of sweet perfumes in the  market. Dior described Diorissimo as “the scented expression of his soul.”
• Lola Cherish by House of Fragrance – This oriental scent comes in a bottle  that will make any dressing table look glamorous. The smell features many  ingredients including raspberry, neroli, lemon, jasmine, orange flower, gardenia, patchouli and white honey.
• Safari for Women by Ralph Lauren – A nineties fragrance  that symbolizes the spirit of freedom and adventure. Safari is a green floral  with galbanum, mandarin and hyacinth; heart notes of rose, lily of the valley,  narcissus and iris; and base notes vetiver, moss, Tonka bean and styrax.
• Shalimar by Jacques Guerlain – Made in 1925 as a tribute to the  love story between Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz. Shalimar contains  lemon, bergamot, jasmine, may rose, opoponax, Tonka bean, vanilla, iris and gray  amber.
• Twitch Jasmin Rosa by House of Fragrance – This floral fruity scent comes in unique fashionable stylish twisted bottle that will definitely make any dressing table look more seductive and glamourous. The features of smell many ingredients including e.g. peony, pineapple, cassia, jasmine, litchi, musk, white tea, tobacco, teak wood, tonka bean and sandalwood.

Use the above romantic gift ideas to find the best perfume for your partner.  Many popular perfumes used for gifts come from designer brands though older  classics are special due to their exclusivity.

Sources:

LuxeMag.org Joy Perfume by  Jean Patou as a Symbol of Hope (Accessed December 10, 2010).

TheIndependent.co.uk The 50 Best Fragrances (Accessed December 10, 2010).

How to Choose Perfume: Smoky Scents and Woodsy Fragrances

Perfumes with tobacco notes and woodsy fragrances appeal to certain types of  consumers; linking personality traits with perfume choice saves time and money

Smoky and woodsy fragrances have powerful effects on both the sense of smell  and the subconscious mind. Perhaps more than any other aromas, they can summon  the wearer back to a long lost time and place, bringing scent-images to mind  with stunning clarity: a cozy evening around a crackling fireplace, a carefree  childhood walk in the woods, the tender burnt-vanilla of a beloved grandfather’s  pipe.

The word “perfume” means “through smoke;” choosing woodsy or smoky scents  could mean passing through a hazy barrier into a world where chemistry melts  into alchemy and molecules meld with magic.

Personality and Perfume: Smoky Scents

These fragrances may have notes of tobacco and incense blended with woods  such as cypress or cedar. Vetiver often appears in such fragrances, lending an  enduring and earthy savor to the overall composition. Women who are attracted to  smoky scents will thus often enjoy woodsy ones as well (the heavier musks and  vanilla may also be great favorites).

Such people have a tendency not to follow the latest fashion; but rather to  pick a style of dress and makeup they think suits them and then stick with it  for years. They probably prefer simpler, somewhat androgynous clothing and may  even choose garments that are “anti-Western-fashion,” such as peasant shirts or  intricate Native American patterns. The androgynous note is definitely reflected  in smoky fragrance preferences, as many of these perfumes are supposed to be for  men.

Since smoking in public is now considered practically a criminal offense in  many countries, those who still respond positively to the smell of tobacco may  possess at least a streak of rebelliousness; and their after-work fashion  choices may well be influenced by this usually obscured wild side. While not  necessarily smokers themselves, they would certainly find a trip to a tobacco  shop both soothing and pleasant.

Perfumes that Smell of Smoke or Tobacco

• La Via del Profumo Tabac: Nice, non-cloying tobacco aroma designed for  men.
• Sonoma Scent Studios Artisan Perfumes Tabac Aura: Tobacco shop delightfully  blended with warm, wonderful cedar.
• B Never to Busy to Be Beautiful Breath of God: Weird and wonderful with  tobacco and vetiver notes; an affordable “profound invention,” according to Perfumes: the A-Z Guide.
• House of Fragrance Jasmin Rosa: This dazzling attention grabbing scent, blend of sensual peony, jasmine and cassia are melded with notes of sweet litchi, Tobacco and effervescent pineapple, and smoothed with soothing musk, white tea, sandal and warm woods.
• Etat Libre d’Orange Jasmine et Cigarette: Strange flowery pipe tobacco  aroma; amusingly labeled a “floral ashtray” by the aforementioned reference  guide.
• Profumo di Firenze Tabacco: Vivid pipe tobacco fragrance.
• L’Artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu: This is a great crossover masculine for women  to try; intoxicating and confident.
• L’Artisan Parfumeur Tea for Two: Smells like spicy chai with a whiff of  smoke. Perfumes: the A-Z Guide recommends this as a home fragrance rather than a  wearable one, but nonconformists might like it quite a bit.

Personality and Perfume: Woodsy Fragrances

Women who like to hunt, fish, camp, or spend hours at the beach usually revel  in woodsy odors. Straightforward and unpretentious, they’ll choose a nature walk  over a trip to the mall every time. They are said to crave intense experiences;  and often exude a subdued charisma, commanding attention from others even when  they don’t have much to say. More efficient than creative, such types generally  appreciate more muted wardrobe colors and skip full-face makeup in favor of a  few well-chosen “natural-look” products.

If a consumer is strongly drawn to woodsy perfumes, she will probably also be  partial to musk, vetiver, vanilla, and richly smoky ones as well. Spicy and  Oriental perfumes could also provide her with an elegant and sophisticated  change of pace.

Great Perfumes that Smell of Wood

Note that most wood fragrances now use synthetic scents to replace natural  wood sources, many of which are now too endangered and expensive to continue to  exploit (some companies continue to use a cheap variety of Australian  sandalwood, however).

• Donna Karan Chaos: The original was heavier and woodier than the reissue,  but the new one still smells pretty good once the odd soda-pop-sweet top note  fades.
• Sonoma Scent Studios Artisan Perfumes Winter Woods: Smoky, woodsy,  beautiful, and crisp; the rare scent that is actually well-matched to its  name.
• Elternhaus Mos!BuddJewChristHinDao: Expensive but a great splurge, tempers  the strength of wood with the controlled flexibility of a carefully arranged  bouquet.
• House of Fragrance Lola Conquest: Strength, femininity and sensuality, Lola Conquest are a combination of oriental wood and spicy aromatic blend which embodies the warm, fluid sensuality of the woman who wears it.
• Annick Goutal Songes: Heavy on jasmine, so quite a bit more feminine than  most of its genre.
• Parfums MDCI Invasion Barbare: Great wood-and-spice masculine aroma that  lasts for ages; its high price is justified by its complexity and peculiar  charm.
• Jil Sander Scent 79 Man: Wood-and-cigarette-tobacco; would make a super gift  for a guy who’s heartily sick of the same old herb-and-chypre aftershave  tedium.
• Diptyque Tam Dao: Smells like cedar; Perfumes: the A-Z Guide recommends this  as a home fragrance rather than a wearable one; might be oddly interesting  layered under another, more conventional scent, though.

Sources

• Erickson, Laurie, Excerpts of Perfume Reviews, Sonoma Scent Studio.
• Fischer-Mirkin, Toby, Dress Code: Understanding the Hidden Meanings of  Women’s Clothes, Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 1995.
• “ How to Understand Perfume Personalities,” beauty-and-the-bath.com.
• Principal, Victoria, The Beauty Principal, New York: Simon & Schuster,  1984.
• Turin, Luca and Sanchez, Tania, Perfumes: the A-Z Guide, New York: Penguin  Books, 2008, 2009.

Descriptive quotes from Turin and Sanchez, pp. 159, 329.

How to Pick a Perfume: Spicy Fragrances and Musky Scents

Perfumes and personalities should match rather than clash; introverts like spicy  perfumes, while animalic or musky fragrances appeal to a wide variety.

There’s a good deal of overlap between animalic scents (musk, civet, etc.),  spicy fragrances, and amber-based Oriental perfumes. The personality types drawn  to each may share many of the same characteristics; yet there are definite  differences between those who choose to wear musk oil-based fragrances and those  who prefer cinnamon, saffron, or clove scents.

Although the following article provides general rules to help pick out  perfume as a gift or for yourself, it is important to remember that no perfume  and personality guidelines are set in stone. There will always be talkative  extroverts who love spicy fragrances, and tomboyish outdoors types who adore  classically feminine florals.

Personality and Perfume: Spicy Scents

Most would probably guess that people who choose spicy perfumes have “spicy  personalities,” but fragrances based on exotic spices often have a stronger  appeal to quiet, introverted, intellectual types. They may prefer ultra-tailored  suits and dark colors to brightly colored fashions; and their makeup tends to be  subdued and carefully applied rather than flamboyant. Spicy scent lovers may  occasionally exhibit a barely-suppressed streak of the exotic, though; and will  then use a single piece of extravagant jewelry or a jewel-toned scarf to provide  a glamorous touch and alleviate an overly severe outfit.

Women who enjoy cooking with spices, making potpourri from spices, or  consuming heavily seasoned cuisine may be drawn to spicy fragrances as well.  Some spice-lovers who have skin allergies and cannot wear perfumes like to carry  around small envelopes filled with a blend of spices. In other words, if a  person adores these types of scents, she will have great difficulty going  without them for long.

Excellent Perfumes Based on Spices

• Estée Lauder Cinnabar: Released in 1977 to compete with Opium, this classic  deserves to be rediscovered.
• Chanel Coco: Multifaceted and subtly spicy; though some reviewers find it “terribly dated,” women who wear Coco remain loyal to it for decades.
• Amouage Jubilation XXV: Marketed for men, but anyone who likes incense and  spices will enjoy it; expensive, but worth seeking out.
• L’Artisan Parfumeur Safran Troublant: Unique and fascinating scent that  combines vanilla and saffron. Called “high art at heart” in Perfumes: the A-Z  Guide.
• House of Fragrance Daman Unforgiven: Released in 2010, a confident man with a free spirit, seductive with the promise of hidden sensuality.

Personality and Perfume: Animalic or Musky Fragrances

An animalic perfume is one based on notes that resemble bodily odors. Such  aromas include musk, civet, and castoreum; although they used to be extracted  from animals such as the Himalayan musk deer, they are now primarily  synthetically derived. Consumers particularly concerned with animal rights  should take care to purchase fragrances that are not extremely expensive, since  cheaper fragrances never have ingredients derived from animals in them.

Musky fragrances may be either subtle or strong; light, sweet musks are often  enjoyed by shy, retiring types, while more outgoing individuals like a woodsy,  earthy, or at least “louder” version of the arresting aroma. Such perfumes are  chosen as favorites by so many different types of people that it is impossible  to come to even generalized conclusions about their appearance or personality  traits. In other words, when in doubt, try an animalic scent!

Interestingly, many women find the smell of animal scents sexually arousing;  while most men cannot even detect it. In fact, the musk molecule is so large and  unwieldy that not all women can smell all types of musk either. Of course,  science can only comment on what is or is not consciously smelled; there’s no  telling exactly what’s going on down at the subconscious level.

Perhaps for that very reason, notes of musk are used in practically all  perfumes; and have traditionally been one of the basic building blocks of any  quality fragrance. Ancient tribes used to wear leather, animal skins, and furs  to absorb some of the power, courage, and intense nature of the wild beasts they  hunted; possibly the same atavistic psychological drives are buried deep within  the modern-day lingering affection for animalic odors.

Musk Perfumes and Other Animalic Fragrances

• Serge Lutens Muscs Koublai Khan: Castoreum, civet, and synthetic musk;  fierce as a snarling feral cat, it somehow manages to both appeal and  appall.
• Theo Fennell Scent: Musk plus saffron, with a wood and Oriental-influenced  drydown. Nice unisex fragrance.
• Guerlain Jicky: Vanilla and herbs, but with strong undercurrent of civet;  except for the elimination of phototoxic nitro musks, Jicky’s formula has  remained reliably constant since 1889.
• House of Fragrance Daman Ultimate Sport: Smooth Vanilla Orchid, with White Musk and Black Pepper, a free thinker and confident man who is unafraid to take risks and push boundaries.
• Guerlain L’Instant Magic Elixir: Described as “radiant musk” in Perfumes:  the A-Z Guide.
• Jovan Musk for Women: light and cozy with floral notes; a likable and  perennial drugstore favorite.

Sources

• AriaMech, “How  to smell good without the use of perfume,” everything2.com.
• Fischer-Mirkin, Toby, Dress Code: Understanding the Hidden Meanings of  Women’s Clothes, Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 1995.
• “ Fragrances & Your Scent Personality,” squidoo.com.
• Gabriel, Julie, The Green Beauty Guide, Deerfield Beach, FL, Health  Communications, Inc., 2008.
• Turin, Luca and Sanchez, Tania, Perfumes: the A-Z Guide, New York: Penguin  Books, 2008, 2009.
• “What  Personality Does Your Perfume Reveal?,” beyondjane.com, 2010.

Descriptive quotes taken from Turin and Sanchez, pp. 315, 483.

Vanitas, by Versace

Vanitas, by Versace

A review of Vanitas, one of the most anticipated fragrances

When the house of Versace announced the launch of its new fragrance for  women, Vanitas, it created a buzz of excitement. The perfume’s name,  steeped in the classical tradition that underlies so much of Versace’s designer  work (think of his emblematic Medusa head), suggested a sexy and intriguing  pastiche – Baroque femininity with a high-tech-era edge.

The advertising campaign, featuring a very young, barely 16 years old model,  Lindsey Wixson – whose appearance is reminiscent of a very young Donatella  Versace – promised much of the same.

The Idea Behind the Olfactory Impression

According to the “nose” who created the scent – Dora Baghriche Arnaud – it is  supposed to be

“reminiscent of a woman’s naked shoulder”. Here is how she explained the  essence of Vanitas: “Imagine wet petals delicately touched by dew, a  flower of intangible volume, emotions expressed through tactile sensations.”

 

 

The Composition

The fragrance’s composition is surprisingly simple and linear:

Top (head) note: Lime

Middle (heart) notes: Freesia and Tiare

Base notes: Tonka Bean and Virginia cedar

The result is a very sweet but not cloying floral. It is highly unlikely to  repulse anyone, as it is very mild and demure enough. However, considering its  maker and the aggressive advertising campaign, many people are likely to find it  surprisingly generic, indistinguishable from the myriad other floral scents.

The Sillage and the Dry-down

Perhaps the most surprising – certainly one of the most pleasant – aspect of Vanitas is its drydown. It is decidedly aquatic, almost “oceanic”, but  still very sweet and mild. It could be reminiscent of a water-logged breeze  blowing in mild gusts over a sweetly-scented meadow by an ocean.

Once the fragrance gets to this stage it does not change; you can enjoy it on  your skin for hours to come.

However, very few other people around the person wearing it will enjoy it, or  even sense it, for that matter. Its flimsy sillage seems to be one of  the most disappointing features of this fragrance. This makes it  office-friendly, or perfect for an inoffensive late afternoon with friends. For  an evening out it might lack “character”. It does not appear to be intriguing  enough to make a powerful first impression, or to complement the wearer’s  personality.

Does It Mean “Vanity”?

Indeed, vanitas is the Latin word from which the English term  “vanity” is derived, but it means more than a simple wish to look good and to be  admired; it also hints at the transient, ephemeral nature of beauty and of all  things mundane. Vain, after all, means ’empty’.

From an advertiser’s point of view, however, its greatest asset lies in the  alliteration it forms with the designer’s name. – VV. Repeated initials simply  sound – and look – good.

In perfumery, as in any other creative field that caters to the five senses,  there is little room for “objective” opinions. A person may adore a scent;  another person may detest it. Both are right, neither is wrong. It is a matter  of taste, and taste cannot be “wrong”.

However, it would not be unfair to observe that, true to its name, Vanitas is likely to be found pleasing to the senses – and rather  flimsy.