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.

PERFUME WITH HONEY

Honey Perfumes: 

The sweet golden liquid known as honey is one of the nature’s most miraculous products. Honey is a syrupy delicacy made by bees. There are more than twenty thousand different species of bees, but just four of them are skillful enough to make honey. The honey bees are making this sweet food using nectar from flowers. A single pound of honey is a lifetime work of about three hundred bees. It is estimated that the bees’ colony needs to visit about two million flowers before it collects enough nectar to make a pound of honey. This is why honey bees never sleep! Instead, a standard crowd of a single beehive makes up to 400 pounds of honey each season!

Honey note in perfumery is distinguished by its soft and balsamic sweet chords, and often used to underline and emphasize floral notes. The scent, as well as the taste of honey, depends on its sort: it can be predominantly woodsy, floral, herbal, or even tobacco-scented. The honey scent is used in perfumery for purpose of introducing gourmand nuance in the composition. Honey note is revealed in the sweetness of Thierry Mugler’s Angel, which is a perfect example of the gourmand fragrance category. The note can also be found in Lola Cherish and Lola Conquest by House of Fragrance, Red Door by Elizabeth Arden, and Bvlgari Man by Bvlgari

Thierry Mugler Angel

Angel was created by Olivier Cresp and Yves de Chirin. Top notes are melon, coconut, mandarin orange, cassia, jasmine, bergamot and cotton candy; middle notes are honey, apricot, blackberry, plum, orchid, peach, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, red berries and rose; base notes are tonka bean, amber, patchouli, musk, vanilla, dark chocolate and caramel. This perfume is the winner of award FiFi Award Hall Of Fame 2007.

Lola Cherish

 

The Lola Cherish woman has been dazzling, always seductive. This ‘playful’ aspect inspired us immensely. Cherish was created by House of Fragrance. Top notes are Raspberry, Neroli, Amalfi lemon; middle notes are Jasmine, African Orange Flower, Gardenia; base notes are patchouli and white honey. This perfume created for  A confident woman who believes in Feminine, Intensely rich and mysteriously seductive. Fresher approach to bring a distinctive illumination. For woman who feels sensual, soft and romantic.

Lola Conquest

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. Conquest was created by House of Fragrance. Top notes are Jasmine, Rose, Pepper, Spices; middle notes are Patchouli, Guaiac Wood, Lilly, Pine; base notes are Amber, Benzoin, Vanila and honey. This perfume is a strength, femininity and sensuality, but with a more luminous, fresher signature for woman, Like the soft seductive curves of a feminine silhouette, Lola Conquest embodies the warm, fluid sensuality of the woman who wears it.

Elizabeth Arden Red Door

 

Created in1989, Red Door is a classic, elegant signature fragrance, a symbol of glamour and luxury, inspired by the famous Red Door Spa center. It opens with ylang-ylang and red rose, at its heart; orchid, jasmine, lily-of-the valley, orange blossom, wild violet and freesia. The base is composed of honey, sandalwood and vetiver. The nose behind this fragrance is Carlos Benaim.

Bvlgari Bvlgari Man

 

Bvlgari Man by Bvlgari is a orijentalni drveni fragrance for men. This is a new fragrance, Bvlgari Man was launched in 2010. The nose behind this fragrance is Alberto Morillas. Top notes are lotus, bergamot and violet leaf; middle notes are vetyver, woodsy notes and sandalwood; base notes are cashmere wood, benzoin, white honey, amber and musk.

AGENT PROVOCATEUR BY AGENT PROVOCATEUR FOR WOMEN

Agent Provocateur is the signature fragrance of the house. Its sharp very intensive animalistic and very provocative juice has become a modern classic combining Indian saffron, coriander from Russia, Egyptian Jasmine and Vetivert from Haiti among other exotic elements.

The fragrance is in a wonderfully tactile precious porcelain bottle with the shape of an egg (or a bomb?). It is so rosy and innocent, contrasting with its wild and shameless erotic scent.

The composition starts strong and sharp with a spicy note of saffron. Warm floral notes of magnolia, Indian jasmine and gardenia blend together with strong woodsy-chypre scent

Agent Provocateur by Agent Provocateur

EDP 100ml

DAMAN Unforgiven Perfumes and Cologne for Men

DAMAN Unforgiven eau de toilette, Perfumes and Cologne for Men

The new arrival in fragrance world, DAMAN Unforgiven eau de toilette a cologne for men. The packaging is cool like its name; I like the man dominated bottle approach which is normally represented the brand name daMAN. it is now become my top 8 favorites. I wear it for business and for nights-out as it is soft, fresh spicy and very seductive smell which is attracted to my girl friend 😉 as she commented during start this fragrance.

 

 

FRAGRANCE NOTES:

A woody aromatic fragrance for the man who defies convention, and resists the ordinary every day, finding satisfaction in the unexpected. His fragrance, a provocative blend of citrus and woods, liberates the senses — fresh, clean, profoundly sensual — a signature statement of determination and desire. Be unexpected.

This fragrance broadens its appeal to young men because is not a perfume to sample on paper, it should be worn — and applied with a generous hand — to experience its subtle phases of development. Unforgiven has good lasting power and silage, it smells more masculine.

Daman Unforgiven contains notes of citrus (bergamot, lemon, grapefruit), “deep blue sea” accord, peppermint, pink pepper, nutmeg, ginger, jasmine, cedar, Vetiver, patchouli, labdanum and frankincense.

DAMAN Unforgiven EDT Fragrance Notes Details

CREATED FOR:

•   Strong, confident man with potent, charming, sensual, elegant and charismatic elegance combines English and French sophistication.
•   A confident man with a free spirit, seductive with the promise of hidden sensuality.
•   An audacious yet classic man, his fragrance leaves an impression of elegance and spontaneity.

FAMILY:

 1- Fresh Spicy
2- Citrus
3- Smooth Woody
4- Balmy Musk, Green Smooth and Sleek
5- Smoke Fougère

To view more details and information about Daman Perfumes please visit their site DAMAN UNFORGIVEN Fresh Fragrance for Men

30 inspirational web designs 2012 of perfume website

30 Inspiring Examples of Perfume Websites

The world of perfume is quite big, there are lots of well known and respected brands on the market. But do they really care about their brand on the web? It’s not a secret that successful business nowadays is connected with the Internet. How should perfume website be designed to be successful and competitive?

 

 

There is no doubt that website design should reflect the brand or product features. Also it should pay attention to user friendly navigation and other essential information needed for clients.

 

Perfume Websites

In this showcase you will see 30 examples of perfume websites with short descriptions discussing how they stand out from the crowd and what techniques they use. I hope you’ll find some inspiring examples and these will help you with your future projects.

FendiItalian Fashion House Fendi perfume website with big product video presentation, navigation is very easy to understand. More feature which is differentiated from other perfume website is making FAN. I like the idea.

Calvin Klein Fragrances

Less is more. Calvin Klein Fragrances website is a great example of minimalism in web design. Pure white background, clean fonts, modern drop-down menu with product previews create an elegant and comfortable feel about the brand.

Chanel

Chanel uses ash white as the main color of the website. The website is totally bright color with a highlighted its ever green fragrance Channel No. 5 with a model which is looks like and definitely Brad Pit as I read the news Chanel set to unveil iconic Chanel No.5 campaign fronted by Brad Pitt, A statement from channel “It is the first time we’ve had a man speaking about a women’s fragrance. We think very much that the perfume is a seduction between a man, a woman and the perfume. No.5 is our leading fragrance, and we are willing to make the investment to keep it on that level.”

House of Fragrance

House of Fragrance website also uses a big photo as a main design element. Main page showing image gallery and in this way they’re highlighting their new launched 2012 product – perfume. Also you can see useful drop-down menus on the top that help users to find a all products in section of perfumes with particulars information of each product created for and fragrance family. As well as within this useful drop-down menu section products all products fragrance details, complete and help to buyers buy according to their moods.

Cacharel

Cacharel fragrance shop uses a white pattern on the website similar to House of Fragrance to direct all the attention to products placed on a dark background videos. Simple but smart technique. Also at right side user able to share on facebook and tweet their products.

Caron

Lots of flash effects can really impress the average visitor. Dark colors, colorful with floating flowers previews of the products create contrast and highlight the products.

Burberry

Burberry uses most impressive and modern navigated product gallery and on the sides of the website say everything. A bit confusing but still impressive. Complete website with online store.

Antonio Banderas Seductive Fragrances

Banderas collaborated with celebrated Spanish fragrance company Puig to release a series of fragrances for men and women, to international success. Mainly Antonio Banderas perfumes is probably known for  seductive fragrances. This website shows that dark black is a big part of their brand. Highest quality products are fade to red and gold roll-over image create outstadning seductive looks. The main accent of the website is Antonio Banderas. The site relies on his personality to represent the product. Elegant, subtle and attractive.

Chloe

A model with big large bottle, green a nature look color used as a background and a video presentation on the right side create a garden feel. Also using color for the products points user’s attention to the perfume.

Diesel

Diesel brand is often labeled as provocative and sexy. This website just proves that.

Giorgio Armani Beauty

Dark colors dominate in this website and create an elegant feel. A sexy Hollywood actress Megan Fox with handsome and good look model photos grab attention and present the product features.

Thierry Mugler

Complete flash site, dark colors dominate in this website and create an elegant feel. 20 years of Angel! slogan attract to visitor and buyers their consistance, durability and brand recoginzation. photos grab attention and present the product slide show big image features.

Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana use an unusual website structure which helps to create an outstanding look and product oriented web design. Dolce & Gabbana start their compaign brand The One with Matthew McConaughey.

Cerruti 1881

The advertising campaign is fronted by French singer and actor Marc Lavoine who was signed up last year as the new face of the fragrance. The brand this time wants to explore a different brand of masculinity and a more casual mood. A very big image of the Marc Lavoine left side, and the right side top to bottom scroll images and videos of products is used on Cerruti 1881 website.

Dana Classic Fragrances

The simple colors used on Dana Classic Fragrances help to focus on their products, and adding features of online store more classy looks.

Cartier

Another great example of red color usage in perfume website design. A room-like 3D effect on the background and floating perfumes look interesting and attractive.

Carolina Herrera

The contrast used on this website helps to highlight the product which is presented in a close-up view.

Clinique

The Clinique website looks like a traditional e-commerce website with lots of navigation menus and sometimes too much confusing information because of different type of site templates. Very minimalistic and simple layout.

Christina Aguilera Fragrance

One more nominal perfume website example. Beautiful pink color variations, “girlish” stuff and Christina Aguilera on the left side tell you everything about the sweet product.

Britney Spears Beauty

The black website background helps to accentuate the colorful product and personality presentation. Simple top navigation is clear and easy to use.

Beckham Fragrances

The provocative and personality-based perfume website of David Beckham. Black minimalism example, Dark colors at top and bottom and middle area background image create an elegant and powerful look and feels sporty.

Dior

Black minimalism example. Dior uses simple and clear top navigation and expressive product browsing at the bottom manually.

Fcuk

The main picture says everything. Provocative and sexy, this is how fcuk grabs the attention of their clients, upside down slideshow create more attraction.

Estée Lauder

The Estée Lauder store looks like other common e-commerce websites. The only thing related to perfume is a big photo of a model and the product.

Jennifer Lopez Beauty

Glossy website name and navigation reveals that the product is related to a prominent personality and luxury.

Bulgari

Bulgari Fragrances website uses a big photo as a main design element. The model holds Bulgari perfume and in this way they’re highlighting their product – perfume. Also you can see useful drop-down menus on the left side that help users to find a desirable product.

Kate Moss Parfums

Kate Moss Parfums website is product oriented and uses different colors to present different products. Kate Moss is next to the product and gives a personal touch to the perfume.

Hugo Boss

The Hugo Boss website stands out from other perfume website with unusual navigation. Silver passing to grey color background highlights white quadrangles where all the main website pages are located. Beautiful flash effects create fascination.

MontBlanc

An attractive and typical eCommerce site. Biscuit (light brown) color variations create the feel of knowledge, power and integrity. This color is often associated with the stability, hearth, home, the outdoors, comfort, reliability, approachability and this website looks very graceful and endurance.

Celine Dion Fragrances

Another celebrity based website design. Subtle colors and elegant Celine Dion create an impressive and touching feeling with her first fragrance Signature fragrance.

Conclusion

To summarize everything posted here I must say that perfume websites are very varied in structure, colors usage, navigation type and more compared to other niche websites. One of the most common attributes of the perfume website is image usage as a main website element.

Most of the listed examples use celebrities and their fame to create a better product reputation. What do you think about the listed examples? What makes a perfume website successful? Please share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

New Calvin Klein Fragrance: Encounter

New Calvin Klein Fragrance: Encounter

It’s been a while since Calvin Klein launched a major men’s fragrance and I was eager to try it out when I heard about it.

The ENCOUNTER Calvin Klein campaign comes in a 2-min short film starring Alexander Skarsgård and Lara Stone. It’s modern take on classic film noir – the dark and mysterious creative unfolds through a complex game in which the man ultimately remains in control of his desires, leaving the story open to infinite possibilities. Watch the video below before I go on about the scent.

The Scent

ENCOUNTER Calvin Klein did not disappoint as an addictive cocktail of crisp spice, warm cognac and sensual woods. Extremely masculine and mystery to smell, I think it will get a good following. It opens with a gasp of rum and orange moving on to hints of egyptian jasmine and patchouli, and finally settling down in a sexy musk at the end.

Calvin Klein encounter will be available from November 2012 in Singapore, but I am fortunate to be the lucky few to get to try it first. [Smirk on the face]

John Varvatos Artisan Black Fragrance

John Varvatos Artisan Black Fragrance

 

The brand John Varvatos is synonymous with the America Rock culture and it is reinforced with ARTISAN BLACK- the 4th and the latest, fragrance to the John Varvatos fragrance family.

The John Varvatos ARTISAN BLACK fragrance evolved from the success and demand of John Varvatos ARTISAN ( the previous fragrance), which the designer was closely involved in during its development thus bearing his signature mix of old world craftsmanship with a modern edge. ARTISAN BLACK showcases a surprising symphony of contrasts, deep and textured as it is refreshing and invigorating

The juice is a refreshing cologne that opens with a juicy tangerine top note that gradually dissolves  into a hearty Nigerian ginger heart note , settling finally to woody and sexy Patchouli.

The hand-woven ARTISAN bottle has been reinterpreted with a black lacquer finish giving ARTISAN BLACK a bold, modern and sleek look. The lustrous black cap features a debossed silver logo. As a result, the ARTISAN BLACK presentation is a sleek, elegant and bold interpretation of ARTISAN, still hand crafted with its own unique character and charm.

Source: John Varvatos Fragrance.

Jenson Button fronts BOSS’s latest fragrance

Jenson Button fronts BOSS’s latest fragrance

Formula 1™ fans now have a chance to smell like a racing champion. BOSS Fragrances recently launched their latest edition of BOSS BOTTLED.SPORT globally and fronting the campaign is none other then 2009 Formula 1™ World Champion Jenson Button, whose success story aligned him perfectly to represent BOSS’s brand.

Becoming World Formula 1™ Champion in 2009 was an achievement Jenson Button had been preparing himself for since childhood. Button began karting at the age of eight, and at the age of 17 he became the youngest driver ever to win the European Super A Karting Championship. Highlights of his career to date – including 197 Grands Prix, 9 wins, 7 pole positions, 617 points – are a true testament to outstanding success achieved through preparation and determination.

The Fragrance : BOSS BOTTLED. SPORT.

BOSS BOTTLED.SPORT winning fragrance composition opens with energetic notes of fresh pink grapefruit while the heart comes from the spicy notes of cardamom and lavender. Masculine and woody vetiver forms the base of the perfume bring the scent to a victorious finale. This is an energetic fragrance that fit those with an active sporty lifestyle.

The packaging of the fragrance follows the same iconic design as BOSS BOTTLED., with subtle enhancements to the outer carton with a carbon fibre effect reflecting the high–performance nature of the product.

BOSS BOTTLED.SPORT is now available at your nearest BOSS Fragrance counter.

Source: BOSS

Smell like sunshine with Paul Smith

Smell like sunshine with Paul Smith

 

A fragrance specially made for the summer weather just can’t go wrong in Singapore right? With our year long warm and humid weather, wearing the right fragrance becomes all the more important.

Paul Smith recently launched the Sunshine Edition for Men specially for the summer season. The scent is a spicy cocktail of nutmeg, black pepper and coriander, sharpened by grapefruit with a sandalwood base.  Paul Smith Sunshine Edition for Men is very summery and light but it isn’t ephemeral and has a good deal of presence, it opens with a bright and fizzy accord from the spices, moving into middle fruity notes and settling gradually into a textured woody base notes – fully expresses the timeless elegance of the Sunshine for Men Fragrance.

Sunshine Edition for Men is extremely easy to wear and perfect for a long day out in the sun when you want to smell refreshing and nice.

Source: Paul Smith, Luxasia

 

Voyage d’Hermès Perfume – a pure unisex perfume

Voyage d’Hermès Perfume – a pure unisex perfume

French luxury brand, Hermès recently launched Voyage d’Hermès Perfume– a  pure unisex perfume version of it’s original eau de toilette that was launched 2 years ago in 2010.  The new edition gives the user a more intense experience based on the musky composition built around the notes of the original Voyage d’Hermes EDT, with added floral notes of rose and warm amber. Additional hints of delicate cardamom and juniper bring out the fragrance’s full-bodied musk base, amplifying its warming effect. The original spur-inspired slide-swivel flacon bottle designed by Philippe Mouquet is also  updated in the form of a dark black enamel bottle that now contrasts with the chrome casing and saddle tack detail.

For those of you who is still hunting for a Mother’s Day gift, get the Voyage d’Hermès Perfume for mum as it makes a luxurious gift. It’s unisex, but I feel the masculine side of it more (on me). And if mum does not like the fragrance,  you can always keep it for yourself. (Grin.)

Leaving you here with the Voyage d’Hermès Perfume TV commercial. Enjoy.

 

 

Source: Luxasia