Wednesday, March 28, 2012

'Share the Love' With Free Lovestruck GWP

Starting today, purchase $78 from Vera Wang's Lovestruck fragrance collection at Macy's, and receive a free "Share the Love" T-shirt.

Wang designed the shirt exclusively for DKMS to encourage people to register as bone-marrow donors.

"I designed the 'Share the Love' T-shirt as a reminder that we each have the power to fight blood cancer and save someone's life," Wang said.

Leighton Meester is the face of the "Share the Love" campaign, along with 19-year-old blood cancer survivor Kerri Mullen, who teamed up with Meester to create a PSA for DKMS.

"'Share the Love' is an altruistic idea of love — it's about giving the gift of live to a stranger," Meester said. "The more people get swabbed and are willing to donate, the more lives we can save, and that's pretty incredible."

Every day, thousands of patients search the national registry in hopes of a bone-marrow-donor match. Fewer than 30 percent of patients find a match in their own family; the majority must search for an unrelated donor. Due to a lack of donors in the registry, six out of 10 patients will not receive a lifesaving transplant.

Vera Wang Lovestruck is a sparkling floral that opens with mouthwatering pink guava and mandarin, followed by a delicate mix of tuberose and lotus blossom. Behind it all are precious woods and sheer musk.

Visit GetSwabbed.org to register as a donor. Check out the PSA with Meester and Kerri here.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Kim Kardashian Flour Bombed

Kim Kardashian was flour-bombed yesterday, and not in a Viktor & Rolf way. According to the Los Angeles Times, K was pelted with a bag of flour on Thursday during a press event at London in West Hollywood to promote her latest fragrance, True Reflection.

The act was no joke ... the L.A. County sheriffs department was called to the scene to investigate the nature of the substance, only to discover it was common flour, the Los Angeles Times reports, adding that the perpretator, a woman, was held at the scene and released after Kim declined to press charges.

"Like I said to my makeup artist, I wanted more powder," Kardashian joked after the attack.

True Reflection hits counters this spring, featuring top notes of Italian bergamot, plum and peach; a heart of night blooming gardenia, chocolate orchid and lotus flower; and base notes of textured woods, patchouli and skin musk.

"It's so different than my other fragrances," Kim has Tweeted.

See more of the flour bomb incident at Hollywood Reporter here.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Beyoncé Births New Perfume

Just 10 weeks after giving birth to Blue Ivy Carter, Beyonce has more to celebrate than getting her pre-baby body back.

B is also bringing home a new addition to her Beyoncé Parfums collection.

Beyoncé Pulse Summer Edition, which hits counters this spring, is formulated to capture the essence of a playful, sun-drenched summer day.

The scent is a lighter and fresher rendition of her original Pulse perfume, perfect for flirty summer months.

Created by IFF perfumer Bruno Jovanovic, Beyoncé Pulse Summer Edition is a fruity floral with fresh and sparkling top notes of pear, icy mandarin and pink pepper; a heart featuring ginger orchid, jasmine and Tunisian orange flowers; and a creamy dry down of sapphire woods, musks and benzoin.

The turquoise juice is captured in a faceted bottle which rests in a dramatic inverted chrome cap, inspired by Beyoncé’s stage costumes.

The limited edition perfume ($49-$59) will hit counters this spring at select perfumery chains and department stores.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Scent is Playground for Designer Samantha Banks

Jewelry artist Samantha Banks is busy designing for Betsey Johnson Black Label, set to make its debut in stores across the nation this spring, as well as working on pieces under her own name to show at 323 East this fall. She's also helping spread some "D" love around New York with PLAYGROUND DETROIT, a production company that reps Detroit artists and musicians through events like gallery openings, concerts, and film screenings throughout NYC. Here, the talent of two cities shares her sweet musings on scent:

What is your favorite scent "in a bottle?"

I prefer to wear a spicy vanilla blend. I've never worn a perfume that doesn't at least carry a hint of it. It blends with my own pheromones very well, which is the most important part about perfume. Nothing smells exactly the same in the bottle as it does once it is applied to one's skin. I love to stop in the perfumer CB I Hate Perfume, which has a shop in my neighborhood.


What does it evoke for you?

For me perfume should smell delicious as a pastry, but one sweetened by mother nature's delights, still light and earthy.

What is your favorite smell that can't be captured "in a bottle," and why?

My favorite scent is that of fresh air by the sea shore. I've visited the shore on the E
ast Coast every year to see family and friends. For me it represents not only the beauty of nature and the freedom the endless-looking ocean conveys, but also love and relaxation.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera Fragrance Feud

Here at "In a Bottle," we love when fragrance and celebrity mingle, especially when there's a whiff of controversy in the mix.

So we were intrigued when we caught wind of Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine's fragrance feud with Christina Aguilera, his co-judge on The Voice. Just as Levine announced he's working on his first celebrity fragrance, Aguilera re-Tweeted a lost post from Levine that bashed star scents.

In his Tweet, Levine wrote "I also would like to put an official ban on celebrity fragrances. Punishable by death from this point forward."

Yesterday, Levine explained to People.com there is a "stigma" associated with celebrity fragrances and he hates them, "100 percent." And his explanation for why he is entering the fragrance fray might irk some other celebs, as he implied their scents are substandard. "I want to do a thing that's never done properly," he told People. "That's my goal."

Levine's fragrance, with a version for men and women, will be called 222, the singer's lucky number.

And Aguilera isn't holding a grudge. "Welcome to the celebrity fragrance family," Tweeted XTina, who is promoting her newest fragrances, Christina Aguilera By Day and By Night, available at Kohl's.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Varvatos Blends Celebrity and Fragrance with Star USA

Fashion Star John Varvatos' new show is getting mixed reviews, but his latest Star fragrance seems to be a hit.

The menswear designer is among judges on the new NBC show Fashion Star, which premiered last night. He's also promoting his newest men's fragrance, John Varvatos Star USA. The fragrance features top notes of red ginger, juniper berries and cedrat; a heart of blue spruce, green cardamom absolute and osmanthus absolute; and a base of vetiver, Venzuelan tonka and belambre.

Packaged with a cap inspired by vintage beer bottles, and a topper that replicates an old subway token, the men's cologne was created with the casual jeans-wearing guy in mind. The scent is part of Varvatos' Star USA fashion collection, which consists of high-end jeans, suits, shoes and accessories.

Detroit native Varvatos, who gave a shout out to his hometown in the pilot of Fashion Star, is head of a virtual fashion empire, and is poised to accept the 2012 Spirit of Design Award at the Philadelphia University Fashion Show on April 28.

And with the debut of Fashion Star, he can add reality show judge to his resume. The show pits up-and-coming designers against each other to vie for actual contracts with department stores that put winning merchandise up for sale the next day.

Along with Varvatos, Fashion Star features celebrity judges Nicole Ritchie and Jessica Simpson, host Elle Macpherson, and buyers from Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue and H&M.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Be Delicious with Rocker Rachel May

Rock royal Rachel May is busy working on a debut EP with her new band, The Difficulties, but she doesn't find it hard at all to talk about scent. The renowned rock critic for the Detroit Free Press is revered for her all-girl punk band Broadzilla, as well as her mad skills with an axe. Here, the guitarist, singer and writer talks about her favorite fragrance.

What is your favorite scent that can be captured "in a bottle?"

I have two.

The first one would be New West by Aramis. I have loved this scent since it was introduced in 1990 but over the last few years, I've only been able to find it online. It's become my special occasion scent, since I'm always worried that the bottle I have may be the last one I'll find.

The second would be DKNY's Be Delicious. It's a satisfying alternative to New West and is my go-to scent for daily use.


What do they evoke for you?

Both of these scents are very refreshing and clean and combine fruits and exotic florals with sensual elements. They can instantly transport you to a tropical island.


What is your favorite smell that can't be captured in a bottle and why?

I love the comforting smell of Indian food, a freshly peeled orange and the smell of fresh cut grass.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Angels Promote Very Sexy Fragrance

The Victoria's Secret Angels continue their tour of very sexy cities to celebrate the new Very Sexy Collection, which includes the newly-designed Very Sexy Touch fragrance.

Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel and Erin Heatherton kicked off the Very Sexy Tour in Miami, greeting customers at the Victoria's Secret Aventura Store on Feb 28.

The Very Sexy Tour continues in New York on March 13; Chicago on March 15 and Dallas on March 22.

The Angels are promoting the Very Sexy Bra Collection, along with its companion fragrance, Very Sexy Touch. The newest scent from the seductive Very Sexy fragrance collection is a fruity floral, with gilded apricot, lush Italian iris and warm amber wood.


Available as an Eau de Parfum ($42-$52); Fragrance Mist ($25); and moisturizing Body Lotion ($20), at www.VictoriasSecret.com.