PARIS Bound 2013...

It was a little over a year ago when I traveled to the south of France with a desire to learn more about perfume and the history behind it. I asked my my friend and colleague Kelly to come along with me because I had no clue about Europe. She'd been all over the world and was always down for a trip. We spent 12 days traveling to Nice, Grasse, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Ez, St.Tropez, and Provence. A year later and more passionate then ever about perfume, I booked my flight to Paris!!!!  Outside of Grasse,which offers a historical perspective on perfume, Paris is the place where perfume, fashion, food, and culture, intersect. It's a must visit for the perfume aficionado and I sureley can't wait until May 2013!!!

*Side note: Two years ago I wrote my short term goals on a large sticky note and hung it on a wall in my bedroom. My goals at the time were, trips to Grasse and Paris, create a perfume blog, start a LLC, attend fragrance related events, join social media, network with other perfume lovers, and freelance for a perfume company. Today, all those goals are met, except one (the LLC).

Paris will be an entire different experience for me. I have no doubt I will return home more inspired and passionate then before!!!! In preparation for the trip, I plan to engage my twitter followers and readers some how! I have six months to plan but do stay connected to see what's in store!

Making Perfume part of your Life Style

You can be a regular guy who doesn't leave home without Creed and his IPhone, the creator of the infamous "RED BOTTOMS" Christian Louboutin who prefers Frederic Malle perfume secure in his carry on luggage as he travels the world, or you can be a simple man who married "The One" and wanted to make Dolce and Gabbana perfume part of his wedding day. Regardless of who you may be, perfume is a "Necessary Luxury" and should be part of your life style.  

Picture shared by member of a FB perfume community

Christian Louboutin says, "A spritz of Frederic Malle's Bigarade fragrance makes me feel at home no matter where I am." Picture taken from Departure Magazine

"He met THE ONE, He fell in love the THE ONE, He married THE ONE
Dolce&Gabbana The One was part of their special day!
Picture kindly shared byPetronella.com
 website byPetronella.com

Tamar Braxton wears Lady GaGa perfume, FAME, for her BIG launch partyin NYC!

Not only is Tamar darling and friendly, she is a beautiful woman in person!

Her husband is a Tom Ford man, of course:)

A woman and her scent

Rihanna is giving the paparazzi that look... Lol! A sexy chica knows to have her favorite perfume handy when necessary!


*Picture courtesy of TheYBF.com

Kenzo and Rihanna

Rihanna recently rocked a Kenzo T-Shirt bringing attention to the Paris based Japanese bread fashion house. Apparently Rihanna is a fan of Kenzo, which doesn't come to a surprise! Kenzo is known for their eclectic,hip,funky,and fun designs!

Unbeknownst to some, Kenzo also has a successful perfume collection. I've never tried their fragrances, but it's worth pointing out the connection!

Pictures courtesy of:

Perfume Court (Kenzo Perfume)

Yahoo Lifestyle (Rihanna pics)

Kenzo.com (official Kenzo website)

Osswald Parfumerie and Luxury Skin Care Boutique Opens

                                                             A fragrance gem easily found in the the heart of SoHo.

Welcome to Osswald 

My upcoming vacation to the Dominican Republic required I take a trip into the city to renew my passport, which expired in June! After submitting all necessary forms for an expedited delivery and getting a bite to eat, I decided to walk a few blocks to the new fragrance boutique, Osswald on West Broadway. Along the way, I passed Benefits(makeup) and was swayed into the store by a zealous sales associate using the pitch,"Come in and try the world's best selling mascara." Two purchases later, I departed the store with exaggerated eyebrows and extended eyelashes:)

When I arrived in front of Osswald, I was impressed with the exterior and large windows. I walked inside and up the stairs and was greeted by friendly associates. After introducing myself and a few minutes of small talk, I was shown around the boutique and introduced to their impressive line of niche fragrances and Mr. Osswald's larger then life miniature perfume bottle collection ( very cool and reminiscent of a vintage bottle collection I saw in Grasse).

All packaged up

After an hour or so of whiffing, conversation, and laughs, I left the store with a new fragrance by Huitieme Art Parfume and a generous amount of perfume and skin care samples. When asked,"what's special about Osswald? The response I was given was, "service" and "exclusivity" with a "Swiss"approach. With a host of retail stores and boutiques in NYC, there are few fragrance boutiques or apothecaries period and even fewer, if any, offering a European perfumerie experience like Osswald.

For a full list of perfume and skin care brands carried at Osswald, visit  www.osswaldnyc.com


My purchase from Osswald.



TAKE IT WITH YOU!!!!

A must have accessory for the fragrance lover on the go.. So far, I have two of these reasonable priced and fashionable  atomizers from Travalo.

Fragrance Choice for NYC's Fashion Night Out!

Dress: Michael Kors
Scent: Grenats by Keiko Mecheri ($115.00) Visit MIN NY website
           Top Note: Pomegranate
Travel size perfume  atomizer: $15 and up depending where you purchase it from. Travalo.com

Scent and Look of the day

Scent: Incense Oud by Kilian

Look:
Shoes: snake skin pumps by Pelle Moda
Skirt- Loehmans (Blue stretch pencil skirt)
Shirt- Ann Taylor
Handbag- Emma Fox

Location: Teaneck, NJ ( business luncheon)

This morning I left my apartment feeling empowered and unstoppable....thanks to Michelle Obama and her astounding address last night at the DNC! I wanted to translate that exact energy into my look and perfume selection. The pencil skirt paired with a long sleeve silk Ann Taylor top and complimentary pumps were all appropriate for my daily routine and perfect for today's slight breeze and overcast weather. The perfume, Incense Oud by Kilian, gave me extra pep in my step. This unisex fragrance is reminiscent of an actual incense minus the ash droppings and clean up. It's warm, sexy, smoky, and bold while maintaining a tailored consistency throughout the day. The price for this perfume is wicked (bottle is $395) hence the reason I don't wear it often. I don't have a full bottle but I do have the travel size which is shown below. I don't consider Incense Oud an every day fragrance. Instead, its reserved for those days when I feel "in charge" or "empowered" like today.

Bergdorf Goodman is the home of the new Balenciaga EDP

Not many pieces of mail stop me in my tracks, except for my Bergdorf Goodman magazine! Instead of getting cozy on my couch, I opt to sit on the wooden step and flip through the pages. The fashion, of which I can not afford, the designers, the articles, and historical content I find to be fascinating and inspiring...especially as I consider creative ways to associate perfume and lifestyle together. I'm not a regular Bergdorf shopper by far, but I find myself there occasionally checking out exclusive fragrances or attending private events.

Tomorrow is Fashion Night Out in NYC. Definitely looking forward to being part of the mix and stopping by Bergdorf Goodman to check out the new Balenciaga perfume below.

LAYA by Ne'emah in Vogue Fall fashion edition

Don't know too much about Arabic fragrances, but the more I interact with Arabic customers at SAKS the more intrigued and curious I become. After Paris next year...maybe Dubai!

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