News: 582 posts

A fascinating article about an Australian couple who picked up a fatty lump from a beach on the West Coast. The South Australian West Coast ambergris weighs around 14.75 kilograms. The current price for a gram of ambergris is approximately $20, and even this seems like a low estimate. As ABC West Coast article states, “It has been a welcome relief to the West Coast family who found it, as they are one of a number of professional fishers without their livelihood owing to the closure of the garfish fishery at the western end of Venus Bay.” Also see this story reported on BBC. Thank you for the link, M!

New York’s Bergdorf Goodman already has testers of the newest Annick Goutal fragrance Songes (please see my Songes review). Songes is available as EDP spray 50 ml, EDT spray 50 ml or 100 ml, gorgeous Moon bottle EDP 100 ml, Perfumed body cream, Shower Gel. The fragrance can also be ordered by emailing Annick Goutal [email protected] The official release is now slated for March of 2006. See moon bottle and read more about this fragrance comprised of frangipani, ylang-ylang, jasmine, sandalwood and vanilla on Annick Goutal website.

Chypre Rouge will join the export line as the newest fragrance from Serge Lutens. Available as Haute Concentration EDP, it will be released in the fall of 2006. Thanks to Cédric of Basenotes.

Yves Rocher is releasing two new fragrances for Valentine’s Day. Ode a l’amour tendrement contains almond, hawthorn, Mirabelle plum, may blossom, musk. Ode a l’amour passionnement is comprised of apple, Szechuan pepper, Mirabelle plum and vanilla. Both fragrances are available from the Yves Rocher website for $9/1oz (special internet offer price). I have not tried these fragrances yet, but I should note that many of Yves Rocher fragrances are very good and are created by famous noses. For instance, the latest Voile d’Ambre was created by Olivier Pescheux and Pur Désir de Lilas (also Lys, Rose, Gardenia and Lavande) were composed by Annick Menardo.

With only a few weeks before the Valentine Day, I shall start writing about the flower that is full of symbols, many of which are pertinent to the day celebrating love. “A floral symbol sacred to Venus and signifying love, the quality and nature of which was characterized by the color of the rose. A symbol of purity, a white rose represented innoncent love, while a pink rose represented first love, and a red rose true love,” says the Dictionary of Art. At the same time, rose conceals many secrets under its silky petals. ‘Mystery glows in the rose bed, the secret is hidden in the rose,’ sang the Persian poet and perfumer, Farid ud-din Attar, in the twelfth century. Is love ever an easy to understand concept anyway?

Therefore, I shall try to cover as many different aspects of rose as possible, from its innocent side to its seductive, femme fatale persona.

Please come back on Monday to read my review of the newest fragrance by Les Parfums de Rosine Rose d’Amour.

P.Diddy caused another stir with his racy ad shot for the new Sean John label fragrance Unforgivable (if you are curious, you can read my review of the fragrance). The ad shows Sean Combs wrapped in sheets with two women, one Caucasian and one Asian. The ad caused such a stir that the parent company Estée Lauder began to shoot a new “store-friendly” ad. The original ad will be used by Sephora (the only retailer to use it) and the billboards.

The global brand president of Estée Lauder John Demsey stood by Sean Combs’ original decision, “We believe the ads represent the true spirit of Unforgivable. This fragrance is about a man who lives his life with passion and, unapologetically, we respect Sean Combs’ creative perspective and support him in his vision. While it’s unfortunate that some retailers were so uncomfortable with something with that much sexual presence, we respect their decision to do what is right for them.” Via New York Post and other news sources.