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And celebrity fragrance trend continues… Mariah Carey has recently signed a deal with Elizabeth Arden to develop her own line of fragrance products. The company anticipates launching it in spring 2007.

As WWD reports, Mariah Carey is not the first celebrity working with Arden. “Its deal with Britney Spears, signed in March 2004, has yielded two top-five hits: Curious Britney Spears, launched in September 2004, and Fantasy Britney Spears, launched in September 2005. Arden also has Hilary Duff under contract for beauty products since last September (the first fruits of that deal have not yet been released), and signed Catherine Zeta-Jones in February 2002 to be the face of its core Elizabeth Arden brand. In addition, NASCAR star Jeff Gordon has been the face of its Halston Z-14 brand since May 2004 – and the original celebrity fragrance maven, Elizabeth Taylor, is also part of the company family.”

Legendary footwear (if this word can be applied to his works of art) designer Manolo Blahnik introduces his first candle. Its top notes of fig, ivy, and gardenia rest over softness of violet, chocolate, heliotrope, vanilla, and musk. The candle is presented in a signature white pouch and shoe box.

Available for $75 from Neiman Marcus.

Fragrance of the Year–Women’s Luxe: Euphoria Calvin Klein (Coty Prestige).
Fragrance of the Year–Men’s Luxe: Armani Code, Giorgio Armani Parfums (L’Oreal).
Fragrance of the Year–Women’s Nouveau Niche: Narciso Rodriguez For Her Eau de Parfum, Beauté Prestige International (Shiseido).
Fragrance of the Year–Men’s Nouveau Niche: Armani Privé (Ambre Soie/Bois d’Encens/Eau de Jade/Pierre de Lune), Giorgio Armani Parfums.
Fragrance of the Year–Women’s Private Label/Direct Sell: So in Love, Victoria’s Secret Beauty.
Fragrance of the Year–Men’s Private Label/Direct Sell: Today. Tomorrow. Always for Men, Avon Products Inc.
Fragrance of the Year–Women’s Popular Appeal: Spirit Antonio Banderas for Women, Puig Fragrances & Personal Care Inc.
Fragrance of the Year–Men’s Popular Appeal: Stetson Black, Coty Beauty U.S.
Fragrance Hall of Fame: Fracas de Robert Piguet, Fashion Fragrances & Cosmetics Ltd.

Thanks to Cedric for the news. For more, please take a look at Basenotes.  For past winners, please go to Fragrance Foundation, where you can also learn about the history of this event.

Photo: FiFi statue designed by Pierre Dinand from Fragrance Foundation.

The Different Company has changed its distribution patterns. From now on, the fragrances shall be available directly from The Different Company website. In the States, they will be available from Neiman Marcus stores located in Bocca Raton, Beverly Hills and Newport Beach.

The newest The Different Company fragrance, Sel de Vetiver, which features notes of grapefruit, cardamom, geranium, Haitian vetiver, patchouli, iris and ylang ylang, will be available in the States starting from mid April. Sel de Vetiver is already sold at The Different Company website. (from TDC press release).

Financial Times magazine features an interesting article on “vintage” (or special harvest) fragrances, alluding to Hermes, Givenchy and L’Artisan Parfumeur as the companies that have embarked on this trend. The article (on pages 29-30) describes the new upcoming Givenchy Organza Harvest and L’Artisan Narcissus (to be launched later this year, although the exact date is not given). Thanks to MC for a link.