A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

I’m delighted to be able to bring you an exclusive behind-the-scenes video today, featuring one of the most well-loved names in fashion.

Michael Kors is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his signature fragrance for women: Michael Kors, and in honour of this milestone, the brand have shot a new commercial featuring the enigmatic Karmen Pedaru.  Click play and take a sneak peek behind the scenes of the Mario Testino shoot which features some intimate, playful moments and Michael’s thoughts on just what makes a “signature” fragrance.

Today, September 14th also coincides with the Michael Kors runway show as part of New York Fashion Week (which you can watch live here from 10am EST) and in a celebratory act of fashionable flamboyance, I’d like to offer my lovely readers a rather special giveaway courtesy of the Michael Kors brand.

One reader will win a specially issued Signature Bottle of Michael Kors Fragrance for Women, signed by the man himself, of which there are only 10 in existence!

To enter, answer this simple question:

How many years ago did Michael Kors release his Signature Fragrance?

Error: Contact form not found.

Good Luck!

T&C
1. All international entries welcome by using the entry form above only.
2. One winner will be picked at random from all entries that provide an answer to the question.
3. One entry per email address.
4. Lipglossiping.com is the sole promoter of this competition.
5. Competition closes on Wednesday 28th September 2011 at 23.59.
6. Winner will be notified by email within 5 days of the close of the competition.
7. No email addresses will be stored once the competition has closed and will only be used to contact the winner.

I have no idea what the new fragrance by Bottega Veneta smells like — though leathery floral chypre sounds promising — but it’s this short film by director Christian Weber that really gives me the chills.

They say

This film, The Scent, is an intense and compelling visual journey which tells the story of the fragrance.

I say

Slow start, promising middle and a cracking, action-packed finish that would make Bruce Willis proud.  Move over Claudia Winkleman, I’m chasing your Film 2011 gig.

Seriously though, does anyone else a little shiver watching this?

I wrote about Molton Brown‘s new fine fragrance line back at the end of July (how quickly is this year whizzing through?) but I thought it was time for a recap in honour of their brand new Facebook App which will allow Molton Brown fans to profile themselves against the new fragrances and sign up for a complementary sample!

I went along to the launch last week and got the chance to speak to the perfumer behind the new range.  Talk about a fangirl moment, it was touching to see how completely excited she was with the launch of her ‘babies’.  I have to admit, I kept looking at her nose and wondering how much she could insure it for.

The Five new fragrances range from a light, yet soulful floral (Lijiang) through to the dark and brooding (Iunu).  Each pay homage to the part of the world for which they’re named.  The tie that holds the range together is the ancient Spice Trail, beginning in the birthplace of perfume (Egypt) and following its path to completion in the New World (Canada).

Jennifer Jambon, the perfumer behind the collection (on the left) has worked hard to evoke the feelings one would associate with the various destinations… they may not all be completely true to life, but they still work beautifully in a slightly fantastical way.  I received a sample of my personal favourite, Iunu and one sniff skillfully transports me to an ancient land I’ve never had the pleasure to visit.

Inspired by Egypt, the Birthplace of Scent, I detect the arid, musky notes that I’d associate with the Nile Delta.  Myrrh, hot pepper, sandalwood, clovebud and white jasmine transport me to those faraway river banks in a cloud of ancient opulence and mystery.  Truly intoxicating, a little bit dirty and with the kind of warmth that ensures this fragrance will sing on my skin as the months get cooler, I’m smitten.

The other four fragrances each carry their own personality just as confidently (Singosari is also particularly divine!), it’s a case of marrying up your scent personality to the fragrance.  This is where the new Facebook App comes into its own.

Take your own journey through a series of questions, where you’ll be able to discover which fragrance you are most suited to based on your tastes and preferences. Once the quiz has been completed, you will be able to sign up for a complementary sample of your chosen fragrance.  Get navigating explorers!

Molton Brown Navigations Through Scent fragrances are available to buy nationwide from Molton Brown stores, concessions and online.  Prices from £55.00

Argh, look what happens when I go away… all the awesome deals come out!  I’m loving this one in particular courtesy of CheapSmells (I typo’ed CheapSmalls then and gave myself a massive smirk).

Back to this Deal Alert – Remember when I talked about the Travalo Perfume Atomisers?  Well, they’re fairly inexpensive to begin with but CheapSmElls are offering them at an unbeatable price this weekend only…

£5.50 with gratis delivery and you can carry a fair amount of your favourite perfume around with you wherever you go.  I took my Travalo on holiday with me this week (filled with Apothecary EDT incase you care) and it was fabulous for quick on the go spritzes.

Hope you’re having a lovely Sunday, it’s Saturday night as I’m writing this and I’ve not long got home from my 5 day break in London, want to go back already!

Facebook.  Love it or hate it, I may be about to give you a reason to direct your browser toward said “Book of Faces” in a bit of a hurry.

Burberry have announced that their Facebook fans will be able to exclusively sample the new Burberry Body fragrance before it is available to purchase!

With over 7.6 million Facebook followers, the British brand can claim the largest Facebook fan page of any luxury fashion brand and with incentives like this, I’m starting to see why!

Burberry fans will be able to request a sample of the new Burberry Body Fragrance with an app that also features exclusive content.

So, enough of all this blather.  You want the link don’t you?

http://www.facebook.com/burberry

Simply click “request sample”, select your country and fill in your details.  Samples are available while stocks last and may not be available within your country.

What do you think about luxury brands engaging in social media like this?  Does it make them more approachable?  Are you more likely to investigate brands you might otherwise have ignored?

The new fragrance, Burberry Body is set for a nationwide release on the 1st September.

Perfume ‘jewellery’ has been big news for some time now and will again be found on many wishlists this Christmas.  I spotted this Chloé Solid Perfume Necklace at a recent press day and made a bee-line for it because I loved the simplicity of the design.  There was a release last year that did the blog rounds, it was a solid perfume ring that was hugely OTT and possibly, the ugliest thing I’d laid eyes on.

This, is a little more understated…

The Chloé Solid Perfume Necklace contains the brand’s signature scent and will be available from all Chloé stockists from the 21st September 2011 with an RRP of £45.00/€56.30

Are you a fan of solid fragrance turned into jewellery?

A well-engineered scent can whisper inspirational stories to its wearer, weaving tales of history and geography from top note to base and this debut fine fragrance collection from Molton Brown has been attuned to achieve just this.

Navigations Through Scent is a five-piece collection scheduled for nationwide launch this September.  The line up traces the influence of the ancient spice routes, drawing inspiration from key focal points along the trail.  The journey begins in the Egyptian Ancient World before moving through both time and history, settling in the New World, Canada.

Each 50ml bottle imparts scents that are indigenous to the regions from which they take their name.  Indeed, Jennifer Jambon, Molton Brownʼs Principal Perfumer, spent a year researching these destinations to uncover a host of unusual scent ingredients that would evoke emotions and memories reminiscent of these faraway lands.

The collection appeals to my inner armchair-geographer, I could spend hours looking at maps, infact, I still remember the day I discovered Google Earth for the first time and the hours I spent poring over the locations in all their satellite glory.  So, of course, the first thing I did when I received the information about Molton Brown’s new endeavour?  I fired up Google Maps to discover more about the inspirational places behind each scent!  Quite possibly the most geekiest thing I’ve done to date.  Possibly.

Iunu (07°91’S, 112°65’E) – £65

Iunu, buried under modern-day Cairo starts the ancient journey with a lead ingredient of Egyptian Jasmine and a distinctly rich floriental musk.  My favourite from the collection, feminine and a touch animalic.

Top Note: ginger oil, elemi oil
Middle Note: Egyptian jasmine oil*, ylang ylang, black pepper
Base Note: patchouli oil, oakmoss

Lijiang (25°16’N 110°16’E) – £65

Lijiang, inspired by China is a musky floral featuring Osmanthus absolute.  A prized, high-value oil.  Described as combining the light, delicate softness of silk with crisp tea.

Top Note: vegetal notes, pink berries
Middle Note: white tea, osmanthus absolute*
Base Note: white musks, vetiver

Singosari (07° 91ʼS, 112° 65ʼE) – £55

Singosari takes us to Indonesia, historically part of the Spice Islands.  Patchouli plays a lead role in this sensual and feminine fragrance that evokes the spirit of tropical rain and exotic spice.

Top Note: incense, ginger
Middle Note: cinnamon, nutmeg
Base Note: vetiver, patchouli*

Apuldre (51° 02’N 0°47’E) – £55

Apuldre, the old Anglo-Saxon name for Appledore in Kent.  Inspired by the green-aromatics of the English countryside and featuring a hit of juniper berry (think gin!) on a base of leather.  A mischievous scent and the most masculine from the collection.

Top Note: juniper berry*, wormwood
Middle Note: cedarwood, violet leaf absolute
Base Note: modern leather accord, styrax absolute

Rogart (45° 33’N 63°09’W) – £60

Rogart, Nova Scotia marks the end of the journey to the New World.  A juxtaposition of coniferous wilderness with the woody warmth of maple syrup makes for a deliciously Autumnal fragrance.  My 2nd favourite from the collection.

Top Note: elemi oil, juniper
Middle Note: angelica, maple syrup
Base Note: gaiac wood, fir balsam*

* signals the key ingredient native to the fragrance’s geographical inspiration.

If you can’t wait until the nationwide release in September, the brand will be releasing the Navigations Through Scent collection exclusively at Harrods from August.

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* Disclosure: I was given a set of sample vials at a recent press day.

If hell does exist, I reckon it bears more than a passing resemblance to one of the many overcrowded London bus routes in the heat of summer.  Over-tired children, sweaty passengers and dubious aromas combine effortlessly with roadworks and traffic jams to create the ultimate dystopian existence.

If you’re unfortunate enough to reside in this microcosm of despair on a daily basis, you might want to consider one of these Daniel Vaudd’s scented Hand Fans*.

The fan is delicately scented with Radiantly Romantic, Daniel Vaudd’s beautiful inaugral EDP.  Floral without being flowery, light and summery without a hint of sharpness.  It’s ethereal, wisp-like… and combined with the sweeping motion from the fan, creates a breath of fresh air that transports you to a rose-scented garden with every swoosh.

The fan comes complete with a fragrance vial to top-up the heavy paper when the scent begins to fade.  It’s become a permanent addition to my handbag over the last week, an instant mood-lifter and not a drop of caffeine in sight!

Priced at £14.95, the scented fan is available to buy online at www.danielvaudd.com

* press sample

…Le jour de gloire est arrivé!

I have strong connections to our neighbours over the other side of the English Channel and I’m not just talking about my love for Steak Frites!  I spent every Summer, the entire 6 week school holidays practicing my rubbish French and playing with the local kids not too far from La Rochelle.  My parents still visit for a few months every Summer and still try to drag me over there for family holidays fifteen years later!

It’s been a good few years since I visited for longer than a day trip, I think the overkill when I was a child/teenager may have put me off a little but the country will always hold a special place in my heart.

So, in honour of Bastille day and the fact that ordinarily (were it not ‘weigh in day’) I would be stuffing my face with Brioche and Pain au Raisin to mark the occasion, I’m gonna pay tribute to some awesome and lesser-known French brands that you ought to know more about!

1.  Darphin – Hailing from Paris, Darphin is a professional, botanical skincare line that takes a more holistic approach.  Priding itself on its aromatic, plant-based formulas, the latest addition to the line: Melaperfect* is an Anti-Dark Spot Perfecting Treatment designed for skin with hyper pigmentation.

2.  Rouge Baiser – This French drugstore brand is best known for creating the first ‘kiss-proof’ lipstick in 1927.  I own #405 L’Authentique… isn’t the packaging to die for?

3.  Nuxe – Born out of a small laboratory in Paris, Nuxe is now one of the best-selling brands in pharmacies today.  Another brand firmly based in natural origins, their dry oils have a global fan-base.  Apply a few spritzes to your skin, face, hair… anything that could do with a gentle golden shimmer!  The Huile Prodigieuse Or* is an iconic holiday essential.

4.  Payot – Created in 1927, this Parisian (I’m sensing a theme) Spa brand offers a huge range of products and spa treatments.  The philosophy of the brand is also heavily invested in massage techniques and facial exercises, practically pioneering beauty rituals that are still used in spas today.  The Payot Lift-Performance Firming Remodelling Care has been put to work on my (many) wobbly bits in the hope of some remodelling of my own!

5.  Caudalie – Born from French vineyards, the philosophy behind the brand is based in the anti-oxidant properties of the grape and the grapevine polyphenols.  The Caudalie Beauty Elixir promises to tighten pores and provides an instant burst of radiance to the skin.  I’m a long-term fan of the Grape Water spritz as an alternative to my Avene in hot weather so I’m looking forward to seeing if I can achieve any ooh la la miracles with the power of wine grape.

6.  T. LeClerc – The T. LeClerc line is steeped in heritage and prestige, best known for the iconic T. LeClerc powders in various correcting shades.  One day, I will get my hands on Banane but as things stand, I will make do with my blush and lipstick in all their beautifully packaged glory!

7.  Bioderma – You can’t enter a French pharmacie without being greeted by the same staple lines: Avene, Vichy, Bioderma, La Roche Posay and Biotherm to name just a few.  Of course most people know about the Bioderma Crealine H2O by now but the brand make some other lovely products too!  Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel is a gently foaming wash for combination skin that doesn’t strip my face of moisture.  I’m getting my Pharmacie dealer (a.k.a Mum) to bring me back some more Pharmacie goodies this Autumn!

8.  Parfums D’Empire – My most expensive perfume purchase to date is Ambre Russe from Parisian fragrance house, Parfums D’Empire.  The most decadent combination of rum (though I think I’m supposed to smell vodka), amber, leather, tobacco and tea that catapults you straight into the grand corridors of an imperial Russian palace of yesteryear.  It’s completely over the top and a love it or hate it scent.  Can you tell I love it?  Love.  It.  Next on my list is Cuir Ottoman… just as delightful.

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What are your favourite French brands in honour of Bastille Day?

* press samples

Next up on my Summer lists are FIVE fragrances perfectly suited to long Summer days, balmy Summer evenings and not forgetting the odd rain downpour just to keep us on our toes.

What makes a Summer fragrance?  Well… obviously highly subjective but personally, I’m partial to a bit of greenery, a touch of juiciness, not too much of my beloved amber this time of year but a nice big blast of floral instead.  I want a Summer fragrance to freshen and lighten my mood, I don’t want to curl up in it.  I just want it to carry me along on a cool breeze.

1.  Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Girl 30ml (£9.00)

Don’t you DARE laugh.  I’ve had this since I was 15 and I’m on my 3rd/4th bottle.  I’m sure there are unwritten or maybe even written rules about fragrances not really being fragrances at all when you can buy them for £9 in Asda but I. DON’T. CARE.  I think Tommy Girl is an exquisite Summer scent.  It’s fruity and sharp without being tarte or acidic.  It’s a proper mood lifter and whilst not hugely long-lasting (it’s an Eau de Cologne), it has a real energising tang with a soft, soft heart.

2.  Miller Harris Citron Citron 50ml (£60.00)

A slightly more refined choice in the form of Miller Harris Citron Citron which is distinctly part fruit, part earth.  It makes for a wonderfully new take on a traditional juicy fragrance.  Yes, the Sicilian lemon is at the core of the scent but it’s flanked in all directions by a bouquet of wild herbs and woodland.  Don’t mistake this for your typical juicy fruit fragrance… the fruit is nicely complemented with a crisp note of mint that ensures a perfect harmony.

3.  Burberry Summer Woman EDT 50ml* (£33.00)

While Citron Citron shuns the juicier aspects of fruit… Burberry Summer holds its arms out for a fruity cuddle whilst secretly concealing a 3000 watt juicer.

A sweet fragrance with a big hit of orange.  It’s a touch syrupy but contains enough fresh, green notes to stop it from fading into the gourmand, fruit salad genre.  Not the longest-lasting scent, it wears close to the skin once the top notes have faded and I detect a soft floral with a hint of powder.  Burberry Summer is a carefree, Summer fragrance with youth on its side and if you love Nina Ricci-esque scents, you should definitely be checking this one out before the limited edition run disappears along with the last of Summer!

4.  Ted Baker Skinwear Limited Edition EDT 100ml* (£24.00)

Lemon peel, spearmint and pepper make for a zingy and uplifting opening to this deliciously light men’s fragrance.  After a few minutes, the scent mellows, allowing the woodier notes to emerge.  Vetiver, cedarwood and patchouli make for a smooth and creamy base which lingers for hours and keeps encouraging me in for another sniff.

Despite having been created for men, there is nothing locker-room about this fragrance.  It’s far more refined and if you’re keen on a little spice and some woody notes, it’s thoroughly suitable to wear as an interesting alternative to the standard female fare.  I love it and it certainly doesn’t bring me the Lynx effect.  Thank god!

5.  Floris London Florissa EDT 50ml (£45.00)

Currently available on the Floris London website at a knockdown price, Florissa is a charming floral with a heart of rose and muguet.  I don’t wear lily of the valley too well but it reminds me of my Nan and will always hold a special place in my heart for that reason.

The opening is sharp and a little overpowering, containing a delightfully crisp element of cut grass but the winner for me is in the soft, powdery floral qualities to be found from the drydown onward.  It’s babysoft and comforting… Florissa is a perfume from another era and one that I happily visit again and again.

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What are your favourite Summer scents?

* press samples

So, you know… I’m developing an expensive interest in fragrance. I thought it wouldn’t happen… I still have to work very hard to look beyond the obvious when it comes to perfume but the spirit is willing and my past experience tells me that this is all I need to entangle myself in a new obsession.

I went along to an Escentual.com press event some weeks ago and had the opportunity to smell my way around the room so to speak. From a personal point of view it was a real treat to be able to literally wallow in such an array of nice fragrances in a relaxed setting. It’s something so hard to do in a retail environment where you’re literally jumped on from the moment you show the slightest interest in the bottles on the shelves.

I must have raised over 30 different scents to my nose that evening, let me introduce you to some of the niche brands available at Escentual.com.

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Etat Libre D’Orange.

“Creative” only lightly scratches the surface of descriptive words one could use to describe this young, French fragrance house. Novel would be another but don’t mistake Etat Libre D’Orange simply as a cheeky maverick because there’s as much about quality as there is controversy to this unusual fragrance collection.

Their catalogue of scents include the unusually named: Putain des Palaces (Palace Whore), Fat Electrician and Don’t Get Me Wrong Baby I Don’t Swallow. And let’s not even delve into the provocative Secretions Magnifiques…

Oh ok, if I absolutely must…

Secretions Magnifiques* is their most famous scent which basically conveys bodily secretions in their full and frankly, unpleasant aroma. Blood, sweat, sperm and saliva… what more could you want to douse yourself in post-morning shower? Let’s just say… it has a certain amount of metallic authenticity to it and I keep the lid of my sample very tightly closed.

On the flip side, I adored Jasmin et Cigarette which is a floral like no other. Side order of ashtray anyone? But it works… it doesn’t pretend to be tobacco, just pure unadulterated ash tempered by the sweet floral notes of Jasmine. It’s a beautifully worked juxtaposition.

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Juliette Has A Gun.

Notorious makers of the Not A Perfume EDP that contains a single ingredient of dilluted Ambrox, this one didn’t set my world alight in the slightest. I found it as bland as quite frankly, it probably should be.

On the other hand, I recently took a passing sniff at a bottle of Calamity J which has landed itself squarely on my wishlist. A boozy, smoky, woody amber without a hint of floral or fruit to feminise it. Heaven!

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Costume National.

Finally comes a range from the Italian fashion house, Costume National. I could take or leave the feminine scents that to my nose held no interest… they’re mostly sweet, light affairs (with the exception of Scent Intense which allowed me to appreciate an amped up version!).

However, I did fall in love with the gentleman’s fragrance from the range!

Simply titled Homme, it’s a spicy scent with a base of musk and a heart of wood that is beautifully resinous without being syrupy.

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If you’re interested in sampling any of these niche fragrances, don’t forget that Escentual.com do rather splendid and affordable sample packs of many of their niche brands (and infact all of the ones I’ve mentioned above!)

* disclosure: Secretions Magnifique was a press sample

To honour the opening of one of the world’s greatest Tennis Grand Slam Tournaments, I’m dedicating this afternoon’s post to Wimbledon!

Tickets for The Championships are notoriously tricky to come by coupled with the fact that we’re more likely to see Murray win in straight sets than make it there in time to nab a decent spot on Henman Hill.

So let’s bring the atmosphere of Wimbledon to us with a few fragrances to get you in the mood for your centre court appearance!

1. Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Toit EDT 100ml – £77.00

This elegant bottle from Paris fashion house Hermès is the 4th fragrance from their garden-inspired series.  Literally translating to “A garden on the roof”, it pays homage to the roof-garden situated atop the Hermès’ HQ building in Paris!  One of the more instantly familiar notes within the jus is the freshly cut green grass synonymous with Wimbledon as one of the few remaining great grass courts!

Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Toit is available to buy online from uk.hermes.com

2. Eau de Lacoste Blanc EDT 100ml – £39.99 *

Pre-match nerves abound and the air crackles with tension as tight as strings on rackets!  If you could only snoop backstage to taste the atmosphere you’d get more than a hint of the cool, fresh notes waiting within this offering by Lacoste.  Simply titled ‘Blanc’ it evokes the spirit of the iconic L.12.12 polo shirt which translated to girl-speak means that lush, clean… crisp scent you’d get from nuzzling your nose in Federer’s freshly-ironed match-whites with just a hint of the iconic champion left behind.

Eau de Lacoste Blanc EDT 100ml is available to buy online from www.theperfumeshop.com

3. DIOR Miss Dior Chérie EDP 50ml – £59.50 *

It wouldn’t be Wimbledon with the event’s signature snack of strawberries and cream!  Like the sun with no moon, sausages sans mash… it just wouldn’t be the same without it.  Dior’s Miss Dior Chérie has some serious strawberry credentials that strike like a punnet of Kent’s finest with a backhand of caramelized sugar.  If anything can help remind the on-court grunters that they are indeed laydees, this would be the flirty scent for the job.  It’s unashamedly girly, fruity and pink!

DIOR Miss Dior Chérie Eau de Parfum is available to buy online from www.theperfumeshop.com

4. La Prairie Midnight Rain EDP 50ml – £74.00

I don’t need to tell you what this one reminds me of?  Clue: it’s not Cliff Richard.  La Prairie Midnight Rain is another fruity floral but with some serious “ooh la la” leanings.  While Miss Dior Cherie will render you the juiciest filly in the stand, Midnight Rain will have you tearing up the turf at the after party!  Opening with some tropical top notes the fragrance dries down to a sensuous musky finish, it’s not a sexydirty scent but it’s not alltogether innocent either.  One thing’s for sure… it wouldn’t let rain stop play!

La Prairie Midnight Rain is available to buy online from www.escentual.com

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Who’s gonna win the men’s final this year and what fragrance are you wearing today?

* press sample