E-mails with perfume fragances

New technology could allow computer users to smell their e-mails in future, it emerged today. A special “scent dome” attached to the computer would emit an aroma linked to the message.

Holiday firms could include the smell of the sea and suntan lotion in e-mail promotions while one for a movie might have the faint whiff of popcorn.

On-line dating could reach a different level with participants able to assess their potential partner through their choice of perfume or aftershave.

Another rather cruel suggestion would be to attach the smell of manure when dumping a boyfriend or girlfriend by e-mail.

Prototypes “scent domes” are being tested by cable company Telewest Broadband at its research and development facility in Woking, Surrey.

The £250 device plugs into a broadband-connected computer in the same way as a printer or scanner.

It has a choice of 20 basic aromas which can be mixed to produce up to 60 different smells. However, the company says more than 2,000 smells could be available in the future.

Kate Fox, a social anthropologist and co-director of the Social Issues Research Centre in Oxford, said: “By adding a third sense to the Internet Telewest Broadband is helping to ‘humanise’ cyberspace – using ground-breaking technology to re-create more primitive forms of communication.

“The association of fragrance and emotion is not an invention of poets or perfume-makers.

“Our sense of smell is directly connected to our emotions – smells trigger very powerful and deep-seated emotional responses, and this additional element to the Internet will enhance users’ online experience by adding that crucial third dimension.”

Chad Raube, director of Internet services at Telewest Broadband, said: “This could bring an extra whiff of realism to the Internet.

“We are always looking at ways to enhance the broadband Internet experience of the future and this time we are sure consumers will come up smelling of roses.”

The CK IN2U Generation?

Jennifer Hudson will Represent Imari Seduction by Avon

There is a retrospective in the New York Times of Calvin Klein's attempts at defining successive generations of youngsters through scents. Their latest releases CK IN2U for him and for her are destined at capturing and expressing the moods and aspirations of the millenials, i.e., the people born between 1982 and 1995.....
The brand has even trademarked the term "technosexual" anticipating that it might become a buzz word to describe that generation who is "...physically bold but emotionally guarded, having grown up using computers as a primary means of interaction. Now young adults, they are post-Abercrombie, post-Juicy Couture and over any number of scents derived from the essences of Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton."

How To Bottle A Generation

Oscar winner for best supporting feminine role Jennifer Hudson will be the representative of Avon's new fragrance Imari Seduction, which will be marketed in August 2007. Imari has been Avon's best-selling fragrance since its debut 20 years ago.

Beginners Guide to Buying Perfume

Nobody likes the idea of smelling bad. Even the idea of smelling oddly different is not appealing. Of course, some of us have a stronger and more repugnant natural body odor than others. Not surprisingly, how someone smells varies from person to person. Our natural body odor changes from day to day slightly as well. Even our mood and attitude can change how we naturally smell. What we eat such as garlic and onion can change the odor our body puts out for a time.

In Ancient Egypt, both men and women would take extended bathes with special ingredients added to coat our skin in a new aroma. Changing how we smell has been in our history as long as noticing we all smell different. Perfume is one way in which we can change how we smell to ourselves and to others.

Buying a perfume is not an easy task. Most people do not know how to properly find a perfume. Just because a perfume smells good to you does not mean it will smell good on you. Here are a few tips to consider when buying that new perfume.

1. Always try a perfume before you buy the perfume. Something that smells marvelous in a bottle may not sell marvelous on your body. Perfume is a chemical reaction between two or more different added ingredients. When you add your body's natural chemistry to the equation, the perfume will smell different on you than in the bottle. Testing a perfume before you buy it will save you time and money.

2. After you try on the perfume, wait ten minutes to get the full effect of the natural aroma of the perfume. Ten minutes is how long it takes to fully mingle with you and your natural aroma.

3. If you are going to try that perfume, a small dabble on a piece of your open skin is ideal. Spraying the perfume in the air is not going to let you know the true smell of that perfume when mixed with your natural aroma. Therefore, it is wise to add a small amount to your own skin. Do not do a full over body spray, just a little.

4. Never try on more than three perfumes in a single day. The nose is wonderful and miraculous, but adding too much to quickly will confuse that smeller. Waiting for at least ten minutes before each testing and only doing three tests a day means that you will be spending at least 30-minutes at the perfume counter. In addition, perfume you are testing may get mixed together on your body. So it is always wisest to wait.

5. When purchasing your perfume, try to consider if that smell will be used for day, night, or both. Some people like a different type of smell for the time of day.

6. Finally, ask how long the aroma stay with the body. Most high-quality perfumes will last between 4-6 hours when applied directly to the body.

Whatever you decide when purchasing new perfume, remember to get one that is best suited for you. Try it on and wait. Perfume depends on your body chemistry to mingle happily with the new smells. Perfume companies work hard to create perfumes that will fit most of our body chemistries and not get tainted.

www.articlesalley.com

Caron Eau de Reglisse

Eau de Reglisse is a Limited Edition fragrance released by Caron for summer 2006. According to Les Senteurs, it will only be available till August 2006. I am not a fan of anise and licorice, in perfume or in cooking, so it came to me as surprise that I liked Eau Reglisse. It is an easy-going, straightforward composition, not a Caron masterpiece by any stretch of imagination, but very delightful nevertheless.

The scent has been described as "a fantasy confection from the sweet-shop” and “tempting us to indulge in sweet sinful gluttony”, however, on my skin, it is thankfully not overly sweet and not obviously gourmand. Eau de Reglisse is a rather dry, fresh fragrance, in which the potentially overwhelming purple sweetness of licorice is brightened and kept in check by the citrus and spiced up by ginger and nutmeg. In the drydown, patchouli, vanilla and musk add some “substantionality” to the composition, weighing it down just enough so as not to let it become too summery-light. Easy to wear, joyful and comfortable, I thought Eau de Reglisse was quite adorable.

http://perfumesmellinthings.blogspot.com/

Is Clarins Angel Perfume a Valentine Gift or St. Valentine's Day Massacre

LAS VEGAS -- Is your breath being taken away by love or toxic ingredients? February 14th, a day in which everyone longs for that special present from the one they love, romantics hope for the ultimate present--the wedding proposal or the universal symbol of love, a diamond. Little girls look forward to the little heart shaped box of chocolates from their fathers. Most retail stores hope for increased sales of roses or fragrances. For the 15% of the population that experience severe and debilitating reactions to fragrances, they hope for the more environmentally and health conscious alternative gifts, such as real roses dipped in 24 karat gold that last forever. Hospital emergency rooms are not the romantic settings commonly associated with Valentine’s Day, but for some, that will be their destination. The high prevalence of respiratory irritants found in most fragrances can elicit severe asthmatic reactions. On Feb. 7, 2000, the Environmental Health Network (EHN) issued a press release “Perfume: Cupid’s Arrow or Poison Dart?” where EHN exposed the health hazards associated with Calvin Klein's "Eternity Eau de Parfum" (Eternity). This was supported by EHN's petition to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requesting the FDA declare Eternity "misbranded" or "adulterated" because it violated 21CFR Sec. 740/10, which is one of the violations ascribed to Clarins “Angel Perfume” in a petition recently submitted to the FDA by the National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation (NTEF). Ingredients found in both Calvin Klein’s “Eternity” and Clarins “Angel Perfume” are known respiratory irritants in these fragrance mixtures. Due to trademark secrets those ingredients are not fully disclosed on the packaging. These ingredients are in addition to other chemical ingredients that have not been fully investigated for their chemical, physical and toxicological properties. In September of 2004, the European Union enacted a new law that requires cosmetics companies to remove reproductive toxins, mutagens and carcinogens from personal care products. In 2005, the Governor of California signed a law that requires cosmetic companies to provide to the state a list of ingredients that are known carcinogenics or reproductive toxins in their products. In November, 2006, Health Canada enacted a law that now requires manufacturers to list ingredients on the packaging. The public has been under the misguided impression that cosmetics are fully tested prior to marketing. The industry is very loosely regulated by the FDA and relies on cosmetics companies to test their products and accurately label the finished products as required by law. “If these products were in fact tested and labeled properly, petitions as the ones cited above and the laws enacted for ingredient disclosure would not be necessary,” said Angel De Fazio, president of the NTEF. "Let your Valentine remember the thought, not the health ramifications of your gift," De Fazio said. (c) Angel De Fazio (Angel@ntef-usa.org)

Stop and smell the perfumes

Spring flowers may not yet be in bloom, but a number of new and noteworthy scents will stir your senses. From your favorite fragrance makers and fashion industry giants to some little known knockouts, TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas highlights the must-have fragrances of the moment.

For the young at heart
You’re vibrant and spirited, perhaps with an air of innocence. The life of the party, you face the world around you with a fresh and fearless attitude. Energetic and playful, some mistake your blithe behavior for irreverence, but still, they find you impossible to resist. If your nose leads you to floral or fruity scents, these fun and flirty fragrances will help display your zest for life.

The Young Sexy Lovely by Yves Saint Laurent bottle boasts the monogram from YSL’s first fragrance back in 1984, but there’s nothing dated about this fresh scent (Eau de Toilette sprays. $44-70, sephora.com). A whimsical fragrance, Vera Wang Princess is inspired by the palace troublemaker, and perfect for the fun-loving freelancer (Eau de Toilette sprays, $42-68, macys.com). Valentino’s Rock ‘n Rose reaches out to those who walk the fine line between adventurous and elegant (Eau de Parfum spray, $78, bergdorfgoodman.com). And Betsy Johnson’s sweet scent captures the essence of carefree living. (Eau de Parfum sprays, $55-75, nordstrom.com).

For the fashionista
Trendsetter extraordinaire, you yearn for the latest and greatest. A true follower of great fashion, labels excite you, and couture keeps you inspired. Your friends respect your impeccable taste, and seek out your opinion on their wears, woes and wish lists. Now show off your knowledge in the beauty arena, with a bold, rich fragrance that’s formulated for a true style maven.

Bond No. 9 Bryant Park takes you on a trip to the bustling home of New York’s Fashion Week (Eau de Parfum sprays, $125-185, bondno9.com), while Miller Harris’ L’air de Rein by Jane Birkin is created in collaboration with the French fashion icon who inspired Hermes’ famed handbag (Eau de Parfum, $150, Saks Fifth Avenue). Following in the footsteps of fashion houses Hermes (Hermessences) and Giorgio Armani (Armani Prive), Chanel and Tom Ford are the latest designers to launch niche perfume lines. Tom Ford turned heads with his Black Orchid fragrance late last year, and now the designer is introducing the Private Blend collection of 12 fragrances targeted to perfume connoisseurs and available only at his new store and a handful of select retailers ($165 each). Meanwhile, the 10 fragrances in the Les Exclusifs de Chanel collection feature ingredients that are more unusual than those used by mainstream perfume houses ($175 each, Bergdorf Goodman).

For the jetsetter
A fan of warm weather destinations, your dream vacation involves dozing off on a secluded beach. Sun, sand and solitude are your getaway “musts,” and exotic, sensual locales lure your heart away. If you’re in search of a scent that transports you to a tropical island with every whiff, one of these fragrances may be your ticket to paradise.

Three very different destination fragrances, Escada Sunset Heat will remind you of the moment between summer days and sultry nights (Eau de Toilette spray, $55-70, ulta.com), Guerlain’s Pamplelune is a citrus-y scent that is tropical and tangy ($50, eluxury.com) and Matthew Williamson’s Eau de Parfum is a coastal creation that is utterly feminine ($68-88, nordstrom.com). Strong, exotic spices set Morrocon-based perfumer Serge Lutens’ Rousse apart from softer spring scents (Eau de Parfum, $100, Barneys New York). And India Hicks Island Living Line is the quintessential beach collection — a noteworthy nod to the air of seaside salvations ($18-80, crabtree-evelyn.com).

For the natural woman
Laid-back, healthy and low-key, your style is no-frills and nature-friendly. You’re environmentally-conscious and charitably-minded — concerned as much with the air you breathe as the scent you wear. If you’re taking time out from your active schedule to search for a clean, classic perfume, you may find that one of these pure, fresh fragrances speaks to your spirit.

Sarah Horowitz has helped Hollywood with one-of-a-kind scents for years, and her Perfect Veil has collected a cult following (including yours truly)

Marc Jacobs pays tribute to the environmental elements of Rain, Grass, Cotton and Ivy with his growing list of Splash scents (which now includes limited-edition fragrances Orange and Cucumber, Eau de Toilette, $65, sephora.com), while Lavanila introduces a healthy fragrance collection of three vanilla-based scents that are infused with antioxidants and active botanicals ($56, sephora.com). And for those looking to give back while smelling sultry (inspired by perfumer Alexandra Balahoutis' recent trip to New Orleans), a percentage of sales from Strange Invisible Perfumes’ Magazine Street botanical musk is donated to Common Ground Collective, a charity that provides relief to the Katrina-ravaged region ($185, siperfumes.com).

© 2007 MSNBC Interactive

Avon calling to Hudson as perfume celebrity

NEW YORK - Jennifer Hudson, who went from little-known performer to Oscar winner in the past year, has a new role: representing a perfume.

Avon Products Inc. said Wednesday it had signed Hudson, who won a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in the movie musical “Dreamgirls,” as spokeswoman for its Imari brand and new scent, Imari Seduction.

“This is an honor for me and very flattering,” said Hudson, 25, whose dreams of stardom appeared shattered when she finished seventh on “American Idol” in 2004.

But her show-stopping singing and sympathetic character as the spurned lead singer of a female trio in “Dreamgirls” made her the odds-on favorite for the Oscars.

It was Hudson's first movie role, for which she also picked up Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards.

Hudson is the latest in a string of celebrities to put their names to fragrances. Market research firm NPD Group says celebrity fragrances made up almost a quarter of the top 100 women’s fragrance brands last year, up from 10 percent in 2003.

Avon, the world’s largest direct seller of cosmetics, said Imari had been its best-selling fragrance since its launch 20 years ago. Imari Seduction will go on sale in August.

“We believe that our Avon representatives and their customers will be truly inspired by Jennifer’s dream-come-true success story,” Avon executive vice president Liz Smith said in a statement.

Reuters

Rocabar by Hermès

Rocabar by Hermès was launched in 1998. It was the house's fifth's men's cologne after Eau D'Hermès (1951), Equipage (1970), Eau d'Orange Verte (1979), and Bel-Ami (1986). It had a limited distribution in the US.

The perfume was created by nose Gilles Romey who is also the composer for Eau de Rochas pour Homme, Jil Sander Jil, and Hermès 24, Faubourg Eau Délicate.

Rocabar is inspired, like many of their other products, by an equine theme in keeping with Hermès' roots as a saddlery when it was first established in 1837. In this case the perfume's name has an interesting popular etymology directly derived from the history of the house. "Rocabar" today designates their famous safron, indigo, and red horse blanket. According to WWD, "Jean-Louis Dumas Hermes, chairman, reported that the name came about when British saddle makers visiting Hermes in the 1930s called the combed-wool blanket a "rug a barres" (striped rug). Over time, the name evolved into "Rocabar.".....

The flacon comes wrapped in a piece of Rocabar blanket and the bullet-like shape of the cap is inspired by a polo player's helmet. The packaging was designed by Serge Mansau.

Rocabar has top notes of juniper berries, cedar leaves and lavender-nut and nutmeg-cinnamon accords. The heart has notes of cyprus from Italy and two types of cedars. Base notes are Canadian fir trees and vanilla pods.

The scent starts with a sharp herbal aromatic impression with discreetly fruity and berry undertones. It then becomes more resinous, balsamic, as well as takes on a subtle hazy quality due to orris. Green violet accents appear on a background of soft woods. A musky, boozy, and apple-smelling accord adds masculinity to the mix evoking the personality of a man who lives hard and loves to confront himself with the natural elements from time to time. A warm dry crackling amber further adds virility to the scent.

Then, there is a shift in the atmosphere and a certain silence settles on the scent as a sort of white, mute smell colors it. The perfume is then softened down by a transparent wood effect evoking the tonality of a white mist rising up from damp earth on the border of a wood filled with dark trees.

The perfume is dry, yet soft, with a damp humus effect. One can point out that Rocabar is a men's scent illustrative of the "nouvelle fraîcheur" (new freshness) recent tradition developed by Eternity for Men (1989) that is, that its refreshing aspect is not based on citrus notes but on a transparent accord that is "...mild and clean and remains on the skin"

Rocabar despite its modern lineage bears a classic stamp. It is an elegant masculine scent with a strong personality and an understated slightly rugged type of sensuality. The image of the "strong silent type" used by Hermès to describe its ideal wearer is adequate. Would one want a man to smell like Rocabar? Definitely, yes and then one would not dream of stealing his perfume - it is too virile - unless one wanted to be reminded of him.

You can find Rocabar at many online discounters.

Flavor and Fragrance : Kouign Aman ~ The Breakfast of Perfumers

by Michelle Krell Kydd

When it comes to eating, nearly every perfumer I’ve ever had the pleasure of dining with qualifies as a sensualist. Perfumers don’t just taste their food—they live in its aura and bask in the afterglow. If the saying “you are what you eat” is worth its weight, then it would stand to reason that what someone chooses to eat first thing in the morning says a lot about that person’s character. …

So what does a perfumer eat for breakfast? If you happen to be an acquaintance of perfumer Yann Vasnier, you already know the answer. Vasnier makes it his business to introduce his friends to the seductive qualities of a simple pastry from his native Brittany—Kouign Aman. Quest International perfumer and colleague Stephen Nilsen confessed that Vasnier has initiated nearly everyone he works with—as much to their pleasure as to the chiding voice of the inner diet critic that lives in all of us.

Translated from Breton to English, Kouign Aman means “cake with butter.” You will kiss your croissant goodbye upon discovering Kouign Aman. It is the pastry you’ve always wanted, but never knew you needed. It is the Alpha, the Omega, the fat bomb that says “so what, cheri, eat me anyway,” as you bite into thin, caramelized sugar topping and yield to temptation.

Kouign Aman’s Breton history goes back to baker Yves Rene-Scordia, who settled in Douarnenez and began selling the pastry in 1860. One group of very enthusiastic bakers, who are obsessed with its origins, formed an association to preserve “true Kouign Aman de Douarnenez.” When bakers get that intense about a pastry that is made with flour, sugar and salted butter, it begs the question; how can something so simple engender such dedication?

I asked Yann Vasnier to answer a few questions regarding Kouign Aman. I was secretly hoping that this native Breton would unravel its mystery so that my logical mind could gather the facts and rationalize a way to say “no” to this pastry, at least once. What Vasnier had to say, however, had no such effect:

Kydd: How old were you when you first tasted Kouign Aman?

Vasnier: I was probably inside my mother’s belly. It’s a really tempting pastry for a pregnant woman.

Kydd: Do you have any particular memories attached to Kouign Aman?

Vasnier: It is associated with special guests, like friends from foreign countries or with the city of Paris. It is not an everyday dessert at all; it is too rich, with too much butter and sugar. Like French fries at home (in Brittany), it is exceptionally good.

Kydd: What is the perfect accompaniment to Kouign Aman?

Vasnier: Hmm, I would say a low-fat plain yogurt would be the best, but actually a light crème anglaise or custard wouldn’t be bad either.

Kydd: If you had to explain Kouign Aman as you would a perfume, how would you describe it in terms of sensory qualities?

Vasnier: Sweet, bold, rich, buttery, caramel, crisp, fat and soothing.

Kydd: What is it about Kouign Aman that makes it so addictive?

Vasnier: When the ingredients are only butter, sugar and flour, and a lot of butter and sugar, it is difficult to go wrong.

Kydd: Which bakery in New York makes the best Kouign Aman?

Vasnier: Fauchon, actually. I’ve never seen it anywhere else, but maybe Chef Cyril Renaud* at Fleur de Sel on 20th Street would make a great one too.

Kydd: Which bakery in your native Brittany makes the best Kouign Aman?

Vasnier: I have no idea; it’s so common that any good baker knows how to make a good Kouign Aman. It’s like a baguette in any normal bakery.

Kydd: How is Kouign Aman different from a croissant, in terms of the eating experience?

Vasnier: A croissant is more common. Kouign Aman is more exceptional, but both (pastries) are waist terrors.

Waist terrors or not, Kouign Aman is worth the experience. If you are in New York City, visit Fauchon in the morning, as the Kouign Aman tends to sell out before noon. If there is only one Kouign Aman left in the pastry display, be prepared to turn on the charm and prove your at-counter finesse. You may even see Yann Vasnier vying for the same pastry, in which case the victor has already been determined.