Tag Archive for 'fragrance'

Scent YourSELF

Published on October 1, 2009 in Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

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SELF magazine has an awesome article in the October issue about aromatherapy. Here’s the gist:

For energy: Think citrus! Surround yourself in the aroma of these bright fruits for a quick wake-up call.

For peace: To take it down a notch, take a whiff of light “powdery” notes. SELF recommends apple, cucumber and tea.

For umph: You’re bad, you know it. Pump up your confidence and make others take notice with sultry notes like amber, musk and vanilla (delicious!).

For heart-thumps: Stop and smell the roses – literally! Floral scents evoke feelings of “compassion and kindness” and are a lovely way to spark your own romance.

Get the whole story at: http//www.self.com/beauty/2009/10/aromatherapy-slideshow#slide=1

An Exceptional Nose

Published on July 2, 2009 in Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

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For me, having an exceptional nose for fragrance is like having an exceptional singing voice: I admire the talent in others, but I am realistic about my own abilities.

I work in an office full of people who can distinguish fragrances too nuanced for me to even detect – people who can sniff carefully at something, then pronounce with confidence, “There’s a bit of charred Siberian Fir shavings in that, isn’t there, and perhaps a touch of spiced kukui nut oil?” My reactions are far more basic – “It smells like cupcakes! I like cupcakes!” – but I’m comfortable with this; I like what I like (usually anything vanilla-based), whether it’s considered sophisticated, or not.

That’s not to say I don’t appreciate complex fragrances, and maybe my attraction to most anything containing vanilla has less to do with my lack of a sophisticated nose, and is more like how I love Chanel No. 5, not because of the fragrance itself, but because that’s what my mom wears. Sure, everybody finds vanilla comforting – big duh, right? – but maybe I find it more so than most for a simple reason: I am a huge lipstick junkie freak (you don’t even know). M.A.C. puts vanilla in all their lipsticks and Lipglasses, and so M.A.C. and its vanilla has been on my lips (and so, under my nose) non-stop for years, so now there’s all these good memories that are, for me, inextricably linked to that smell.

Silly as it sounds, I can be in an awful mood, but if I just smell a tube of Lipglass, it helps. (If you think that sounds silly, imagine how it looks – people walking past my desk as I’m hunched over and snorting at this little plastic vial. That’s a conversation with HR waiting to happen.) Which is why, when we get a new batch of candle samples here at the office, while others are remarking on the sophistication and complexity of this floral, or that ozonic, I’m the one who has grabbed the Vanilla Amber or Vanilla Riceflower candle, and started inhaling for all I’m worth.

So yeah, when it comes to fragrance, I’m a simple girl, with simple tastes, and proud of it. Power to the people!

However, should you ever want to have an in-depth conversation about the nuances of difference between Ruby Woo and Russian Red lipsticks – well, on that subject matter, I am totally Jennifer Hudson, and ready to break it down for you.

I guess we all have our talents like that.

Sniffapalooza

Published on July 2, 2009 in Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

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“Nature and all her wonders guide me. Emotions find expression in fragrance. Fragrance is the music of my dreams. Fragrance is my inspiration.”

Words of true fragrance enthusiast Annick Goutal, the feeling expressed in this quote resonated among every participant of the 2009 Sniffapalooza Spring Fling. The event was an invitation for perfume fanatics to explore some of the latest fragrance introductions at New York’s most exquisite destinations for fine fragrances – including Bergdorf Goodman, Bond no. 9, or Henri Bendel – and also included presentations and speeches from some of the biggest names in the industry.

A self proclaimed ‘perfume passionata,’ I was a perfect match for this scent savvy group of fragrance aficionados. Attendees from around the globe got together to share their enthusiasm for fragrance, attended educational seminars, and discovered the latest introductions in the fragrance industry.

I’ll share with you some of my favorite impressions from this event, many of which will surely fuel some creative inspiration for future Chesapeake Bay Candle collections:

Transforming emotions into fragrance, perfumer Annick Goutal satisfied in her creations the age-old quest to find eternity in a passing moment; to embody an emotion or memory of a significant event, or even a loved one, that has temporarily escaped us.

Perfumer Gérald Ghislain, so inspired by the creators of his favorite works of literature and authors like George Sand and Marquis de Sade, crafted the fragrances of his Twelves Tomes collection like a sensual reference to the written word and all the emotions it inspires; an olfactory homage to the art of reading.

The synergy of this romantic idealism, accompanied by the perfumer’s distinctive passion for fragrance was echoed throughout almost every perfume house featured during the event, and was evident in the stories behind the fragrance collections we explored.

To me, the Sniffapalooza Spring Fling was the perfect opportunity to spy the latest fragrance trends and uncover the many beautiful inspirations that tell the story of every fragrance collection. Make sure to check back with us to find out which tales will be told through our upcoming Chesapeake Bay Candle home fragrance collection – for I can hardly wait to translate my inspirations into creativity.