Dior Fahrenheit Absolute...

More intense and darker than the original, Dior’s Fahrenheit Absolute amp’ed up the composition of its predecessor and put more emphasis on the fragrance’s popular notes: incense, oud and myrrh. The aroma is as sultry as the first Fahrenheit (1988) but this flanker is an entirely different take than the first released fragrance. There is a distinct semblance in regards to the aroma, the signature Fahrenheit scent, but once you get pass that stage, it turns into something more fiery and smoky. It’s just pure resolute masculinity arising from the juice.

Dior did a nice job in reinventing Fahrenheit and pair it with the modern notes today. It didn’t drop the original formulation so those who have been loyal fans of Fahrenheit will still get the same feel in this version albeit sharper and again, more intense. The sillage is almost at par with the original. Some people think that Absolute is slightly less as far as longevity is concerned but that really depends on the chemistry as some claim it lasts for hours on their skin.

This fragrance best suits formal occasions or those moments when you want to make a good impression such as client meetings, interviews and dates. However, try not to overdo the application because it may come off as too overwhelming for the people around you. Fahrenheit Absolute may appeal to the young crowd – probably for those who like to experiment on the eighties but this scent doesn’t really sit well for clubbing, in my opinion.

Overall, Fahrenheit Absolute is a great flanker. It does smell masculine from start to finish and it doesn’t come across as anything unisex or leaning towards the feminine accords.

The bottle takes on the same form as the original but carries a more intense color, a deep magenta red at base then progresses into luminous shade of blackness from the flacon’s torso up to the neck and finally the cap.

Dior Fahrenheit Absolute was launched in 2009 and available in 50ml and 100ml EDT.

Jessica McClintock Perfume by Jessica McClintock...

When we speak of fragrances from the 80s, two words come to mind: flower and spice. My aunts and my mom are floral perfume addicts. My nose could detect their presence even from a distance because their fragrances literally announced themselves in the room. Their perfumes were indeed on the heady side and sometimes, it just hit me with a nasty headache. I thought, they could have bathed in pure perfume or something like that. And whenever they did, I stayed away.

There were days, however, when their perfumes really smelled nice and warm especially on moonlit evenings. When the moon cast its shadow over the horizon, they would chase me in the garden. And when they finally caught me in their embrace, I savored the heavenly aroma of their perfumes.  It was like a lush garden teeming with flowers in full bloom. That’s how I remember Jessica McClintock’s Perfume.

Jessica McClintock Perfume is the eponymous fragrance from designer Jessica McClintock. This fragrance was launched in 1988 and dubbed as a warm floral perfume. I smell a lot of lily of the valley and jasmine accords all throughout. It has a powerful sillage, a fact which I later on realized. The most beautiful part, in my opinion, is the way it transforms in the dry down. It becomes somewhat powdery-floral which I find comforting.

Years after its launch, Jessica McClintock is still a powerhouse perfume. It may not sit well with the ubiquitous fruity-floral fragrances nowadays because it lacks the contemporary element of the Britney Spears and the Paris Hiltons. It may not appeal to young crowd but those who understand the classics will appreciate its composition.

Davidoff Adventure Eau Fraiche...

In February 2010, Davidoff will launch its new fragrance, Davidoff Adventure Eau Fraiche. The fragrance, according to the company, is “sensationally revitalizing… a unique freshness that distinguishes it from the hit spices and fiery temperament od Davidoff Adventure.” The fragrance notes are green mandarin, bergamot, neroli, ginger, basil, cedar wood, vetiver and white musk.

The flacon reflects the fragrance’s promise of a cool and green fragrance. Housed in a clear flask, the juice inside is colored light-green. It’s fresh-looking and minimalistic in appeal. The face of Davidoff Adventure Eau Fraiche is actor Ewan McGregor – captured in his motorbike at dusk.

Davidoff Adventure Eau Fraiche will be available in 50ml and 100ml EDT.

Estee Lauder Pure White Linen Pink Coral...

Estee Lauder’s White Linen fragrance collection is spring in a bottle. The lush floral notes dance in harmony to bring out a fleeting freshness that is utterly feminine. The first White Linen came out in 1978 and over the years, Estee Lauder tinkered with the formulation to add a modern feel to the original fragrance. The most recent addition to the White Linen portfolio is Pure White Linen Pink Coral. This soft, fresh floral evokes breezy afternoons by the sea. The pink floral bouquet hints subdued flowers combined with faint notes of marine-like accords.

The official fragrance notes are:

Top notes – apple blossom, clear aldehydes, waterfuits, pink peppercorns and Chinese berry mist

Middle notes – jasmine, pink peony, camellia flower, sweet pea, honeysuckle and cherry blossom

Base notes – vanilla, heliotrope and sandalwood

Even if this fragrance was designed to be delicate (read: sheer and light), sillage and longevity weren’t compromised at all. I still can smell the lingering freshness of florals after several hours. This particular flanker smells similar to its earlier versions but I don’t mind the repetition. It’s a nice skin hugging scent that I adore in soft floral perfumes. Besides, the longevity somehow compensated for the similarity with the other fragrances in the collection.

If floral-based doesn’t tickle your noses, the citrusy version, Pure White Linen Light Breeze, is a good alternative. It retains the same White Linen freshness but this time, it’s sprinkled with citrus notes to add zest to the fragrance. You wouldn’t be bothered with the sillage because it stays on the skin for hours as well.

The complete Estee Lauder White Linen collection are: White Linen, Pure White Linen, Pure White Linen Light Breeze and Pure White Linen Pink Coral. Take your pick!

Calvin Klein CK Free Cologne for Men...

Winter is not my favorite season of all. Other than the layers and layers of clothing I have to put on everyday, commuting to and from the office has become cumbersome especially when there’s snow. During these gloomy and cold days, I really long for summer. Scent-wise, I tend to wear heavy perfumes. The light and sheer ones is like wearing nothing at all – reminds me of Calvin Klein’s CK Free. The fragrance comes off as faint and sillage goes downhill after the first spritz.

I used to love Calvin Klein fragrances. But lately, their new releases have become a bit too generic. CK Free is the latest cologne for men from CK. It was designed by Givaudan and was released in August 2009. Woody and aromatic, CK Free is composed of the following: top notes are Thai star anise, jackfruit, juniper berry and absinthe; middle notes feature suede, tobacco, coffee, South African buchu; base notes are patchouli, oakwood, Texan cedarwood and Costa Rican ironwood. The bottle is very modern – a transparent block of clear glass. Initially, I was impressed by the minimalistic design and the concept of the advertising. It really looks fresh and natural. In the ad, the model drives the car in full throttle. The thrill of speed correlates to freedom. I guess the marketing team captured the essence of the fragrance but sadly, the impressive appeal ends in the ad.

I tested a sample of this cologne and what I’ve got was the signature explosion of fresh notes at the top. The initial notes are crisp, comforting with a bland floral base. The scent, on the whole, is not groundbreaking. It smells like the other CKin2u perfumes, in my opinion. With the countless CK flankers in their collection, I couldn’t even remember which CK fragrance is comparable to CK Free in regards to olfactive-experience.

CK Free is a nice casual daytime cologne. I love how summer-y it is and well, that’s about it. Longevity and sillage are not something to rave about either. If you’re looking for something exciting and impressive, explore CK’s Truth and Contradiction.  You won’t be disappointed.

Eva by Eva Longoria...

Desperate Housewives’ icon Eva Longoria will release her signature fragrance, Eva by Eva Longoria,  in April 2010. The scent was designed by Takasago and the notes are citrus, neroli, bergamot tea, aldehydes, jasmine, muguet, violet, freesia, skin musk, amber and sandalwood.

According to Eva, her skin reacts to scents that’s why she decided to create her own fragrance which is light and fresh but extremely sexy. Falic Fashion Group admired Eva for being involved in the creation of the fragrance since day 1. Eva by Eva Longoria is the first celebrity perfume from Falic Fashion. They selected Eva for the celebrity deal because they believed in Eva’s charm, “She’s got worldwide presence … so we feel we have a worldwide brand.”

Eva by Eva Longoria will be available in 1.7oz and 3.4oz (formulation unknown).

Credit: wwd.com

Last Minute Perfume Holiday Gift Guide...

I wouldn’t be surprised with the number of last minute shoppers in the next couple of days. We’re down to five days before Christmas! Now, for the perfumistas out there, the best gift  to receive and to give is none other than perfumes, what else?

But with over a hundred (or a thousand even) of perfumes to choose from, selecting the perfect holiday gift can be a daunting task. Plus, I don’t think shopping in crowded malls is a good idea either. The hassles and the cold are too much of a stress. If you’re really pressed for time to go out and do your shopping, you can always shop online. As for the gifts, designers and niche fragrances would be nice. Classics are even better.

To help you get started with your last minute perfume shopping, here are the top three best-selling fragrances from discount perfume online retailer, scentiments.com.

Ed Hardy Woman

Ed Hardy Woman is a floral-fruity fragrance that features strawberries, grapefruit and mangoes. It’s all the succulent fruits of summer captured in this sweet-smelling juice. The floral notes toned down the explosion of fruits. The base notes develop into something like a candied-sweetness aroma. This fragrance appeals to the young crowd. I think this will be  a hit among teeny boppers.

The packaging features Ed Hardy’s tattoo art and is available in 1.7oz and 3.4oz.

Dolce&Gabbana Light Blue

D&G Light Blue perfume is a personal favorite. Without fail, the sparkling florals and fruits always remind me of the tropical paradise in the Mediterranean. On my skin, it evokes a feeling of freshness – the cool breeze of the ocean at dawn.

I’ve been wearing this perfume since it was launched in 2001. It still remains one of my top perfumes regardless of the season.

Alfred Sung Perfume

Recently, I wrote a review of Alfred Sung’s Sung Perfume. This fragrance belongs to the floral category, a true floral to be exact. I believe this scent is geared for the cooler months of winter because of its potency. Sung Perfume is a green floral accord. It emanates a distinct freshness, albeit nuanced, which develops nicely as it progresses.

There are more fragrances to choose from at scentiments.com. Happy shopping and Happy Holidays!

Sung Perfume by Alfred Sung...

Canadian designer Alfred Sung introduced his first fragrance, Sung in 1986.  The scent is a floral extravagance of exotic flowers. Noted for its potency, Sung will take you an era where abundance is in style – the 80s. Others regard the prolific bouquet of flowers a bit excessive but to those who adore floral-based perfumes, Sung is addictive.

The notes are galbanum, peach, bergamot, coriander, green notes, orange blossom, hyacinth, muguet, rose, ylang-ylang, oris, carnation, cedar, vetiver, sandalwood, moss, amber, vanilla, tolu and musk. The scent starts out with the mingling of white floral and green accords. Suffice to say, it’s the kind of fresh-green-floral theme that greets you at first sniff. It quickly transforms into a rich musky base that pairs nicely with the overdose of flowers.  Sung might as well suit the name flower bomb – flower bomb of the 80s is more apt, in my opinion.

Since this fragrance hails from the 80s, sillage and longevity is exceptional. I got the same effect as Yves Saint Laurent’s Opium. It belongs to a time when sheer and light fragrances belong to the cologne category. Sung is long-lasting without inducing nausea to the wearer. It’s a class of its own and I wouldn’t dare compare this to any mainstream perfume because it’s not mass market-ish to being with.  Sung is a special occasion fragrance. Think weddings, anniversary dates, night outs and holidays. It’s too powerful to wear in the office. Sung is not a discrete perfume. It announces itself in the crowd that is why you don’t have to overdo the application. A little goes a long way and would stay on your skin for hours.

Other fragrances from Alfred Sung include Forever Sung, Jewel, Shi, Pure, Hei Cologne, Sung Homme and the latest release, Always Alfred Sung.

Beyonce Heat...

Beyonce Knowles will launch her own scent via Coty Beauty, Beyonce Heat in February 2010. The pop diva has personally collaborated with Coty in the design and packaging of the fragrance. The name “Heat” was inspired by Beyonce’s performances which have had fire involved. The bottle is shaped like an antique amphora bottle in red and gold colors. From afar, the bottle looks as though it is on fire, the combination of red and gold, literally lights up the Heat.

As for the juice, Beyonce worked with Givaudan perfumers Claude Dir and Olivier Gillotin. The official notes are:

Top notes:  red vanilla orchid, magnolia, neroli and blush peach

Middle: honeysuckle nectar, almond macaroon and crème de musk

Base: sequoia milkwood, tonka bean and amber

The Beyonce Heat collection will  include eau de parfum in three sizes — 1 oz, 1.7 oz and 3.4 oz and accompanying Gold Sparkling body lotion.

Credit: wwd.com

Burberry Sport...

Burberry is set to introduce a new line of fragrances for men and women in February 2010. Burberry Sport For Women and Burberry Sport For Men complement the sporting line of the designer house. The signature plaid is not featured in this collection rather bold reds in contrast with black and white colors are the theme of the packaging.

Burberry Sport for Women was designed by Olivier Polge and Beatrice Piguet. The notes are orange, sea salt, magnolia, honeysuckle, solar accords, musk and cedar. The women’s fragrance is floral-fruity in composition. Burberry Sport for Men is woody-floral and was created by perfumers Sonia Constant, Nathalie Gracia-Cetto and Antoine Maisondieu. The fragrance notes are grapefruit, ginger, wheat, sea accords, red ginger, juniper berries, dry amber, cedar and musk.

Burberry Sport for Women and Burberry Sport for Men will be available in 30ml, 50ml and 100ml eau de toilette.