I don’t know where the idea of a celebrity fragrance came from or why they are so popular. Do women want to smell like their favorite actress or heiress? Do celebrities even wear their own scents?  Or do they go for something else? Does Britney smell like J Lo?  Does Paris smell like Diddy? (That one made me laugh).

I’ve noticed a common theme of sweet and floral in many of the fragrances. Those that veer away from that theme appeal the most to me. I like a scent that has a touch of the unique to it. Why buy something new if it smells like everything else you own?

Here’s a list of my recent favorite celebrity scents. I’d really like to hear about what you readers like. If we get enough responses, I’ll come back and do a follow-up with your favorites.

1. Sunkissed Glow by Jennifer Lopez – I got a sample of this to try earlier this Summer and it’s what I pick most often. It smells like a pineapple, both sweet and tart at the same time. It’s very nice. Perfect for Summer.

2. Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker – I love the warm base of Lovely. It features Patchouli, Musk, Cedar, Amber, and Woods.

3. Unforgivable Woman by Sean Combs – I have a bottle of Unforgivable Woman bubble bath. I use it all the time and I really like it. The list of fragrance notes is crazy-long, with a touch of fruit, flower, and oriental. Definitely not boring and not overly sweet.

4. I Am King by Sean Combs – I did not want to like fragrance for men, because I’m not a Sean Combs fan, but it’s really very nice. I gave my sample to my daughter’s boyfriend. I remember it as having a fresh citrus smell. What stands out to me the most is the lime.

5. Fancy Love by Jessica Simpson – I reviewed this one a short time ago. It’s sweet, but not overly sweet. Again, the appeal, for me, lies in the warm base notes.

Image credit: Michelle Smith

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5 Top Celebrity Fragrances

Circus Fantasy Eau de Parfum
3.3 oz for $55

I’m a Britney fan. I always have at least one of her songs on my playlist for runs. Usually Toxic, because it’s my favorite. I have had experienced mixed reactions to her fragrances. Usually they are too sweet for me and I didn’t like the last one, Believe, very much at all.

This new fragrance, Circus Fantasy, will probably be the same, but I will try to smell it with an open mind. It’s a fruity-floral blend with a “candy” bottom note. It’s described as “magical” and with a “colorful illusion of fun, sexiness, and glamour.”  That reminds me of  a circus – all show in the ring, but sort of sad behind the scenes.

The bottle is very cute, it’s very much like the Hidden Fantasy bottle, but brighter.

Top note: Sugar-coated Raspberry, Apricot Blossom
Middle note: Blue Peony, Waterlily, Red Sweetheart Orchid
Bottom note: Sweet Vanilla Wood, Creamy Musk, Violet Candy

Image credit: Elizabeth Arden

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Britney Spears – Circus Fantasy

September also brings the launch date of Forever, her newest fragrance.

“I am in a wonderful place right now, surrounded by all the things I love, and Forever captures this moment in time,” said the entertainer, whose first scent, M by Mariah Carey, launched in September 2007.

Forever is described as a “modern opulent floral.”  It has an opening note of fresh florals and fruit then deepens with a base drydown of wood and musk.  Perfumer Olivier Gillotin partnered with Carey for the new fragrance. His intention was for the fragrance to create a feeling of lush, sensual, feminine glamour.

Fragrance notes: Neroli, Lotus Blossom, Green Apple, Tuberose, Gardenia, White Musk, and Exotic Woods

Forever will be available in various sizes Eau de Parfum that will run from $42-$65.  In addition, there will be a half ounce Parfum and a body lotion. The fragrance will be available at Macy’s, Dillards, Belks, and other department and specialty stores. 

Image credit: WWD.com

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Mariah Carey’s New Fragrance Forever

For a limited time, you can get get a Stella McCartney charm bracelet, for free with the purchase of the Stella fragrance, from Sephora. A triple-strand silver-toned bracelet, featuring flat discs with “Stella McCartney” engraved along the edge. It’s a new take on an old favorite.

To enjoy this limited-time offer, simply purchase the Stella McCartney Stella 3.3 oz Eau de Parfum by clicking on the BUY THE COLLECTION button on the product detail page and entering promotion code STELLA when prompted at checkout. The free silver-tone three strand charm bracelet, featuring three multi-size discs with Stella McCartney’s name in her signature font (open length = 8″) will then be added to your order. Not valid in stores or on previous purchases. One offer per order. Cannot be used in conjunction with other promotion codes. Offer not available in Canada.

Stella
Notes: Rose, Peony Flower, Mandarin, Rose Absolute, Amber.
Style: Sensual. Intense. Feminine.

Image credit: Sephora.com

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Stella McCartney’s Charming Bracelet Offer From Sephora

I’d guess that it would be something in the fruit or floral family. I’d also guess that Paris Hilton thinks the same thing as her new scent, Fairy Dust, has a strong Gardenia note. 

I had the opportunity to try Fairy Dust and I expected it to have that same sweet smell that so many celebrity scents have, but it was really more of a floral. One of my friends called it sophisticated and while I’m not sure that I agree with that – it named fairy dust after all – I will say that it does have a more grown-up scent.  It’s cleaner or simpler, which I appreciate.

Paris Hilton’s Fairy Dust

Fragrance Notes: Prisecco Accord, Pink Peony, Orange Blossom, Gardenia, Peach Nectar, Water Lily, Sueded Patchouli, Cashmere Musk, Vanilla Creme

Image credit: Amazon.com

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What Does a Fairy Smell Like?

One tip – apparently, men prefer a sweet smelling fragrance to something floral. 

Fancy, Jessica Simpson’s new fragrance, would absolutely fit the sweet scent requirement.  I had the opportunity to try it recently and I found it to be fruity-sweet at first, but it mellowed with dry down to a sort of warm caramel or toffee scent.  I liked it, my mom liked it, and my daughter loved it. In fact, when it’s missing from my dresser, I know that I can find it in her room.  Not many scents appeal to all ages, but Jessica Simpson’s Fancy is a hit with my family. 

I’ll let you know if Whitney Casey’sThe Man Plan works when I wear Fancy on my next date.

FRAGRANCE NOTES: amber crystals, apricot nectar, pear, gardenia, jasmine, caramel, vanilla crème, sandalwood, red fruits, toasted almonds

 

Image credit: Fragrance Net.com

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The Man Plan and Jessica Simpson’s Fancy

No, I’m not kidding.  Apparently, he’s having some trouble raising funds for a memorial library, so he’s jumping on the Paris/Gwen/Diddy bandwagon, hoping to make his fortune in fragrance.  The President in the perfume industry?  Why not? It seems that everybody has their own scent-, clothing-, liquor line these days. 

DALLAS, Tex. (CAP) – While ex-presidents in eras past have all faced the daunting challenge of trying to raise large amounts of cash to fund their presidential libraries, the current and soon-to-be-ex Commander-in-Chief has been finding it particularly difficult to do so.

Part of this has been his approval ratings, part of it the economy, both of which have been in the toilet the past few months. Short of an executive library bailout, what’s a W to do to raise cash in these troubled times?

“It’s like the smell of a brush-clearing cowboy, in the rain,” President Bush quipped at the $1000-a-plate dinner thrown to launch his signature scent, W. “Kind of a steely determinatory thing, with a smoky undercurrent.

“Long after I leave Washington, you’ll still be smelling me, that’s for sure,” Bush told the gathered dignitaries before whistling for the chili course to be served.

While W signals the first time that a president has launched his own fragrance line, it is not the first time that unconventional fundraising has been used to raise money for post-office memorials such as libraries and foundations.

…Profits from W, which goes on sale later this month, are expected to raise nearly half of the $1.2 million that Bush’s Southern Methodist University library will cost. Advance orders for W can be placed through the Southern Methodist University website at http://www.smu.edu.

 

 

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President Bush’s Celebrity Fragrance

 Head on over to The List Maven for a peek at Paris Hilton, a clip of the interview, and your chance to win her new scent.

Paris Hilton Fairy Dust Eau de Parfum Spray

Fragrance Notes: sparkling prosecco accord, pink peony, orange blossom, spring gardenia, water lily, peach nectar, sueded patchouli, cashmere musk and vanilla cream

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The List Maven Is Giving Away Fairy Dust

Here’s more………

By dubbing it I Am King, Sean Combs leaves no doubt as to his expectations for his latest men’s fragrance, due as a Macy’s exclusive in December before rolling out to wider distribution in February. Industry sources estimated that the scent could do upward of $100 million globally in its first year on counter.

Sean “Diddy” Combs knows he might raise a few eyebrows by calling his latest scent I Am King, but he doesn’t care.

“I Am King is a statement about all men,” said Combs, during an interview at his Bad Boy Entertainment offices in Manhattan. “We are all descendents of royalty…”

I’m not a Sean Combs fan. I don’t dislike him, I just don’t respond well to arrogance. I remember seeing ads for Unforgivable showing him in intimate situations with a couple of different women. I wondered what it meant… wear this and you will get blondes and brunettes?……wear this and you can get away with getting both blondes and brunettes?……

What I’ve seen of ads for I Am King show a similar arrogant attitude, lots of posturing on the deck of yacht, slowly entering a casino, gambling in the casino, expensive toys like a jetski and a helicopter, arms around his ladies……… Not sure what this ad has to do with scent either……does he smell like money?……success?…….  I predict he sells the heck out of this stuff.  

 

The notes for I Am King include tangerine zest, orange, cranberry, “a proprietary Imperial French berry note”, kir royal, crème de cassis, premium Champagne, cooling Mediterranean water, key lime pie, lemon cream, labdanum, cedarwood, vetiver, white moss, sandalwood and clean powdery undertones.

Image credit – Macy’s.com

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I Am King – Sean Combs new scent

This week I had the opportunity to try the new Vera Wang scent, LOOK.

Two things…

One, I loved it!  And, two, my job rocks!  Trying gorgeous new scents?  How lucky am I?

After receiving it, I wore it everywhere and had all my friends sniff me - when I wasn’t sniffing myself.  (Seriously, this stuff smells good). “Fresh,” was the comment that I heard the most and I’m in complete agreement.  LOOK does not smell like every other fragrance out there. It’s a very feminine fragrance with a lovely, layered, floral scent. It has a nice balance – textured, modern, and sophisticated.

The bottle is modern and contemporary, too, with a bold, cut prism shape. It looks lovely sitting on my table.

LOOK is available in Parfum Elixir, Eau de Parfum Spray, Sheer Body Lotion, Velvet Body Creme, and Satin Shower Creme. I will definitely be putting LOOK on my shopping list for holiday gift giving.

LOOK, by Vera Wang

A sparkling elixir of mandarin and watery greens are layered with lush notes of lychee and golden delicious apples, filling the topnote with a burst of energy and freshness.  The vibrant floral bouquet of lily, freesia, and jasmine envelopes with femininity and elegance. A natural sensuality is enhanced in the drydown with the richness of indulgent vanilla and skin musk.  Touches of oakmoss and patchouli create a balance of warmth, depth, and character.

You can watch Vera Wang describe LOOK and what went into creating the fragrance here.

Top image credit: Vera Wang on Weddings

Bottom image credit: Michelle Smith

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LOOK, by Vera Wang – My Review