Pomegranate Noir Fragrance Chronicle
$95

The Pomegranate Noir Fragrance Chronicle™ tells the story of an intriguing Pomegranate accord blended with notes of delicious fruits, spicy florals and warm smoky woods.  Transform Pomegranate Noir with the accords of Raspberry, Casablanca Lily and Guaiacwood to create your own compelling blend of this iconic fragrance for both men and women.

There’s also a Lime Basil & Mandarin Fragrance Chronicle that  features everything you need to combine citrusy Lime Basil & Mandarin with a deeper Basil note and a layer of Amberwood.

The purchase of either set will earn you free standard shipping and two fragrance samples. Simply use the offer code JMSTORY at checkout.

Image credit: Jo Malone.com

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Gift Idea: Jo Malone Fragrance Chronicles

Trina Turk For Clinique Bonus comes with a makeup bag designed by Turk and filled with $65 worth of cosmetics that you can get with any $25 Nordstrom Clinique purchase. The purchase can be in-store or online, but get moving, because there are only a limited supply of Bonus bags available.

 The bonus includes…

- Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips (1.7 oz.)
- Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (1 oz.)
- Blushwear Cream Stick in Rosy
- Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Sun Burst
- Lash Doubling Mascara in Black (0.14 oz.)
- Different Lipstick in Tenderheart
- Superfit Makeup (0.5 oz.)

And for that qualifying purchase, I’m going to get ……Clinique Aromatics Elixir is a spicy blend of spice, citrus, and floral notes. It’s classified as a Chypre-Floral and was first offered at Clinique in 1975. This is the sort of fragrance that some people would consider a bit on the Hippie-side. Happily, I’m on the hippie-side, so the combination of warm earthy notes  in the Aromatics Elixir work for me.

Top Note: Verbena, Sage, Chamomile, Coriander, Bergamot, Brazilian Rosewood, and Geranium
Heart Note: Carnation, Tuberose, Orange Blossom, Orris Root, Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, and Rose
 Base Note: Sandalwood, Patchouli, Musk, Oakmoss, Vetiver, and Incense

Image credit: Nordstrom.com

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Clinique Bonus Time At Nordstrom

The tag line is “Spotlight – Step Into It.” The idea behind the fragrance being that every woman is a star in her own right.

The choice of Courtney Cox as spokeswoman is interesting to me. She’s beautiful and she’s successful, but she’s also known for being a friend – both off and on-screen. Plus, she’s not a kid, which is something that I appreciate, because I’m in my 40s as well.  She’s glamorous, but also grounded, which is what most women aspire to be.

“I’m also in the spotlight as a wife and mother. This fragrance is about feeling good about yourself and being confident when you step into your own unique roles — and into the spotlight.”

–Courteney Cox, award-winning actor, wife, mother and friend.

Fragrance Notes -

Top Notes:Icy Silver Accord, Citrus, Mandarin Pure, Italian Bergamot Essence
Middle Notes: Hydroponic White Freesia, Tuberose Absolute, Mimosa Pure
Base Notes: Cashmere Sandalwood, Vetiver, Amber Crystals

If you shop Avon online, you can get free shipping on any order that is $5 or more when you use the savings code MMFW5 until 03/30/09.  Avon has by far the best deals on shipping around.

Image credit: Avon.com

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Courtney Cox in the Spotlight

That said, I have to admit that I really enjoyed Sean John’s latest scent for men, I Am King. I like the freshness of the tangerine and orange citrus notes, I like the way the woody note grounds it a bit. It is very pleasant and refreshing. I’m not sure that it’s especially unique, but it is something that I would purchase for a man that I cared about and wanted to be close to.

Sometimes I wonder if a celebrity putting their own face and name on a product might not be the best marketing tool. For example, Paris Hilton might be cute, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to go out and buy her perfume, although I reviewed Fairy Dust and found it pleasant enough. If a celebrity wants to create a fragrance, why not just make a really, really good scent and trust that it has the strength to carry itself?

I Am King

Fragrance notes: Tangerine, Orange, Cranberry, French Berry, Kir Royal Cocktail, Water Accord, Key Lime Pie, Lemon Crème, Labdanum, Cedarwood, Vetiver, White Moss, Sandalwood.

Image credit: Sephora.com

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I Am King?

I agreed with some of it, either because I’ve already read a lot of things that back the theories up or through my own personal experience.  Some of the ideas, well I don’t agree with them, also through things I’ve read or my own experience.  I believe that, as a whole, men don’t respond as well to some scents, but some of these opinions they are basing the story on are very subjective.

Here’s the Glamour magazine short version – men don’t go for dessert scents, powdery scents, or anything on the heavy floral or heavy citrus side.  They do find clean scents, woody florals, spicy florals, light citrus, or vanilla attractive. 

Here’s where I disagree – men do like desert scents when they have a vanilla note, for example my last boyfriend loved my buttercream frosting scented body lotion.  He also loved my lime and basil scented body spray. Both had a strong scent – either sweet or citrus. He also liked my lavendar body powder. I know this because this man was a big sniffer. He’d hug me, breathe me in, and then go, “Mmmm…” Oh, boy. It was very sexy and left me feeling fairly powerful. I sure miss that guy.

The apparent problem with the powder scent was that it reminded one of the Glamour man of his Grandma. The problem with the sweet smell – it reminded him of someone very young. Now, I agree that men like a more complex and sophisticated scent, but just like women, they like the scent to match their mood.  And sometimes, not matter what you read in Glamour magazine, sometimes they just want their lady to smell like cookie.

Image credit: All Posters.com

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What Scents Do Men Find Sexy?

Last year, Steve and I discovered his Meyer Lemons and Blood Oranges. I was so sad when the citrus season ended.  Fresh off the tree and so juicy and flavorful – his produce tastes like I imagine sunshine would.  Just the pick-me-up I’ve been craving. 

My family is big with the citrus – I’ve often joked that my daughter, Sarah, is half mandarin orange. She puts away about 5 of those little oranges a day, I kid you not. I love to decorate my kitchen with big bowls piled high with citrus fruit. My sister gave me a glass triffle bowl for Christmas – it looks gorgeous filled with lovely yellows and oranges.

Steve used to make a simple vodka cocktail with the fruit from the Farmer’s Market. He skipped the simple syrup step, juiced the lemons and oranges, added a little raw sugar, a splash of vodka. Very easy, very refreshing.  If you are looking for a cocktail on the fancier side, you might want to try a Blood Orange Cosmo from Life Should Be Beautiful.

If you’d like to add a touch of citrus to your beauty routine, you can mix up a simple Citrus Sugar Scrub by combining 1 cup of raw or brown sugar, 4 Tablespoons cold-pressed oil (I suggest Almond oil), 4 tsps of honey, and 10 drops of lemon, orange, or grapefruit essential oil (use singularly or a mixture of the 3).  The Citrus Sugar Scrub will keep about a month in a well-sealed container.  

If a salt scrub is more your thing, then Aly has a great do-it-yourself recipe over at Pretty By Nature, that was the inspiration for this entire post. Thanks Aly!

I’m going to be running a citrus giveaway at Veggie Chic, starting tomorrow (1/12/09). Ten winners will recieve a shipment of Cuties Mandarin Oranges.  Don’t forget to come by and enter the giveaway!

Image credit: Michelle Smith

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Fresh Citrus – Just the Pick Me Up I Need!

Goodbyes include discontinued colors of eye shadow, mineralized eye shadow, eye shadow suites, brushed metal-x cream eyeshadow, lipstick, lip conditioner, and kohl eye pencil, among others.  What do I want to grab, before it’s all gone?

Charged Water/Revitalizing Energy

Charged water, fused with vital ions from a diamond and instilled with a spirit-lifting therapeutic aroma, then delivered to the skin in the soothing aura of a revitalizing hydrating mist. Like its source – a diamond – on application it makes the skin feel clear, sparkling, pure and energized. Its aroma, a blend of green tea and citrus.
100ml / 3.4 us fl oz

Doesn’t that sound like a wonderful pick-me-up spritzer? The super duo scent combo of energizing citrus and relaxing green tea mixed with ionized water.  Get two and keep one in your desk at work, for whenever you need to refresh your makeup at work. Spritz lightly, avoiding eye makeup, then blot with a tissue. Voila! You are renewed and ready for the rest of the afternoon.

Image credit: MAC.com

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Goodbyes From MAC – Get Them Before They Are All Gone

KenzoAmour Parfum

Carol’s Daughter Ecstasy

If you are looking for a little loving, then go for a scent with vanilla and musk. Musk and vanilla lead to feelings of relaxation, which is helpful for getting in the mood. In addition, I’ve noticed that my boyfriend smells me more (he’s a big sniffer) when I’m wearing something that has a “food” smell – citrus, vanilla, lime, etc.  Carol’s Daughter Ecstasy has a whole list of “food” smells, in addition to just enough musk.  It carries notes of pineapple, peach, mango, strawberry, vanilla, and Egyptian musk.

L’Occitane

Carol’s Daughter would probably be good for giving your brain a jumpstart, too. Scents with a citrus base stimulate brain activity, which in turn increases your pep. This is the time of year when the days run long and the nights are full of frantic last-minute shopping or festive holiday parties. To get into the mood, one wise choice would be L’Occitane. It carries the freshness of citrus, as well as verbena (another favorite of mine) and geranium.

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The Right Scent Can Help You Through Your Day

To receive a treat that includes a sample size of both Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Graprefruit and High Definition Mascara in Black, be sure to use the offer code 2TREATS at check out.

Both of these treats are perfect for carrying in a purse-size make-up bag. The High Definition Mascara has an applicator that is a brush on one side and a comb on the other, while the Grapefruit gloss is the perfect soft pink to flatter any skin tone.

Also handy for your purse……

Happy-To-Go
Limited Edition
This limited-edition collection from Clinique Happy includes three Perfume Pencils: Clinique Happy in its own original scent, A Hint of Citrus and A Wealth of Flowers. Glide them on alone, or mix together. All this, plus a sharpener and mini bag.

And because I don’t include the guys as much as I’d like on this blog, how about a gift of Happy for him?

All shipping is free at Clinique.com right now and if you hurry, you can enter to win that iPod Shuffle!  Today is the last day, so do it now!  I have a Shuffle and I love it. It’s little. I just clip it on the back of my collar when I go for a run or ride.

If you haven’t already done it, please enter my free Spinlash Mascara Giveaway. Comments are still open for a few more days and we are giving away four of these great Spinlash mascaras.

Image credit: Clinique.com

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Win An iPod Shuffle!

Looking for something light and refreshing in an organic scent?  How about Caudalie’s Fleur de Vigne Fresh Energizing Fragrance.

Fleur de Vigne is the flower that precedes the grape on the vine. This scent is enriched with essential oils derived from fruit and Bergamot as well as the plant waters of Sandalwood and cedar.

Bergamot is citrus tree (Citrus bergamia), but the name is also applied to various mint plants and pear trees that carry a Bergamot-like scent.

Fleur de Vigne Fresh Energizing Fragrance

What is is: A fragrance with aromatherapy and skincare benefits.

What it is formulated to do: This splash is full of energy. One spray of this water lets the fragrance blossom onto your skin. This fresh fragrance pays homage to the Fleur de Vigne (grape blossom). Its freshness comes from ultra vitamin-rich fruits: grapefruit, mandarin, bergamot, lemon, and orange.

Notes: Grape Blossom, Italian Bergamot, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Blackcurrant Bud, Green Mate, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Grape, Lemon and Orange Botanical Waters, Trace Elements, Mineral Salts.

Style:  Soft. Sensual. Vibrant.

Caudalie suggests using this fragrance on more than your body – spritz a bit on your lingerie and linens. 

Image credit: Sephora

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Organic Scent – Fleur de Vigne Fresh Energizing Fragrance