Women’s Health Magazine is looking for your input for an upcoming feature. “Which Perfumes Trigger Your Memory?” In particular, they are looking for your firsts and your favorites. What was your first  fragrance? What was your favorite as a teen? What scent do you remember from your high school beau?
Here’s what I remember from my Scent-ual past:
First fragrance: Love’s Baby Soft and you know what, I still like it. Sarah uses the body spray.
Favorite in high school: Still the Loves, but I added some others to it – a lemon-scented Love’s fragrance and we used to do this layering with …read more

In the course of my work, I have the opportunity to try a lot of really incredible, really unique products. Every time the FedEx man comes to the door, I think, “Yay! I get to try something new.” 
I’ve learned that price and ease of availability don’t have that much to do with quality or how easy something is to use and enjoy. When the Glade lady contacted me with, “May I delight you with a sample?” (Easily my favorite work request ever) I said, “Yes, please.” 
She sent me a Soy Candle and a Reed Diffuser set in the Sheer White …read more

Donna Karan has solved that nasty self-tanner stinky-skin problem.
Donna Karan’s Body Glow Moisturizing Gradual Self Tanner is the first self tanner of it’s kind. It carries a bit of sheen and the scent of Donna Karan’s Cashmere Mist fragrance. Use it as part of a layered approach to beautifully scented and glowing skin.

 
Cashmere Mist Body Glow
Moisturizing Self  Tanner
5 oz for $35
Donna Karan offers free standard shipping with every $75 purchase.
Image credit: Donna Karan Beauty.com

As the happening chick I am (whatever…), I spend a lot of time in urban clubs and bars – and outside of NYC, not all of them are smoke-free!
The result? Very often, you return home with a distinct odor in your hair and sometimes, immediate washing is not an option.
My new find for when this happens is Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb Bomblicious Hair Mist. Better than simply spraying some of your perfume in your hair (that honestly just smells like musky smoke), this really truly revitalizes hair and leaves it smelling floral and sweet – probably better than before …read more

Fragrance is divided into basics types or families.  Once you figure out what notes or combination of notes appeal to you, you can narrow down the fragrances you sample to just a few, making perfume shopping infinitely easier.

Fresh or Citrus scents are those  with clean notes like citrus fruits, lavender, green, or marine. These are the fresh scents that we associate with healthy beauty.
Oriental scents are spicy with earthy notes like amber, resins, vanilla, musk, or patchouli. I’m partial to orientals – I love the richness of the amber or musky notes. Orientals appeal to men or women.
Woody or chypre …read more

I think we can all agree that babies smell incredible after a bath. My kids are now 10, 16, and 18, so it’s been a long time since I got to smell their sweet, little baby heads. Luckily, I am Aunt to 6 kids, one of whom is still a baby. Hayden.  Here he is. Doesn’t he look like he smells wonderful?

When my kids were little, I used to splurge on Burt’s Bees Baby products from the Health Food Store.  Now you can find them all over in stores like Long’s Drugs or Target.  My favorite products were the Baby …read more

Theme Fragrance just released two new scents – Mantra and Song. I had the opportunity to try both of these, plus their best-selling Sarong scent, too.
Theme Fragrances are meant to flatter the individual’s own style. You can layer them to create something unique or wear them on their own. They come in a solid perfume or a roll-on oil, both are the perfect size to slip into your purse, pocket, or makeup bag.

Mantra, a “sensuous honeyed musk,” also carries notes of spring florals. It has a powdery scent and it’s now my new favorite. This is a soft, romantic musk …read more

Sherri’s Scents and Soy Shop carries handmade soap with fun, swirly, color patterns and fresh scent combinations. Every bar is unique with variations in color, shape, and design.
The Indigo bar is a 5 oz bar of cold process soap that has a clean scent that is a mix of lavender, lemon, grapefruit, mint, and woodsy musk.

Indigo Vegan Soap
$5.75
The Honeysuckle soap contains skin smoothing oils like sunflower seed, coconut, avocado, apricot, and shea butter.

Honeysuckle Soap
$5
The Cut Grass bar has a grass-like striping and would make a lovely decorative Spring accent.

Cut Grass
$5.75
Image credit: Sherri’s Scents and Soy Shop at Etsy.com

Eau de toilette, eau de parfum, and perfume. What do these names mean? Why is the eau de toilette less expensive when it’s a bigger bottle?
Fragrance comes in 3 basic concentrations. In terms of the strength of a scent and the length of time it will last, you do get what you pay for.

Perfume is the highest concentration of scent – 13-40% concentrate. It comes in a smaller bottle, it’s more expensive, but you use a smaller amount because the scent is strong and long lasting. Apply your perfume sparingly – a little bit goes a long way.
Eau de parfum …read more

Badgley Mishka, known for their fantastic bridal gowns and fabulous evening wear, have released their newest collaborative fragrance, Fleur De Nuit.

Isn’t this a pretty bottle of perfume? I love the intricate black print design on the clear bottle. Very vintage chic! Fleurs de Nuit is described as a white floral scent. It has top notes of magnolia, quince blossom, bergamot and green notes; a heart of radiant white florals, night-blooming jasmine, orange blossom and white peach, and a drydown of silky woods and glowing amber.  A sophisticated fragrance for the sophisticated lady in your life! Available now at Saks Fifth …read more