If you aren’t familiar with luxury fashion brand Maiyet, now is your chance. Inspired by Maiyet’s global travels, their debut fragrance (in collaboration with Barneys New York) incorporates elements from exotic locations and infuses scent notes inspired by artisan communities where Maiyet works. Created by Maiyet co-founders Paul van Zyl and Kristy Caylor in collaboration with master perfumer Ralf Schweiger, the Maiyet fragrance is wildly intoxicating with notes of saffron, jasmine and sandalwood from India, patchouli from Indonesia, and myrrh from East Africa.
At first I felt the scent was a bit too strong for the office but it quickly settled into a very wearable and comforting fragrance. It’s discreetly sexy and feels like you’re on a vacation (even if you can’t escape your desk). I can’t help but sniff my wrists.
The 100ml Maiyet eau de parfum ($195) is available Barneys.com and all Barneys New York flagship stores.
Disclosure: sample provided for editorial consideration.
I truly admire women who have a signature scent. It’s their calling card. Their “thing.” I once harassed a coworker in an attempt to find out what perfume she wore solely because she wore it everyday (okay and it smells GREAT on her #creeper). I’m too all over the place to rely on one scent. I see fragrance as an extension of my mood and I like to switch it up. While I will never understand committing to ONE fragrance, I can see how people can get hooked on a particular perfume and wear. it. out. This summer I’ve been rotating between four fragrances that I’m seriously in love with.
Almost Bare I’ve had this little routine where I purchase Bobbi Brown’s Beach the minute summer arrives. This year, I took a leap of faith and purchased Almost Bare ($72) instead after being drawn in by the Italian bergamot ,white freesia, white amber blend. It’s warm but not winter-y and unlike Beach I won’t associate it solely as a summer scent.
Bvlgari’s Omnia Indian Garnet A flanker for the brand’s Omnia perfume, I’m actually surprised I like this. It started off great but at one point, I could have sworn my headache was a result of the perfume. Bvlgari’s Omnia Indian Garnet ($65) is floral and woody making it feminine yet a little bit sexy. I’d make this my “date night” perfume but considering I don’t go on dates (#womp) let’s just call this my nighttime scent, mmkay?
NEST Fragrance Midnight Fleur ($65)
Oh NEST. Is there anything you can’t do? The NEST Fine Fragrance collection is amazing and there isn’t a perfume in the collection that I don’t love. That said, I’m always drawn to two in particular:Midnight Fleur (pictured above) and Passiflora ($65 each). With patchouli, black amber, jasmine, and vanilla orchid among some of the notes Midnight Fleur is sensual and another one of those scents that I wear at night. It’s sensual. It’s beautifully composed and I can’t get enough of it. Passiflora is my daytime fragrance since it’s so lush and floral. I typically hate floral scents but this is just so beautiful and not like the cheap florals that are out on the market.
While I may switch these up as the year continues, I can definitely see myself running back to them.
SHOP THE POST
Disclosure: samples of NEST and Bvlgari were provided for editorial consideration.
Last week, I joined Anna Sui at her SoHo store to ring in the launch of her newest scent, La Nuit de Bohème.
When speaking to Ms. Sui, she described the scent as “it’s the same girl who wears La Vie de Bohème [launched last year] but this is what she wears at night.”
She’s still very bohemian and romantic but at night she comes alive. “She’s like a modern day Shahrazad,” she added. Notes in this fragrance include: champagne citrus, blackberry, lotus flower, rose, oud, cedar, vanilla orchid, patchouli and amber. It’s a pretty scent and one word to describe it after wearing it for a few days is: “yummy.” Not too warm or sweet, it’s actually great for day and I wouldn’t reserve this just for night (though I prefer deeper, sexier scents for evening…meow).
La Nuit de Bohème is available now at Beautylish.com and Anna Sui Stores and will be available at Nordstrom.com come Fall.
I managed to escape all of the Gucci Guilty hype when the scent launched a couple of years back and I’m not quite sure why. Perhaps it was the ad campaigns. I’m not the “edgy” type nor am I daring…I’m more slap on some pink on it kinda gal, but the scents themselves sound interesting.
When a sample of Gucci Guilty Black landed on my desk a few months back, I relegated the black and red bottle to my perfume wardrobe and saved it for a rainy day. That day has come and I’m kicking myself for not wearing this more often!
An oriental floral (floriental??) fragrance, it has notes of red fruits, pink pepper, raspberry, violet, amber and patchouli so it starts of bright and somewhat intense. Let it run its course and by midmorning I was smitten with the lingering scent. It’s warm but not burrow your head into your scarf warm and intense but not migraine inducing.
A word to the wise: only apply one or two spritzes. Any more than that and it quickly veers into the wrong direction.
SHOP THE GUCCI GUILTY COLLECTION
disclosure: sample provided for editorial consideration
With every scent comes a memory and when I received a sample of Valentino’s latest beauty, Valentina Assoluto, something about it reminded me of my mother.
Isn’t that where it all begins for some girls? Seeing mom get ready, playing with her makeup and knick knacks, spritzing perfume, and pretending to be a grown up.
Valentina (left) and Valentina Assoluto (right)
Let’s start from the beginning.
There’s Valentina (launched in 2011) which is a floriental (floral oriental) that features a few of my favorite note most notably bergamot, tuberose, cedar, amber and vanilla. It’s somewhat light but sensual. The type of fragrance you apply and forget about until you catch a whiff while taking off a scarf or something. It’s beautifully composed and lasts all day.
Then there’s Valentina Assoluto. Assoluto is a much more sensual and seductive interpretation of Valentina. It’s definitely more womanly. The formulation for Assoluto has a chypre base that makes it a bit stronger and elegant. Where I might wear Valentina during the day, Assoluto is for night when I’m heading out with a guy. It’s intense and not for the faint of heart.
It’s amazing how the two are similar but strikingly different. If you’re a fan of warmer fragrances pick up Valentina Assoluto, apply, and fall in love.
The Valentina Assoluto Collection includes: Eau De Parfum Spray (2.7 oz.) for $117.00; Eau De Parfum Spray (1.7 oz.) for $88.00; and Mother’s Day Set (2.7 oz. EDP Spray and 6.8 oz. Body Lotion) for $117.00.
Created by Maiyet co-founders Paul van Zyl and Kristy Caylor in collaboration with master perfumer Ralf Schweiger, the Maiyet fragrance is wildly intoxicating with notes of saffron, jasmine and sandalwood from India, patchouli from Indonesia, and myrrh from East Africa.
I’ve had this little routine where I purchase Bobbi Brown’s 
A flanker for the brand’s Omnia perfume, I’m actually surprised I like this. It started off great but at one point, I could have sworn my headache was a result of the perfume. 
Notes in this fragrance include: champagne citrus, blackberry, lotus flower, rose, oud, cedar, vanilla orchid, patchouli and amber. It’s a pretty scent and one word to describe it after wearing it for a few days is: “yummy.” Not too warm or sweet, it’s actually great for day and I wouldn’t reserve this just for night (though I prefer deeper, sexier scents for evening…meow).
Valentina (left) and Valentina Assoluto (right)
