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
To celebrate their newest fragrance, I’ve partnered up with Coach to share what I “heart” the most and their newest campaign.
While I love many things and people in my life, nothing stands out as much as my love of Haiti (the MOTHER COUNTRY!). I’ve spoken about it before but my parents come from Haiti and having been raised there, I feel a deep connection. There’s such a rich history and culture - whether you’re talking about music (Kompa), movies (Jesifra is probably one of the funniest characters of all time), or the way they dress - it’s truly fascinating. While the country is (still) having a rough time getting back on its feet, I still jump at the chance to visit and see my family, feel the Caribbean sun, and lounge around drinking actual coconut water.
Now onto the new fragrance by legacy luxury company, Coach. Coach Love is described as a “feminine floral with warm, sensual woody undertones,” meant to capture modern love in a bottle. It opens up with sparkling notes (mandarin, dewberry, green violet, freesia) and transitions into a playful floral with magnolia, jasmine and gardenia at the heart of the fragrance. The dry down is warm and seductive with notes of patchouli, sandalwood and musk among some of the notes.
This goes back to my earlier question: what do you love? Visit the Coach Facebook page to upload your photo and share your thoughts. Mine is above! It’s an actual photo I took after climbing a MOUNTAIN - albeit a somewhat low mountain - but a MOUNTAIN nonetheless.
GIVEAWAY: The good folks at Coach has offered to host a giveaway for one lucky MissWYA reader. You will win the Coach Legacy Duffle and their new Coach fragrance. If the bag looks familiar it’s because I’ve been craving one for DECADES now (that and the Willis bag — so good!). To enter, simply enter via the rafflecopter widget below. Open to US residents only. Giveaway is over and the winner has been contacted. Thank you to everyone who entered! Giveaway is over and the winner has been contacted. Thanks for entering!
As beautiful and rich as they are, fragrances are the hardest items to shop for whether it’s for yourself or others. What makes one person feel sexy can choke another. What some consider a classic, others never want to see again.
To truly capture the essence of a fragrance, you have to go beyond the top notes and wait for the perfume to settle. “A fragrance is a chronological composition that evolves with time,” says perfumer Frédéric Malle. “The top notes function for about 15 minutes, then leave way to the heart of the perfume, which is its real personality.”
That said, if you’re looking for a scent, spritz a bit on your wrist and walk away. Walk around the store for a bit and come back. Why? Because the top note can be off putting but the dry down is absolutely fantastic.
“Some fragrances also change from one skin to the other,” says Malle so don’t think that if it smells ahh-mazing on your best friend, it’ll be the SAME EXACT way on you. It won’t but it certainly doesn’t hurt to use your friends as a resource.
Below are six fragrance - and in some cases, sets - I have a deep and personal love for and you might too!
PS: I was given samples of a few but that doesn’t affect editorial integrity. Trust.
there’s something to be said about a scent that makes you love and hate it at the same time. this isn’t hate due to lack of depth and cloying notes. rather this is the hate that brings a nostalgia you thought you’ve overcome. something that reminds you of broken promises, past relationships, and sweet nothings. despite all of this, the scent that makes you love it even more deserves to be acknowledged.
Victoria’s Secret newest fragrance, Seduction Dark Orchid, is just that. a scent that’s slightly warm and, for a moment, reminiscent of something a guy - maybe a boyfriend - might wear.
Victoria’s Secret Seduction is all about sexy decadence: satin blindfolds, inky black lacquer, gilded handcuffs. The wearer: a glamorous provocateur…with a fetish for high fashion. This profile inspired a fragrance infused with sultry warmth—a way to wrap skin in dark luxury. The result is our first Seduction, what we’re calling our Dark Orchid moment: a signature blend of Midnight Orchid, Crushed Plum and Oud Wood. Seduce the senses. Turn out the lights. Victoria’s Secret Seduction.
With notes of crème de cassis, blood orange, and bergamot that lead into jasmine and midnight orchid this fragrance takes you from a plummy and slightly sweet to a light and warm adventure. I know the words “light” and “warm” seem like polar opposites but this isn’t a heavy scent like most warm fragrances tend to be. It’s here that I’m reminded of a men’s cologne as it delves into the dry down composed of smooth warm amber, oud wood, tonka beans, cashmere woods and creamy musk.
considering how chilly it’s gotten (and how quickly it all happened!) I’ve found this scent at the perfect time. I love layering the lotion ($20) and body mist ($25) since it lasts all day without being overpowering. the eau de parfum ($55 for the 1.7 oz. and $65 for the 3.4 oz.) is best used alone as its staying power is pretty phenomenal.
the collection is available now in stores and online.
disclosure: samples provided for editorial consideration
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).
