tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17289369892737786882012-02-01T06:19:41.101-08:00Fragrance BouquetDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.comBlogger3571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-67346040594376669462010-09-24T08:29:00.000-07:002010-09-24T08:37:04.895-07:00Sample Winner EuterpeHey guys! The winner of last week's draw for the sample of Euterpe is Tarleisio! Apologies for not having the time to post a screenshot of the randomizer I always use with the results, or any post this week - it's been CRAZY! I started an assistanship in research next to my master and I have to understand the project. I also started Japanese classes. Will I have time to do everything? I hope so! Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-23835311672754664432010-09-17T08:06:00.000-07:002010-09-17T10:50:29.373-07:00Euterpe by Herr von Eden : Perfume Review & Sample DrawI promised you something special for today and I just know you will be as enthusiastic about this amazing perfume as I have been to discover it! Essenza Nobile surprises me with three different samples each month. If I like any of them, I review them, if I don't, I simply don't write about them. So far, since this relationship started, there've been some months when I haven't had anything to Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-10311504983360504882010-09-15T07:27:00.000-07:002010-09-15T07:42:16.925-07:00Smelly Facts: The First Celebrity Scent?Hello everyone! I've been busy getting into my new program (I've just started my Research Master and it's full on statistics all the way to June!) but I am preparing a review for an AMAZING fragrance I'd never heard of before for Friday (including contest for a sample)! For today though, I present you with another installment of Fragrance Bouquet's Smelly Facts, this time with a story I've been Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-51912951412295604712010-08-30T09:58:00.000-07:002010-08-30T15:54:41.330-07:00A Citrus Pixie in the Ionian Once upon a time the smallest child of the large, noble citrus family set out on a trip across the seas. Its brothers and sisters were so grand, so revered around the world but the tiny, pixie-like child was hardly ever heard of. Oh sure, it was well loved -as the youngest and smallest often are - back home in China, where it was even considered a symbol of luck and given as a gift at the turn Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-85781506207431029652010-08-01T12:33:00.001-07:002010-08-01T12:39:56.454-07:00Smells Like Vacation!Hey beauties!Sorry for the out of the blue silence, but my friends suddenly dragged me (yeah, kickin' and screaming - as if!) along for an impromptu trip to Berlin. Returned last Thursday, washed clothes and left again for Greece. I am seeing my parents for a week, then I'm off with the BF to Mykonos and afterwards to Corfu, an island I'm visitting for the first time. Wonder if I'll find anythingDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-37528071813315131832010-07-19T07:40:00.000-07:002010-07-19T07:52:28.004-07:00The Beautiful Mind Series Vol.1 - Intelligence & Fantasy : Perfume ReviewToday I've got a special review for you guys, one that I'm very excited about for more than one reason. First and foremost, today's perfume is absolutely summery which is wonderful as I've had a hard time getting excited about new summer releases lately and goodness knows I've been on the lookout since the season definitely calls for it (are you also having a really hot summer?). Second, this is Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-22084043495832971822010-07-09T07:00:00.000-07:002010-07-09T07:11:34.331-07:00Miroir des Envies by Thierry Mugler : Perfume Review When the Thierry Mugler's Miroir Miroir collection finally launched I could hardly contain my excitement; having read the pre-launch buzz online I was prepared to love every single one of the fragrances with seductive names. I prayed that Dis-moi Miroir would be my thing, just so I could wear the fragrance bearing that name. (Do you ever get that? Unfortunately I do, often. The fragrance mostly Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-4975127733230886262010-07-05T06:31:00.000-07:002010-07-05T07:26:10.291-07:00Smelly Facts: The Making of a Best-SellerHave you ever wondered what it takes to make a best-selling perfume? The obvious answer should be a combination of quality (first and foremost one would argue), capturing the zeitgeist of the period of release and of course some sort of universal appeal. But of course as we perfume lovers well know, far from all best-selling perfumes comply with these or similar criteria. In fact, most of the Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-54465112615170915452010-06-29T09:38:00.000-07:002010-06-29T10:07:06.308-07:00Champagne, Recovery and a Sabon Review Hello, hello, hello everyone! Before I say anything else, please let me thank you from the bottom of my heart for your beautiful, encouraging messages these past few weeks! They really filled me with warmth and lifted my spirits. I have now recovered almost completely. I can now go during the day without the nose cast (still have to wear it at night) and my ribs are hurting less and less. The Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-26174284894670916032010-06-11T05:13:00.000-07:002010-06-11T05:24:46.667-07:00When things are better....How can I not respond when I get your messages wondering where I am.It all started with me trying my best to graduate this month. I thought, okay, no biggie, I will be back by the first week of June. I couldn't post, I was studying until 5.30 in the morning each day.. Finished my thesis, passed my exams... Then I failed one. Unknown feeling. I freaked out. That was some days ago. The next morningDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-35820025841707598892010-04-19T07:00:00.001-07:002010-04-19T07:12:29.503-07:00Fun in the Tub: Double Duty Shower Gels I’ll have to admit, I’m not one to easily spend my cash on shower gels. It goes without saying that the difference between a 3€, a 15€ or even a 20€ shower gel is vast and considering the fleeting, ephemeral nature of the scent in most (whether expensive or cheap), it is no wonder most of us decide to save on shower gels and splurge on something lasting (like a real perfume!). Not all shower Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-6855747979951870972010-04-06T06:55:00.000-07:002010-04-06T07:08:13.497-07:00Vanilla Lemon Pie, Vanilla Pom d’Amour & Vanilla Fruit Sorbet by Crazylibellule and the Poppies : Perfume ReviewsWow, darlings, it’s been two weeks since my last post! Are you still here? I hope so! Me, oh my… You know this has been a super-crazy-busy year for me what with my thesis and everything. Well, it’s all going a little smoother now and by the end of June I should be done. We’ve finished recruiting participants for our experiment and tomorrow we’re going in the lab. I am tremendously excited - my Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-31965743584453613392010-03-19T09:05:00.000-07:002010-03-20T05:16:37.414-07:00Fragrance Bouquet Loves: Natural Berry LipsIt’s been a while since we’ve had a “Fragrance Bouquet Loves…” feature, but now that the spring seems to have finally come, I can’t resist writing about one of my favorite makeup looks. The bright glare of the sun and its warmth is not only reflected in our collective moods, but also in our looks: Gone are the heavy clothes and fabrics, gone are the sensible shoes, gone the strict up-dos. Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-46201937032796020872010-03-08T06:06:00.000-08:002010-03-08T06:11:48.967-08:00Happy International Women’s Day “Take a good look around you” the professor’s voice boomed in the cavernous amphitheater, awash with 700 faces expectantly looking back at him. “No, look around you”, he persisted. Hesitantly we looked at each other, not knowing what to expect. “Most of you are women”, he continued. “Psychology is a study favored by women. And yet, when the time comes for a PhD, statistics will be against you. Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-34421125464522764382010-03-05T08:14:00.000-08:002010-03-05T08:46:16.472-08:00Kabuki by Tokyo Milk : Perfume Review Tokyo Milk, just like Bloom Essentials Archive and Lollia is a line created by Margot Elena Wells. Although Lollia, with its romantic feminine appeal already found considerable success (it made it twice in the list of Oprah’s favorite things and was claimed to be one of her favorite gift ideas), it was with her latest line, Tokyo Milk, that Margot Elena piqued the interest and won the hearts of Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-39336644062866785522010-03-01T06:35:00.000-08:002010-03-01T06:41:30.799-08:00Perfumed Quotes: Christopher Ash"It always reminds me of a cool English wood in spring, and the scent you smell when you tear up the moss to uncover the dark soil underneath."-Christopher Ash, Whaler's Eye. (Referring to the scent of ambergris)Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-38162405435653023962010-02-24T08:50:00.000-08:002010-02-24T08:58:14.276-08:00Apple & Cinnamon and Enchanted Night by Brise : Scented Candle Reviews In this blog I’ve reviewed perfumes cheap and expensive, rare as well as common, never hesitated between the revered and the reviled and took pleasure in declaring my love even for those that were once well loved but now mocked by many (hello Joop!). But I have to tell you, I’ve been feeling quuuuuite sheepish about reviewing the cheapies I’m about to put under the spotlight today. In fact, I’veDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-36638277844828630292010-02-12T08:49:00.000-08:002010-02-12T08:59:14.868-08:00Royal Water by Creed : Perfume Review It’s normally hit or miss with me and Creed, but to be honest, I didn’t know what to make of this one at first. I doubt I would have given this the time of day had I just sniffed on a blotter; Royal Water takes its sweet time to unfold to its full splendor and the skin’s warmth makes the perfect catalyst. Still, I’ll tell you it is not an easy perfume to love: Royal Water can’t decide on its Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-75569953676716047062010-02-11T12:59:00.000-08:002010-02-11T13:05:33.245-08:00R.I.P Alexander McQueenMay Alexander McQueen's soul rest in peace. His really was a star that burnt brightly.. There are many talented designers out there, but only a few have that strange IT, that supreme genius that sets them appart like a Dior, like a Laurent... Alexander McQueen had that IT. I can't believe I won't get to see his house become what I expected it to become in years to come, a brand as established as Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-69944820451450126622010-02-10T12:37:00.000-08:002010-02-10T12:41:51.464-08:00Miyabi Sample WinnerHeeeeeeylo everyone! It's been a bit slow this week cause I have to turn in the first draft of my thesis intro to my supervisor, but there is definitely another review coming this week, probably on Friday. Anyhoo, the winner of the Miyabi sample is Chris G! Please send me an email with your details and I'll send the sample along with some other goodies!Mwah!Divina*Results attained through Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-14723007059642106582010-02-03T12:40:00.000-08:002010-02-03T13:07:54.046-08:00Miyabi Woman by Annayake : Perfume Review & Draw I’ve got something special for you today, something I’m quite excited about - the first review of Annayake’s newest fragrance, Miyabi! There’s a history of paying attention to this brand here on Fragrance Bouquet and I’m glad to have been able to have access to the perfumes in order to provide you with what I hope is a rather comprehensive picture of the entire line. So, the moment this became Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-69403985666983921712010-01-28T07:35:00.000-08:002010-01-28T07:50:34.508-08:00Gardénia Pétale by Van Cleef & Arpels (Collection Extraordinaire) : Perfume ReviewRecently (this past September to be exact), Van Cleef & Arpels, the Haute Joaillerie house which caters, more than any other, to the unuttered wishes hidden in the secret fantasy garden of women’s hearts, launched a collection of six, uber exclusive fragrances. Titled Collection Extraordinaire and inspired by haute couture, this collection is meant to embody luxury and refinement. Following the Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-31144232119233174562010-01-25T03:06:00.000-08:002010-01-25T03:14:34.747-08:00Perfume in the Media: Pushing Daisies I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the series called “Pushing Daisies”. For me, this sadly already finished show (it lasted two seasons) has been a recent discovery. The concept of this black comedy show is quirky (a pie maker who can bring people back to life with a touch of his finger solves crimes) but what is most charming about it is its style. With bright, gorgeous Technicolor sets that Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-54610271424354011022010-01-21T05:12:00.000-08:002010-01-21T05:17:00.791-08:00Another Perfume Ruined : Harem by LR While in Greece for the Christmas holidays I decided to order one more bottle of LR’s Harem, seeing as my bottle was just about finished. The LR representative brought me a new bottle a couple of days later, and as soon as I opened it I knew something was up: the color was different. Nevertheless, I thought I’d give it try, thinking that maybe it was just a very new batch and hadn’t darkened yetDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-75907165608970301882010-01-18T07:05:00.000-08:002010-01-18T07:24:51.124-08:00Geranium pour Monsieur by Frederic Malle : Perfume ReviewHappy New Year everyone! I am hijacking the first part of this review to thank you all for your lovely wishes and the warmth you’ve shown me through your messages in the past month after my attack. I am fine now. I spent three days in bed, not really wanting to travel to Greece - I was so down I didn’t feel I could go celebrate the holidays with my family. However, after just two days with my Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-90452256668404240862009-12-18T06:43:00.000-08:002009-12-18T06:59:01.824-08:00Attacks, Exams, Travel and WishesDear Readers,Thank you so much for your wishes this past week. My exams are finally over (I passed them!). However some really bad things have happened lately. Someone I love is ill and was in the hospital, which has really, really upset me. Then it felt like I was going to crack under the pressure of all the exams and papers I had to deliver. I finished with the exams on Tuesday and on WednesdayDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-72473479069881599202009-12-08T05:02:00.000-08:002009-12-08T05:07:30.709-08:00Smelly Facts: Sense of Smell & PregnancyA few years ago, in 2007, I had reported here on Fragrance Bouquet on the mistaken, yet still propagated belief that the adult brain does not produce new neurons. In that post I explained that one of the two identified areas in the brain that constantly see the birth of new neurons is the olfactory system (the other is the hippocampus). As I reported back then, neurons in the olfactory system Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-29043386710175552062009-12-03T06:45:00.000-08:002009-12-03T07:00:14.967-08:00Vanille West Indies (Parfum) & Tijuca by Ligne St. Barth : Perfume ReviewsA new exam period is coming up and as the pressure is mounting, the more I find myself daydreaming of carefree days in the sun, someplace where the sand is warm and the water a clear aqua color (alternative scenarios include spring-time city breaks for shopping and Christmas cheer with my family)… So, in lieu of an actual beach holiday, let’s indulge in a scented taste of summer today on Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-8160965460997425732009-11-30T06:06:00.000-08:002009-11-30T06:15:57.208-08:00Perfumed Quotes : Miller Harris "Hair colour, skin type, personality, dress sense and lifestyle all have an influence on our fragrance style. For redheads, I often recommend an oriental; I've noticed extroverts gravitate towards chypre. But, ultimately, trying a scent on your skin is the best way to find out what suits you."- Perfumer Miller Harris, quoted in the British publication of Elle magazine, Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-45908132683436056552009-11-27T07:19:00.000-08:002009-11-27T07:26:34.531-08:00Back to Black by By Kilian : Perfume Review Well, I might be a little late to the party, but the little sample that has been sitting on my desk for the past couple of weeks is finally getting its day today. Pure Oud has to be ordered by phone and I’ve no idea whether it will eventually make its way to any brick-and-mortar stores, but Back to Black has been in for a while and I eagerly procured a sample recently, together with some Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-6105055573780177742009-11-24T07:19:00.000-08:002009-11-24T07:25:21.916-08:00Blv II Eau de Parfum by Bvlgari : Perfume ReviewBvlgari’s lineup follows (with only few exceptions) a very specific, discernible house style that clearly defines the perfume division of this great brand. Namely, the house satisfies a specific niche in the prestige department store sector, producing one skinscent after the other. There are two ways to define the term skinscent: A scent that has a low projection, staying close to the skin, or Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-74715227800912195972009-11-19T09:18:00.000-08:002009-11-19T09:41:18.710-08:00Jabu by Mona di Orio : Perfume ReviewWell, what do you know. After all my bemoaning and lamenting not being able to find a Mona di Orio perfume I can appreciate, I finally got the chance to smell her newest creation, Jabu, and I am more than a little pleasantly surprised. I am even more pleased for being in the position of finally writing a positive review about this solid, full of integrity brand. Skins, one of my favorite stores Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-78271584617667757882009-11-18T04:46:00.000-08:002009-11-30T06:08:05.043-08:00Perfumed Quotes: Alexander Pope"Praise is like ambergris; a little whiff of it, by snatches, is very agreeable; but when a man holds a whole lump of it to his nose; it is a stink and strikes you down."- Alexander PopeDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-41877224005023381772009-11-16T07:47:00.000-08:002009-11-16T07:53:24.734-08:00Eau Mega by Viktor & Rolf : Perfume ReviewGoodness knows I’d love to support the daring darling Dutchy duo Viktor & Rolf, but readers, not only can I not do that in this case, I in fact loathe having to put this on my skin ever again! But alright, just one more time then, just for the sake of this review (the things I do for you!)… Eau Mega has a name I feel instant affinity to, it being a play on words on the last letter of the Greek Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-37440821237202071692009-11-11T07:00:00.000-08:002009-11-11T07:37:36.814-08:00Tiare by Ormonde Jayne : Perfume ReviewWell, readers I promised to return with a review of a brand new, fabulous perfume and here it is: Ormonde Jayne’s newest, Tiare. Upon reading the news that the Ormonde Jayne Perfumery had produced a new fragrance with tiare absolute as its starring feature, I tried to imagine what the scent would be like and fully expected to be greeted with a voluptuous, summery exotic fragrance when my sample Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-19520067149100507342009-11-02T04:58:00.000-08:002009-11-02T05:00:32.424-08:00Exam WeekMorning everyone!Things have been a little silent the past few days here on Fragrance Bouquet because I have been studying for the first exam period of the year. This week is riddled with exams and final papers so I won't be able to post. But next week Fragrance Bouquet will be back with a review of a brand new and supremely sophisticated perfume! See you then :)Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-14698666376737622822009-10-28T04:20:00.000-07:002009-10-28T04:23:04.312-07:00Winner Amandes OrientalesThe winner of the Amandes Orientales small spray decant is Zazie! Congratulations! Please email me your details and I'll get a packet out to you.Thanks for participating and look forward to the next one, everyone!Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-9863295546244663482009-10-23T07:50:00.000-07:002009-10-23T13:05:05.938-07:00Fairchild & Moondance by Anya’s Garden : Perfume ReviewsSeasoned perfume lovers will already have a pretty good idea of what to expect from an all-natural perfume, but even they are set to be surprised by Anya McCoy’s creations - and that’s a promise. Anya is a pioneer who daringly reaches new frontiers by using the most unusual notes: rutting billy-goat hair will grant her creations a strong touch of cruelty free animalic musk, while toasted Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-30894206301312424622009-10-21T07:08:00.000-07:002009-10-22T02:55:04.640-07:00Amandes Orientales by Montale : Perfume Review & Decant Draw Back in summer, I promised you a review of Montale’s Amandes Orientales. Although I never forgot about it, I have sort of been putting off reviewing this amazing fragrance for a silly, yet common (for me) reason: When I love a fragrance this much, I tend to wait for that perfect day to review it, the day that I know will help me do it perfect justice. With an ever more hectic schedule ever sinceDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-29587839788629843552009-10-19T05:55:00.000-07:002009-10-19T06:11:32.381-07:00Parisienne by Yves Saint Laurent : Perfume Review“You were not born in Paris, but Paris adopts you…”A magical pronouncement that will strike a chord in the heart of every woman that has been warmly welcomed by Paris, and one that will blow the mischievous whisper of wistfulness in the ears of those that dream of visiting this city of cities. Parisienne, Yves Saint Laurent’s newest fragrant offering is not named after the Parisian woman, but Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-28290833997393446092009-10-15T01:58:00.000-07:002009-10-15T02:04:41.132-07:00Win a Free Bottle of Boss Orange...AgainMorning everyone,It's now been a full week and the winner of the free bottle of Boss Orange has not come forward unfortunately. Now, if it was up to me, I'd wait a full month, but since this contest is sponsored by an outside party, I do not wish to impose further on their time. So the first person to comment on this post gets the bottle. If you comment and you see that you are the first, please Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-40709141760608053252009-10-12T05:30:00.000-07:002009-10-12T05:38:43.343-07:00Pears & Sugarcane by Blackwick’s : Scented Candle ReviewIt’s October and all the foodie magazines are filled with enticing recipes featuring the fruit of the season - pear. Referred to as “the last taste of the sun”, pear indeed manages to bring the cheer of the last rays of sunshine on our plates with its nectar. Absolutely perfect for the autumnal transition from summer to winter and while we’re enjoying the last of the blue skies even as the wind Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-77591457669921153392009-10-09T08:23:00.000-07:002009-10-09T08:37:25.573-07:00Fragrance Bouquet Presents Haydria Perfumery (Part 2)As promised, we continue our exploration of the Haydria Perfumery line with the last four fragrances. So far, all the fragrances have been thematically connected (each representing a particular female persona), while three out of the following quartet are rather more abstract, focusing instead on concepts such as period exoticism and temptation. Let’s take a closer look...• Harem Girl: Together Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-47286409227755680062009-10-08T04:39:00.000-07:002009-10-08T04:43:26.600-07:00Winner of Boss Orange Bottle Goooooooooodmorning!The winner of the full bottle of Boss Orange is Shelley! Congratulations! Please email me your details and I will forward them to Debbie who will send you your bottle.Thanks to everyone for participating and look forward to the next contest here on Fragrance Bouquet!Results via random.orgDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-38316072879877905522009-10-07T08:17:00.000-07:002009-10-07T08:28:39.035-07:00Fragrance Bouquet Presents Haydria Perfumery (Part 1) Haydria Perfumery specializes in creating perfumes with a retro, vintage feel inspired by the golden age of the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and early sixties. Through her creations, perfumer Haydria Bish wishes to convey nostalgia for the immaculate beauties of the past and return glamour to our lives by imbuing her fragrances with the essence of classic pinups, burlesque queens and femme fatales! I was Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-58159963173071506932009-10-05T03:51:00.000-07:002009-10-05T04:41:16.042-07:00Mystery Perfume Time for some sleuthing, Fragrance Bouquet readers! Are you up for a little trail-tracking challenge? This weekend I received an email from a reader asking me to try and identify a scent he's fallen in love with out of a short description. Now, I've helped readers with similar email requests in the past, but this one truly has me stumped! So I am posting Efrain's request here on Fragrance Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-89388827024466053952009-10-02T05:40:00.000-07:002009-10-02T05:43:37.305-07:00Perfumed Quotes: Oscar Wilde"And so he would now study perfumes. . . He saw that there was no mood of the mind that had not its counterpart in the sensuous life, and set himself to discover their true relations, wondering what there was in frankincense that made one mystical, and in ambergrise that stirred one's passions, and in violets that woke the memory of dead romances, and in musk that troubled the brain, and in Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-61546174575296373982009-10-01T04:55:00.000-07:002009-10-01T05:14:37.830-07:00FREE Bottle of Boss Orange Well, Debbie, the "perfume fairy" of DMfragrances loved Fragrance Bouquet's review of Boss Orange and she emailed me last night to say that she would like to offer Fragrance Bouquet readers a full bottle of Boss Orange! Sooo, we're taking up Debbie on her generous offer! Please leave a comment if you're interested and I will put you in a draw. The winner will be announced in a week's time. I Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-20409312407388933622009-09-30T05:43:00.000-07:002009-09-30T05:54:04.907-07:00Boss Orange by Hugo Boss : Perfume Review Boss fragrances are usually received with deafening silence in the perfume blogging community, and not without good reason: the fact that each perfume in the lineup has a name that is some sort of confusing (and utterly ungoogle-able) variation on the Hugo Boss name is enough to baffle the Boss marketing execs themselves, but most importantly, the fragrances have for the largest part been as Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-24175695465208358912009-09-28T07:53:00.000-07:002009-09-28T12:30:33.756-07:00A Scent by Issey Miyake : Perfume Review If Issey Miyake did not yet manage to rid his name of any connotations of the dark era of insipid, unisex, ozonic perfumery with his cult, avant-garde masterpiece Le Feu d’Issey, the time has surely come with the newest addition in the Miyake fragrance lineup, simply titled A Scent by Issey Miyake. Not that either the bottle or the name help much in the quest of deliverance from these Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-65247347722621245242009-09-22T05:09:00.000-07:002009-09-22T05:14:50.785-07:00Winner Phénomène by Solissima Decant Rebella has won the draw for the decant of Solissima's Phénomène! Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated. Rebella, please email me your details and I will get a packet out to you! Results via random.orgPlease look forward to the next contest here on Fragrance Bouquet!Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-68396825431717972562009-09-21T11:16:00.000-07:002009-09-21T14:50:42.787-07:00Fragrance Bouquet Presents Le Jardin Retrouvé (Part 2)This past Friday we put the spotlight on a man who was part of a team that shaped the face of modern perfumery by producing perfumes that we now consider classics, a man who first took part in a project combining music and perfume (even though last year journalists credited Francis Kurkdjian as the first to perfume a music event making use of ‘special machines’, it was in fact Gutsatz who in 1952Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-44602043986296607572009-09-18T08:36:00.000-07:002009-09-18T11:46:49.099-07:00Fragrance Bouquet Presents Le Jardin Retrouvé (Part 1) While on my vacation this summer, I received an email by Denis Gutsatz expressing both surprise and lament at the fact that this website, dedicate to perfume, bears no mention or word of his father, Yuri Gutsatz. I’ll admit that regrettably, I had never heard of the name before, but found myself not only intrigued but moreover moved by this first email contact. How noble, I thought to myself, Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-66397154990852437322009-09-16T03:18:00.000-07:002009-09-16T03:24:30.970-07:00Perfumed Quotes: Michael Kors "Fragrance is the only thing that's about your being, your soul, and it's for people size zero to twenty two and ages twelve to ninety."-Michael KorsDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-61946306175429476652009-09-14T07:51:00.000-07:002009-09-14T08:00:10.783-07:00Comments & Emails, BACK SOON!One of the greatest pleasures this blog gives me, is the ability to come together and communicate with all you wonderful readers, either through the comments or through email. Well, the beginning of this new academic year at the University continues to be rather hard to adjust to (I have to actually conduct my own research this year, write a thesis and do way too many classes at the same time). Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-89989422200591492262009-09-14T07:45:00.000-07:002009-09-14T07:51:11.509-07:00Phénomène by Solissima : Perfume Review & Draw My trip to Istanbul offered one last perfumed discovery, the Solissima line of perfumes. During my stay there, I inquired about the possibility of finding a commercial line of Turkish perfumes and sure enough, I was soon directed to a perfume shop that carried the whole line of products. The main company, Soley Parfumeri, was founded in 1971 and has been satisfying the needs of the domestic Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-78766598211741012082009-09-10T04:25:00.000-07:002009-09-10T04:43:26.570-07:00Fragrance Bouquet Featured in Sniffapalooza Mag & Free Bottle of Perfume!Goodmorning dears! I am really happy to announce my collaboration with the wonderful Sniffapalooza Magazine starting from this month. The current issue devotes a huge section featuring my London trip memoires and I couldn't be prouder! Even if you've already read my travelogues here, be sure to read this juicy issue which contains not only fabulous perfume reviews, but also a fascinating Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-39079238210050695862009-09-09T14:21:00.000-07:002009-09-09T14:45:40.797-07:00Scents of Summer (Final Part, Istanbul) Being deliriously in love with spices, smells, exotic flavors and the hustle-and-bustle of the market, it came as no surprise that I fell in love with Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar. Located in the central Eminonu district, it is known as Misir Carsisi (Egyptian Bazaar), due to the fact that most of the spices sold there in the past were imported from Egypt. The bazaar is housed in a beautiful domed Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-46647461444419392552009-09-07T11:39:00.000-07:002009-09-07T12:00:03.694-07:00Scents of Summer (Part 2, Istanbul) Views of lakes, rivers, glimpses of coast and endless fields of light-worshipping sunflowers helped pass the time pleasantly as we made our way with the car through Northern Greece all the way to the Turkish border, but as dusk fell, the only way to stave off boredom seemed to be sleep. A few hours later I woke up, slightly startled by the vague yet persistent noises all around me. A glance at Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-91337726844405623882009-09-02T10:41:00.000-07:002009-09-02T12:56:10.452-07:00Scents of Summer (Part 1, Mykonos)Sometimes it’s not just scents that create powerful feelings of longing, but sounds as well. The closer the day of my vacation came, the more I missed the sound of cicadas, cicadas singing in the noonday fever of the Greek summer with nary another sound around, for everyone takes refuge from the heat either at seaside or inside when the sun burns brightest, hottest. By the time I was ready to Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-45875806959582191892009-08-31T06:15:00.000-07:002009-08-31T08:19:28.244-07:00Better Laugh Than CryI wanted today to be the day that I welcome you all back to the scented adventures of Fragrance Bouquet with stories about the scent of salty air in Mykonos and the exotic, mysterious trails of spice that weave through Istanbul. However this day has been so rough, I find myself sitting here, my feathers just a tad too ruffled to be able to complete the article I’ve been lovingly crafting, Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-24337928516990481192009-08-02T05:36:00.000-07:002009-08-02T05:41:32.498-07:00Winners Eau Divine by DivineDear readers, I hope you will enjoy the article below on the Sniffapalooza London visit to Al Qurashi. If you find any glaring mistakes forgive me - it's HOT here in Greece! Now on to the winners of the Eau Divine samples: Martin, Bettina and Double.Bound congratulations! I will send you your packets and extra goodies after the 23rd of August, when I am back! I used the randomizer list service asDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-67193259627970634382009-08-02T05:08:00.000-07:002009-08-02T05:30:51.021-07:00Sniffapalooza in London : Visiting Al QurashiStill buzzing from the lovely presentation at Roja Dove’s Haute Parfumerie and the thrill of our exclusive purchases, we moved across the street on Brompton Road and entered a very different world of perfumes indeed. Al Qurashi was founded by Abdul Samad Al Qurashi, perfumer to Saudi kings and queens. Today the company is still family-owned and the tradition set by Abdul Samad Al Qurashi is Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-69177740577102783582009-07-31T05:53:00.000-07:002009-07-31T06:22:12.083-07:00Les Garçonnes Collection by Crazylibellule and the Poppies : Perfume ReviewsWhen was the last time you had fun with perfume? No, I mean real fun, the kind that makes you giggle, the kind that brings a flush of color to your face due to pure giddiness and glee. We perfume lovers tend to take perfume seriously; we consider it art. Smelling a fabulous new elixir will bring enormous excitement, snapping up that last discontinued bottle will make our heart quiver, following aDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-18911701920303984802009-07-29T08:31:00.000-07:002009-07-29T08:53:03.870-07:00Eau Divine by Divine : Perfume Review & Sample DrawThere are only a handful of perfume lines that manage to inspire not only admiration but also deep love and devotion resulting in a fan base that is left longingly waiting for their next offering. Divine certainly is the personification of such a niche line, inspiring well-deserved adoration and dithyrambic tributes to their perfumes by perfume writers and critics. I have begun slowly acquiring Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-38313901690712831332009-07-27T07:34:00.000-07:002009-07-27T07:46:49.019-07:00Sniffapalooza in London : Visiting Roja DoveAsk any Sniffapalooza London traveler what their highlight of the trip was and chances are the answer you’re going to get is Roja Dove’s Haute Parfumerie in Harrods. I lost count of the times I heard a fellow traveler wistfully saying “I could spend days there!”. If you are a perfume lover, Roja Dove’s Haute Parfumerie can be likened to Mecca: It has to be visited at least once in your lifetime!Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-28744201285469394382009-07-24T05:37:00.000-07:002009-07-24T06:21:43.172-07:00Havana Vanille by L'Artisan Parfumeur Sample Winners!Goodmorning! I just ran the names through the list randomizer function of random.org and the draw results for the two samples of Havana Vanille are in! The winners are Nina Z. and Violetnoir. Congratulations! Please send me your contact details and I will send you packets with your Havana Vanille samples and as always, a few more goodies thrown in :) Please don't delay sending me your details as Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-11981077788403255472009-07-23T06:46:00.000-07:002009-07-23T07:00:29.340-07:00Andy Warhol Success is a Job in New York by Bond No. 9 : Perfume ReviewI know you’re all waiting to hear a little more about London since the response to Fragrance Bouquet’s perfume travelogues has been tremendous, but I’m sure you’ll forgive me for interrupting to bring you a fresh taste of New York in the form of a review of Bond No. 9’s newest, Andy Warhol Success is a Job in New York! I just received a sample of this and I am head over heels with it! Andy Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-19893665867274868032009-07-21T08:31:00.000-07:002009-07-21T12:14:21.846-07:00A Visit with Linda Pilkington (Ormonde Jayne Perfumery)After a weeklong heat wave, London weather invariably regressed to its charmingly unpredictable nature by the time of our visit. Early Tuesday morning treated us to glorious skies of blue and happy sunshine. By lunchtime, the heavy clouds told us the rain was not just a passing summery drizzle, but it was too late: The Sniffapalooza program was already in full swing and we were running on a Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-38593215733720410132009-07-17T05:56:00.000-07:002009-07-18T03:07:54.775-07:00Havana Vanille by L’Artisan Parfumeur: Perfume Review & Giveaway A beautiful room paneled with gorgeous dark wood and a round tiered table in the middle covered with niche, exclusive and rare perfumes. All L’Artisan bottles are created equal and look almost the same, yet this one glowed. Who knows what it was that subconsciously triggered me to home in on it. The undoubtedly plastic memory has translated the excitement I felt upon seeing the bottle as a rude Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com108tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-81948432927650816932009-07-16T07:48:00.000-07:002009-07-16T08:53:13.675-07:00Finding the Perfect Vanilla & Interview with L'Artisan’s Mohammed JamalIt would be grossly unfair, clueless even, to claim that a city as great as London – with its stupendous galleries, museums and theaters that are there to quench the thirst for knowledge and to appease any possible need for beauty and art, would be defined by a shop of all things, but considering my week spent in the grand metropolis only afforded time for touring the various perfume locations Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-5193132188272373712009-07-14T06:01:00.000-07:002009-07-14T06:40:37.445-07:00For the Love of Perfume, Fashion and All That is Fabulous: Paris (Part 6 – Last in Series)Well, as you might remember we had left off excitedly at Montale, but let’s not forget that the particular day was also riddled with pain – foot pain! After some intensive research on the internet (deciphering posts on French forums) we discovered that there was an official Birkinstock boutique at the Marais so the first thing we did on the next day was to revisit the area. (I am convinced by theDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-47569304424130202712009-07-13T08:14:00.000-07:002009-07-13T08:19:57.307-07:00Fragrance Bouquet is Back from London!Oh my goodness, I feel so guilty dropping off the face of the earth for a whole week but… I was in London! I was fully intending to write up a short post explaining that I was joining this year’s Sniffapalooza in London for the week, but dears, it’s been so crazy it was impossible! Thank you so much for your patience this past week. I am now ready to conclude the Paris perfume-logue with a last Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-77826002470225990722009-07-03T11:33:00.000-07:002009-07-03T12:19:26.626-07:00For the Love of Perfume, Fashion and All That is Fabulous: Paris (Part 5)After two days of non-stop activity, I found myself in a dip on the morning of the third day, and not just due to the accumulated tiredness caused by endless morning-to-evening walking. The weather had turned from marvelously sunny to grey and it looked like it was about to rain. Not a problem for a perfume lover in Paris: There are plenty of department stores with excellent perfume departments Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-36207954681902958372009-07-01T09:35:00.000-07:002009-07-01T16:50:35.422-07:00For the Love of Perfume, Fashion and All That is Fabulous: Paris (Part 4)I envisioned our next day in Paris as the day of luxury: visiting all the big luxury boutiques at Avenue Montaigne, Rue Cambon and Saint-Honore and culminating to a fabulous dinner at L’Avenue at Avenue Montaigne at night. Still, as any true perfume lover knows, there is always room for perfume! Avenue Montaigne is one of my favorite places in Paris (if not the whole world) and I spent the Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-36745911521414202642009-06-29T03:53:00.000-07:002009-06-29T04:23:17.948-07:00For the Love of Perfume, Fashion and All That is Fabulous: Paris (Part 3)When planning my trip and while quietly contemplating how there was absolutely no way I wouldn’t find the “one vanilla” in Paris, there was one particular perfume on which my hopes were hinged and which I simply couldn’t wait to test: Tihota by Indult. Not only is the nose behind this fragrance -Francis Kurkdjian- one of my favorites, but my conviction was further strengthened by the fact that Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-62152281637357782242009-06-25T04:52:00.000-07:002010-02-03T10:22:53.823-08:00For the Love of Perfume, Fashion and All That is Fabulous: Paris (Part 2) There’s nothing like the first couple of days when visiting a foreign country: energy levels are at their highest, spirits are buoyant (the reality of how short the visit truly is not having kicked in), everything is new and possibilities are endless. After our sunny walk at Rue Cler and its surrounding streets, we headed to the metro because I couldn’t wait to walk along the Champs Elysées onceDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-70794306970146002232009-06-23T08:36:00.000-07:002009-06-23T08:58:15.677-07:00For the Love of Perfume, Fashion and All That's Fabulous: Paris (Part 1) I am back from Paris with a heart that’s bittersweet. On one hand, it seems surreal to be back: I can’t believe I’ve left this gorgeous, grand city behind and I would be lying if I said it doesn’t pain me that when I open the door to get out it won’t be to set foot in its beautiful streets. My brain is struggling to catch up with the change and I find myself constantly trying to talk to people Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-78501519238955402912009-06-11T02:01:00.000-07:002009-06-11T02:57:29.773-07:00Familiar Scent Trails and A Much Needed Vacation Well, I am sorry to have suddenly disappeared without a warning, but once I finished my exams the lure of a getaway was just too strong to resist. While I was locked up in the house studying intensively for exams for three weeks, the weather kept taunting me: Sunny, bright and hot, hot, hot, all I could do was drink frozen drinks while hunched over my books and try to ignore the happy voices of Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-66782380848732774112009-06-05T06:47:00.000-07:002009-06-05T06:55:23.553-07:00Chamarré by Mona di Orio : Perfume ReviewIt is always unfortunate when one feels affinity with and sympathy for a brand and yet somehow fails to appreciate its offerings, resulting in unresolved cognitive dissonance. This would perfectly describe my feelings for the Mona di Orio line of fragrances: I’ve wanted to fall in love with them from the moment I begun educating myself on the line and its creator. Sadly, this never happened. I Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-52708433378870357802009-06-03T07:55:00.000-07:002009-06-03T08:08:45.243-07:00Candlenut Perfume Oil & Tiare Jasmine Perfume Oil by Juara : Perfume ReviewsThe past week has been stressful, but I am glad to be making a return with two beautiful, uplifting, sunny products that are just perfect for warm weather. I’ve noticed that these two wonderful perfume oils have been flying under the radar of the perfume community, so it is my pleasure to introduce them to you. Let’s explore them together for the first time.Juara, meaning “champion” or “winner” Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-81860721648113732812009-05-26T02:45:00.000-07:002009-05-26T02:51:08.352-07:00Exams - Be Back SoonHi everyone,I am sure you noticed things have been a little slower lately. That's because I've been studying for exams the last two weeks. I've got seven days left before my last exam and I really have to focus right now cause it's a tough one. I'll be back with reviews in a week's time, on the 3rd of June. Stay Fragrant,DivinaDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-68057515467640832882009-05-20T05:20:00.000-07:002009-05-20T05:29:24.107-07:00Starring…! Fragrances (Part 2): The Diva & Almond White Cake ReviewsOn Monday we took a look at Starring… Fragrances’ philosophy, website, services and their sweet body products. As promised, today we’ll conclude the in depth-look in this niche line with reviews of two fragrances. I was sent two samples to try (one oil-based, one alcohol-based) and I am very happy to report that not only does the scent of the perfumes correspond to exactly what you’d expect from Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-9697722921518647512009-05-18T12:09:00.000-07:002009-05-20T04:30:14.799-07:00Starring…! Fragrances: An In-Depth Look at A New Niche Line (Part 1)Well, I am excited. As I have already mentioned, it’s been all about the comfort of gourmand fragrances with me lately and I’ve hit the motherload with my discovery of Starring…! Fragrances. Starring…! Fragrances is a small, Los Angeles based niche fragrance line created by actresses Courtney and Ashley Peldon, dedicated not only to providing unique, hand-crafted scents, but also to a green Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-88612529205062948912009-05-15T05:53:00.000-07:002009-05-15T06:04:28.533-07:00Fragrance Bouquet Loves… Ironless Straightening Balm by FekkaiThere are a number of perfumes and perfume samples on my tray, all lined up for review. Unfortunately I am currently suffering a tyrannical cold which has eclipsed my sense of smell and has left my stomach feeling like a battlefield. At least I no longer feel faint and exhausted all the time, meaning I can actually write about something (and goodness, how good does it feel to be able to think Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-75171598411600981732009-05-11T10:47:00.000-07:002009-05-11T11:38:19.114-07:00Your Blog Is F*ck!ng Fabulous AwardThe sweet, lovely Jenavira from Scent of Abricots gave me a F*cking Fabulous Award! According to the rules I have to post five of my own fabulous addictions and present the award to 5 more blogs that I consider, well, fabulous!Instructions and Rules:1. You have to pass it (the award) on to 5 other fabulous blogs in a post.2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.3. You must Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-62844220952564633592009-05-08T07:55:00.000-07:002009-05-08T08:07:36.382-07:00Scented Pillow Liners by Sleep Scentasations Sleep Scentsations is a company based in Houston, Texas, founded by two sisters that like so many of us were tired of the sleepless nights afforded by the stresses of modern living. Their team’s research was based on the effects aromatherapy, but the areas they found lacking and wanted to improve upon were costs and application. Finally, the idea materialized and took form in a product that is Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-76399982034763121192009-05-06T08:55:00.000-07:002009-05-06T09:43:45.392-07:00Train de Nuit, Chanel No. 5Okay guys, I've already posted a review today, but I can't resist to show you these brautiful, beautiful videos and images as well. Yesterday during a commercial break, the brand new Chanel No. 5 commercial/short film aired for the first time and it took my breath away!!! Before I let you enjoy the material, let me also say that May the 5th, the day the film first aired, has been designated by Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-5491542262067209572009-05-06T07:19:00.000-07:002009-05-06T07:39:32.714-07:00Flora by Gucci : Perfume Review There’s some incongruence here, something I cannot quite wrap my head around: Frida Gianini, Gucci’s absolutely brilliant creative director, has been diving into the archives of the prestigious house and has revived Flora for this season, an iconic print originally exclusively designed for a scarf for Princess Grace of Monaco. The Flora pattern has been revived for S-S ’09 and now once again Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-54702063077882399712009-05-04T07:22:00.000-07:002009-05-04T07:41:01.169-07:00Mother’s Day Gift Ideas & Offers RoundupStill struggling to come up with the perfect gift for mother’s day? The holiday is just a week away, so here’s a roundup of all the beautiful things that caught my eye!• Ormonde Jayne says “Mother Knows Best…” and I can’t help but agree. The British niche perfumery is taking the guesswork out of gift giving by offering a sample program and a gift card. The sample program (35 GBP with Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-44260975042702967702009-05-01T03:02:00.000-07:002009-05-01T03:10:04.375-07:00Perfumed Quotes: Jean de Bouffleurs"Pleasure is the flower that passes; remembrance, the lasting perfume" -Jean de BouffleursDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-39086414747514603352009-04-28T05:05:00.001-07:002009-04-28T05:35:56.355-07:00All You Ever Wanted to Know About Gérald Ghislain Regular Fragrance Bouquet readers probably already know of my admiration for the Histoires de Parfums line of fragrances, as they have been reviewed with love and attention and also featured in one of the latest fragrance-Top 10 articles. If you too have been following the line with interest, you will love this interview of Histoires de Parfums' Gérald Ghislain, conducted by Lucie, the press Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-6053756508378266562009-04-27T08:42:00.000-07:002009-04-27T08:59:08.664-07:00Mille et Une Histoire by Hubert Maes : Perfume ReviewI was delighted to be the one to introduce Histoire Charnelle with a review back in November of 2007 and now I find myself once again in the felicitous position to be the one to introduce to you the newest gem by Hubert Maes. I know how much you Fragrance Bouquet readers love reading about little-known, fascinating perfume finds, and this one won’t disappoint: It is beautiful. Its name -as Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-74126077779796246342009-04-24T05:15:00.000-07:002009-04-24T06:17:52.805-07:00Fifi Finalist Facebook Gift Bag Give-Away! As any perfume-lover worth his/her salt knows, the biggest annual industry event is of course the FiFi Awards & Celebration®, attended by nearly 1000 industry executives and hosted by the The Fragrance Foundation. This very morning, April 24th, at the 2009 FIFI FINALIST BREAKFAST, those nominated for a FIFI in their category will be told if they have made it into the TOP 5 and on May 27, 2009, Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-69099796413878945372009-04-21T07:54:00.000-07:002009-04-21T08:50:34.820-07:00Le Labo arrives in Holland and I Sniff, Sniff, Sniff Few things can get me as excited as receiving news that a perfume line which thus far I'd only been able to read about longingly, has finally made it here and is available for sniffing! Le Labo can now be found here, at the fabulous brand new boutique of Skins Amsterdam (basically just next door from the old boutique at Runstraat 11, but bigger, better, fancier). Determined to not give myself Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-34370942030193501432009-04-21T04:33:00.000-07:002009-04-21T04:52:24.472-07:00DKNYMEN Fragrance Event at Bloomingdale's Who said all the cool beauty and fragrance events are for women? DKNYMEN Fragrance, Bloomingdale's and Details Magazine are inviting all the boys for a Men's Night Out!In just two days, on April the 23rd the Bloomingdale's on NY's 59th Street is hosting the fun-filled event from 6 till 8:00pm. Guests will be able to enjoy a beer tasting by Heartland Brewery, try their luck on the roulette wheel Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-61220290428234748862009-04-17T06:45:00.000-07:002009-04-17T06:56:51.088-07:00Dolce & Gabbana Spring Florals: The One & D&G Femine ReviewsI’ve held a grudge against the perfume division of Dolce&Gabbana’s glitzy empire ever since my beloved By Woman was discontinued. With their designs, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have always challenged our preconceived notions about fashion, blurring the borders between what is vulgar and chic, over-the-top and demure. Their clothes have always been distinguished by a raw, unapologetic Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-34975236627429493142009-04-15T06:24:00.000-07:002009-04-15T06:28:58.666-07:00Parfum de Cannabis by Laurent Cosmetics : Perfume Review “It is not very popular with the Dutch.” The proprietor of the small perfumery in the heart of Amsterdam tells me. “But it is hugely successful with foreigners! Americans, Germans, you name it. They want a piece of Amsterdam. It’s a memento.” I am not very surprised. The bottle and box are not much too look at, not to mention the fact that the price is surprisingly high, but whether we like itDivinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-20556074772060649392009-04-09T08:12:00.000-07:002009-04-09T08:31:02.727-07:00Eau de Sisley 1, 2 & 3 by Sisley : Perfume ReviewsWhile most brands seem to be churning out perfumes at a pace that is hard to keep up with and even harder to take seriously (does this sort of strategy actually work I wonder? Do big-brand perfumes manage to make the marketing money back without ever being allowed to reach a sort of mythical, romantic status?), Sisley has been setting and following its own pace for decades, releasing a new Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1728936989273778688.post-30773005394696140802009-04-07T07:10:00.000-07:002009-04-07T07:20:30.195-07:00Fragrance Bouquet Loves… Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer by Chanel Okay, so I got a problem. I knew about my shoe problem. I knew about my perfume problem. But I never really thought I had a huge ‘thing’ for make-up, even as I ordered a custom-made, self-designed Plexiglas make-up cabinet a couple of years ago. I didn’t quite know where exactly to store my burgeoning make-up collection. Still I never viewed this as a problem. As I was getting ready to write Divinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846908655432168778noreply@blogger.com4