In late 2011 the House of Liz Claiborne released the first new flankers of the classic Curve line (launched in 1996). I had naturally assumed that since over three years had passed since the last ones (his and hers Connects in 2008), there would be no more. The Curves have created quite the loyal following. Now, 15 years after the release of the initial pair, the Appeals seem to be doing just the same.
Probably the hoariest pick-up line of all time is “What’s your sign?” It truly takes someone of phenomenal talent to rehabilitate that corny come-on. Alexandra Balahoutis of Strange Invisible Perfumes has that level of talent. Ms. Balahoutis is easily one of the top botanical perfumers working and all of her compositions are examples of the complexity that natural perfume can reach.
You see, I just love it when I can smell homage between releases in a house. To me, it’s like a story that just gets better and better. The fact that the two Viktor & Rolf fragrances Spicebomb and Flowerbomb are like brother and sister – not just in name, but in reality, too – well, I find that very charming.
The Tarot is an ancient form of divination (a system of trying to understand one’s place and relation to cosmic forces beyond one’s control). There are many types of tarot decks and this line is based on the Gaian Tarot. It is the Major Arcana that Amanda Feeley of Escentual Alchemy has focused on, for her perfumes. If you tried the mass market line of Tarot perfumes (Anthology) and found them wanting and rather generic, I urge you to give these perfumes a try!
One of these young reviewers on YouTube, who has been posting under the name kerosenetrewthe since 2010, decided it was time to see if he could create scents of his own. Kerosene, also known as John Pegg, has no formal training in perfumery, so he just dove in, using mood, weather, instinct and passion as his inspirations.I sent for a sample of Kerosene’s first fragrance via his Facebook page and was intrigued. Hearing that he was releasing two more scents, I knew I wanted to review the line.
One of my favorite fragrance stories of the last two years has been the slow and steady resurrection of the Lubin perfume house. I reviewed both of the more recent releases of Black Jade and the extrait version of Idole de Lubin. At the recent Elements Showcase I was reminded that there was a set of three other fragrances, Figaro, Itasca, and Bluff from back in 2010 that I also thought were pretty good.
