Initio Parfums Privés Holiday Gift Guide

There's nothing like receiving a luxurious perfume or candle for the holidays! You can't get more luxe than Initio Parfums Privés! They put so much thought into everything from the box it's packaged in, to the magnificent bottle with gold detail, plus etching and each captivating scent.

A top pick for this season from the Black Gold Project Collection is the best-selling Oud for Greatness Eau de Parfum, with the enchantment of the Tree of Fortune, representing prosperity and destiny. This rich scent has main notes of natural Oud Wood, Agar Wood Oil, Lavender, Saffron, Patchouli and Musk. 

To go along with this fragrance is the Oud for Greatness candle to add that woody scent to any room. This limited edition Oud for Greatness Eau de Parfum and Candle Set (also sold separately) makes such a statement, not just in scent but in appearance. It's beautiful just to have on display in your bedroom or living room. 

My gift to myself is the Psychedelic Eau de Parfum from the Carnal Blends Collection. Do you ever find a scent that you feel was just meant for you? I love woody and floral scents but never thought of mixing them together. It's a very sensual scent for this winter. Psychedelic Love has top notes of Bergamot, middle notes of Ylang Ylang, Myrrh and Rose, and base notes of Vanilla, Patchouli and Sandalwood.

The Initio collections include Absolutes, Carnal Blends, Magnetic Blends, Hedonist and Black Gold Project, all made in Paris. I highly recommend going on a fragrance journey and experiencing all these scents in person. The scents are unisex, so they are shareable with a significant other!

- Kim Weling

DKNY MYNY Fragrance Launch

On Tuesday, August 19th, I stopped by the DKNY MYNY Fragrance Launch in Madison Square Park. Rita Ora, the face of the new fragrance, was in attendance with Hannah Bronfman, Chrissy Teigen and Brendan Fallis. The fragrance launch event featured samples of the new DKNY MYNY fragrance and complimentary heart-shaped gourmet pretzels by famed pastry chef Dominique Ansel. 

Inspired by New York City, the fragrance captures the energy of the city with an intoxicating blend of fruit, florals and spice. The fragrance has top notes of Raspberries and Galbanum spiked with accents of Pink Pepper, Egyptian Jasmine wrapped with Freesia and roots of Orris at the heart, and finishing with Patchouli Heart LMR, Vanilla Absolute and Musk, laced with vibrant Ambergris. The fragrance comes packaged in a clear, heart-shaped bottle, capped with a silver metallic skyline cap.

DKNY MYNY is now available nationwide at department stores and online at dkny.com. 

Eau de Parfum 3.4oz, $88.00

Eau de Parfum 1.7oz, $68.00

Eau de Parfum 1.0oz, $48.00

Eau de Parfum Rollerball, $24.00

Body Lotion, $40.00 

Shower Gel, $30.00

Above photos courtesy of Estee Lauder

Below photos by Kim Weling

- Kim Weling

Agent Provocateur Fatale Fragrance Launch at Saks Fifth Avenue

On Thursday, August 14th I celebrated the fragrance launch of Agent Provocateur Fatale and the opening of the Agent Provocateur Boutique on the 10th floor at Saks Fifth Avenue. 

Fatale is inspired by the 1940's Hollywood femme fatale - mysterious, seductive, sensual and elegant. Mónica Cruz is featured in the campaign imagery, embodying the ultimate femme fatale and representing intense femininity in layers of lace and figure defining lingerie. 

The bold and enticing top note of the Fatale fragrance is a striking blend of spicy Pink Pepper from Madagascar, juxtaposed with succulent Mango and exotic Blackcurrant. The heart of the fragrance is a voluptuous mix of addictive florals - heavenly Gardenia, smoky Indonesian Patchouli and violet-scented Orris Absolute. The base consists of sultry, sensual Skin Musk, creamy Vanilla Orchid, irresistible Chocolate Gourmand and leathery Spanish Labdanum. 

Agent Provocateur Fatale is available in-store and online at Saks Fifth Avenue and at Agent Provocateur Boutiques. 

- Kim Weling

Saks Fifth Avenue Fragrance Library Launch

On Thursday, August 21st, I joined Kate Oldham, Senior Vice President of Cosmetics, Fragrance, Swim and Lingerie for a preview of Saks Fifth Avenue's Fragrance Library, right before it opened to the public. 

The Fragrance Library is a concept shop that features a large-scale installation and offers an assortment of iconic designer fragrances. It is located on the 5th floor of Saks Fifth Avenue at 611 Fifth Avenue in NYC. The Fragrance Library's one-stop shopping experience features a "Fragrance Librarian" scent stylist and a "library cart" mobile gifting station with special gift-wrapping services. 

The Fragrance Library's shelves were stocked with my favorite signature designer scents including: Agent Provocateur Fatale, Balenciaga, Jimmy Choo, Narcisco EDP, Prada Candy and Tom Ford Black Orchid. Additional scents include Armani Si, Burberry Brit, Carven, Calvin Klein Euphoria, Dior J'Adore, Dolce & Gabbana Dolce, Donna Karen Cashmere Mist, Givenchy Dahlia Divin, Jean Paul Gaultier, L'eau D'Issey, Estee Lauder Modern Muse, Marc Jacobs Daisy, Michael Kors Collection, Ralph Lauren Romance and Viktor & Rolf BONBON. 

- Kim Weling

Summer Fragrance Favorite: Anna Sui La Nuit de Bohème

My go-to fragrance this summer has been Anna Sui La Nuit de Bohème, a floral-woody-fruity scent that is redolent of glamour, lavishness and extravagance. The fragrance opens with delicious notes of Champagne Citrus and Midnight Blackberry, and deepens to Gilded Lotus Flower, Rose Petale and the lengthening play of evening with Sunset Oud Wood. As a final finish, it plays out with Cedarwood Heart, Haitian Vanilla Orchid, Indonesian Patchouli, and Golden Amber Resin. 

The decorative and extravagant carton is inspired by the swirling, graceful flow of the Art Nouveau Movement of Aubrey Beardsley, Alfonse Mucha, Gustav Klimt and Toulouse-Lautrec and features the Anna Sui signature butterfly, embossed with black and gold filigree against a gold shield. The butterfly also tops the flacon cap of the chic gold bottle. 

In June, I met with Anna Sui for her fragrance launch at her SoHo boutique. La Nuit de Bohème is currently available at Beautylish.com and Anna Sui stores, and will be launching on Nordstrom.com at the end of August, just in time for fall!

- Kim Weling

The Diptyque Sample Sale

Nomaterra Travel-Inspired Fragrances for Spring 2013

Nomaterra is inspired by travel and the opportunities, adventures and exploration that comes with it. Nomaterra takes us on a journey through Miami, East Hampton and Washington D.C. - three fragrances in the Spring collection that are based on these locations. These three locations hold great meaning to Nomaterra's founder and CEO, Agnieszka Sygnarowicz Burnett, since Miami, East Hampton and Washington D.C. were the first three areas her family traveled to after arriving in the United States from communist Poland in 1986. 

Miami is easily my favorite scent, with notes of orange blossom, jasmine, melon, pink grapefruit and coconut. It's a fun and flirty, seductive fruity-floral scent that I can't wait to spray on this spring/summer. 

East Hampton has a clean and refreshing, sophisticated and elegant woody-floral scent, with notes of jasmine, gardenia, bergamot and white woods. 

Washington D.C. is boldly-scented with spices of nutmeg, bay leaf, and black pepper, balanced with a citrus-y opening and a warm vanilla and musk base. 

 Nomaterra's "on-the-go" eau de parfum travel sprays retail for $110 and come in a modern 0.5 oz aluminum twist-up bottle and includes a 0.5 oz replacement. The spray is light enough to tote in your purse everyday, with no worries of leaking or breaking. 

What I really find unique are the fragrance wipes that can fit in your pocket or clutch. The fragrance wipes would be ideal when wearing delicate fabrics like silk, that sometimes get damaged by perfume spritzes and would also be refreshing during the summer. The wipe application more evenly distributes the fragrance, so you don't have to worry about having sprayed too much perfume or not enough. The fragrance wipes come as a set of 12 wipes in a portable flip box that retails for $36 and $3 individually. 

You can order samples, shop the fragrances and learn more at nomaterra.com. 

  

Nomaterra founder and CEO Agnieszka Sygnarowicz Burnett

 - Kim Weling

Versace Yellow Diamond Fragrance Launch

"The yellow colour recalls the brightness, sensuality

and great energy of this fragrance,

able to depict and emphasize the charm

and femininity of a woman"

- Donatella Versace

Versace has newly launched Yellow Diamond, a captivating, floral fragrance. Versace Yellow Diamond is "a burst of juicy freshness and enveloping sensuality". Euroitalia and Donatella Versace collaborated with Firmenich perfumer Alberto Morillas in creating this luxury fragrance, which tells the tale of a crystal that has transformed into a beautiful diamond.

Versace Yellow Diamond opens with citron from Diamonte, pear sorbet, neroli and bergamot, with the heart of the fragrance revealing nymphea, freesia, orange blossom and mimosa, and a dry down of amber wood, palo santo and musk.

The bottle is timeless and exquisitely modern with an elegant, faceted crystal cap, and cut as a real diamond it creates amazing effects and games of light. The design of the box is inspired by a characteristic baroque Versace decoration, with colors ranging from pale to vivid yellow and the logo in sparkling blue for a stunning contrast.

Versace Yellow Diamond is available in three sizes - 30ml EDT (1.0 oz) at $50, 50 ml EDT (1.7 oz) at $67 and 90ml EDT (3.0 oz) at $88. A 200ml (6.7 0z) Perfumed Shower Gel and Body Lotion are also available.

Lookout for the launch of the official Versace Yellow Diamond Facebook page on January 24th, 2012. Deluxe samples will be offered to the first 100K people that sign up!

- Kim Weling

Fashion's Night Out 2011 with BCBGMAXAZRIA

After a long day of shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, I made my final Fashion's Night Out stop at the Fifth Avenue BCBGMAXAZRIA store.

Max Azria is my favorite designer, so how could I not join him for Fashion's Night Out?

The first 100 guests who purchased the new fragrance received a bottle signed by Max.

The first 250 customers that made any purchase received a Runway Survival Kit with a .25 oz. bottle of fragrance and a limited-edition Maybelline Great Lash mascara designed by Max.

I received my Runway Survival Kit when I purchased this rhinestone snake ring for $28!

- Kim Weling