Tag: fragrance

A CHIC TRAVELER’S COMPANION

Seems like my problem about having to carry a big glass perfume bottle for traveling is over. Thanks to Maison Francis Kurkdjian who just launched GLOBE TROTTER.

Yes, you’ve been there also right? You love to smell good while traveling, but you have to think twice to put your favorite perfume bottle (especially the glass ones) inside your hand carry bag due to those traveling regulations & standards. Not too mention, it’s fragile (hello, it made from glass, people!) and heavy with a chance of spilling all over your belongings. Ouch! Worry no more as GLOBE TROTTER come to the beauty rescue. GLOBE TROTTER from Maison Francis Kurkdjian is a savvy travel spray case (currently only available in Zinc color for Indonesia’s market), with a pack of three fragrance refills which sold separately (currently only available in Aqua Universalis Forte). Just slip a vial inside the case and voila! You’re ready to travel with this chic companion. 

Inspired by Francis Kurkdjian’s trip around the world, this special case can store an interchangeable glass vial of his fragrance. Fits perfectly in my hands, perfect for hand carry bag, too. Bonus point: this luxurious fragrance traveling case will securely holds the vial with a magnetic clasp and a chic fine leather pouch. 

For me, it’s very travel friendly and very good looking (thank God I’m not into girly stuffs). And I just can’t wait for others fragrance refills scents to be available here in Indonesia.

 

SCENTS & SENSIBILITY

Thanks to Living at The Papilion, I was able to meet the person behind the fragrance I’m wearing.

Francis Kurkdjian, Master Perfumer, Co-Founder of Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris was here in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday. And lucky me, I was invited by Living at The Papilion to meet him and had a chat with him & fellow press. Check out my twitter @shintarosvita for my pic side by side with Francis!

Anyway, Francis was here to introduce Maison Francis Kurkdjian new scented range for the body. Five new body creams were added to his collection: Aqua Vitae, Amyris, APOM, Lumiere Noire Femme and OUD. Each was created in perfect harmony with the same name fragrances.

Why body cream? “Body cream is important. Some people just like to wear body creams only. And I think it’s important to have consistency in the range. They’re a favorite in the US and Europe. Very good for the skin as they’re very rich,” said Francis.

Surprise, surprise…In my lazy (OK, super lazy) days when I didn’t even bother to spray any perfumes, I always count on my shower gel and body cream. But what do you expect if you purchased those typical shower gels or body creams from the grocery racks? Scents will be gone once you walked out that door. So, imagine my happiness when my favorite perfume now has a scented body cream. Not just enhancing the perfume, the body cream is nourishing and moisturizing (thanks to Shea Butter extract as one of the main ingredient). And lately (thanks to aging), my skin needs more than just ordinary body lotion which didn’t work well like it had before. So, body cream in thicker texture is my skin savior, especially if I have to spend time indoor with AC on for 24 hours. My favorite? Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae Scented Body Cream. Carrying the same fragrance whose name it bare, (Aqua Vitae) with notes like Lemon from Calibria, Mandarin from Sicily, Tonka bean and Gaiac wood, it’s fresh, light yet sensual like a second skin.

Always remember that layering is a trick to wear the perfume you already have, BETTER! This will extend your favorite Maison Francis Kurkdjian scent throughout your day, especially in our weather.

FACTS ABOUT FRANCIS:

  • He teaches (for five years now) at a perfumery school named ISIPCA Versailles (outside Paris), which he graduated from in 1993.
  • Most of his students are female (considering there are more male perfumers out there).
  • Between 1995 and 2013, he already designed more than 40 fragrances for luxury & fashion brands, such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Lanvin, Dior, YSL and Elie Saab.
  • His average time to produce one fragrance is 18 months (even though he admitted that he’s not a very patient person when it comes to work).
  • He only wears a fragrance that he’s currently working on. Once it was created, he won’t wear it anymore. He confessed that he’s only using Maison Francis Kurkdjian Liquid Detergent to wash his clothes.

 

YOU CAN NEVER CHEAT STYLE & ELEGANCE

When I heard the name Carolina Herrera, I automatically think of her classic white shirt that never (ever) wrinkled and her undeniably graceful presence.

She became a fashion designer because of her personal ‘best dressed’ style. So wonderfully dressed, her friend, Diana Vreeland (Editor-in-Chief of Vogue), suggested Carolina to built her own clothing line back in the 1980’s. So successful on the runways, late 1980’s, Carolina developed a line of perfume. And that was the beginning of the CH Fragrances universe.

This year, Carolina Herrera launches CH Eau De Parfum Sublime. The latest fragrance by Carolina Herrera de Báez (that’s Carolina Herrera’s daughter which joined the family business in 1997) inspired by the allure of a sophisticated, elegant and sensual woman (resemblance characters of her mother, perhaps?)

I was at the launch event of CH Eau De Parfum Sublime*, in Hotel Mulia Senayan, Jakarta last July. Held by Multi Wangi Alami Group (the main distributor for CH Fragrances in Indonesia), me, fellow bloggers and medias experienced five different theme rooms, identifying the five qualities of the CH Eau De Parfum Sublime woman. Ingenious, eternal, enigmatic, singular and attractive represented in each note, such as bergamot, rose, orchid, passion flower and patchouli from Indonesia! Apparently, we have the best patchouli (yippee!). And in each room, we were shown different master pieces from Carolina Herrera’s designs such as belt, headband, shoes, hand gloves and clutch, all decorated with a pretty bow.

What made this EDP (yes they only come in Eau De Parfum) so irresistible? Well, as they said love comes at first sight…just look at the pretty bottle. It’ll surely become a delightful view for our dressing table. Take a glance and you already know that this fragrance captured the sublime essence of a woman’s femininity (just like the creator, Carolina Herrera de Báez said). Fresh, sweet, unique, enigmatic and sensual, all sides of a woman personified in a scent.

 

*CH Eau de Parfum Sublime are retailing at Rp 1.000.000 (for 80ml) and Rp 1.260.000 (for 100ml).

 

NEW FRAGRANCES TO HAVE AND TO HOLD

Once you went niche, there’ll be no turning back.

At least, that’s how I feel about niche fragrances. Somehow, they attracted me with their specific, unique blending and simple packaging. Let’s just say they succumbed me with their intellectually stimulating scents.

Two of my favorite brands are Diptyque and Maison Francis Kurkdjian. Both from Paris, and what I’ve learned from my previous visits to the city of love, most of the people there really appreciate nice scents. Once, a hotel receptionist (an old guy) in a Paris’ hotel complimented me on the scent that I was wearing. I know, right?

The latest launch in Indonesia for the two brands are Diptyque Eau Moheli and Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae. Both in EDT, light and fresh for warmer days.

Dyptique Eau Moheli is a bit on the sweeter scent, coming from a flower ylang-ylang which grows and harvested on Moheli, one of the smallest islands in Comoros, the Indian Ocean. The latest addition to the Floral Water Collection (after Eau Rose a few years back), Eau Moheli is a beautiful bouquet of exotic flowers scent mixed with green notes, peppery spices and woody notes. The most interesting part about the tropical flower ylang-ylang used for this fragrance, they have to be cut every week at dawn, or else they will loose their scent. And the distillation process which conducted locally can take up to 20 hours. Considered a summer fragrance, Dyptique Eau Moheli is perfect for those who want floral fragrance without being too flowery.

The other must have fragrance in our warm climate is Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae. Inspired by one of Francis’ own trip to Formentera in the Balearic island (at the Mediterranean), when one afternoon he rides an old motorbike. It was blazing hot, but the cool wind touched his face. That beautiful feelings created Aqua Vitae, the water of life. Citrusy, woody and musky, it’s an easy, simple fragrance for man and woman. Lemon from Calabria, Mandarin from Sicily, Tonka Bean from Brazil, vanilla infusion, hedione and guaiac wood were chosen by Francis to make this relaxing scent. Yes, somehow I personally feel that it’s such a relaxing fragrance, soft like second skin but better.

What I love about both fragrances, even though they come in EDT, don’t let the light textures fooled you. They sit on my skin quite long during my active days and don’t you just love when your fragrance stayed close to you all the time? I know I did. 

WHEN THE WEATHER CHANGES

For me, changing fragrances is not just to suit my moods.

I’ve learned my fragrance lessons 101 well throughout my traveling days. Some fragrances (even those with big names) suddenly failed on me when I bought them in colder climates cities, and wore them here in my home town which is hot and humid like all the time. They just smell…well…different. That’s why I started to believe that some fragrances are just best to worn where they produced….

….until this week I was invited to the launch of the latest Diptyque fragrance, named L’Eau Du Trente Quatre in The Papilion Duo, Jakarta, Indonesia. Seems like the good people at Diptyque can read my mind and needs, they created a new version of their original 34 Boulevard Saint Germain (named after their boutique address in Paris/the place where Diptyque was born in 1961).

A greener interpretation, more playful and definitely lighter, Diptyque L’Eau Du Trente Quatre is the perfect fragrance to accommodate warmer climate and suit our forever summery mood. Thanks to the green scent of birch tree leaves, a unique cocktail of bitter orange, verbena, lemon, grapefruit and lavender as top notes. A pinch of nutmeg, juniper berries and cinnamon tree leaves sets the floral heart of Egyptian geranium and tuberose. Last but not least are the base of Virginia cedar, patchouli, a hint of incense, Spain cist and bright musk which balance this genderless fragrance into one unforgettable scent.

Diptyque L’Eau Du Trente Quatre comes in a white cap with the same oval bottle as the 34 Boulevard Saint Germain (which comes in a black cap, by the way). And its’ box represent a more feminine side of the brand, to commemorates the grey and pink fabrics produced at the beginnings of Diptyque with a special Pretorien motif. Currently, they carry two sizes (50ml and 100ml) of Eau De Toilette, but let’s hope they will expand this versatile new scent to solid perfume and home fragrance as well. 

THERE ARE ONLY 300 OF THESE…

bright and dipped bottle of Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne.

The ever popular Red Roses scent bottled in a version of beauty graffiti packaging and individually numbered. This limited edition bottle is a part of the Jo Malone London’s boutique installation, named Charlotte’s Corner in Selfridges, which will open on April 1st, 2013. FYI, Charlotte (Stockdale) is Jo Malone’s Style Editor.

So, if you’re a fan, this is not an April MOP, prepare yourself to get one out of 300. Good luck. 

STEP FORWARD IN PERFUMERY

If you choose a cashmere sweater from a high end brand because you think about the quality of the material and the longevity of having & enjoying it, then you’re already a step forward.

Are you also ready to take a step forward in your choice of perfume? Now, you can experience something entirely different and totally unexpected out of the Oud Mood collection from Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
Especially for the Indonesia’s launch of these unique perfumes, Marc Chaya, President &co-founder of Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris kindly shared with me and fellow press about the goods of Oud.
“Oud is a very powerful scent, used by people in the middle east,” explain Marc. He later explained that most perfumers mixed Oud with incense to make it more acceptable. “It’s not a DNA of French perfumery. French school of perfumery is all about floral.” Even though Francis Kurkdjian himself did resistant about adding Oud to his perfumer palette at the first place, this raw material become OUD, the embryo for Oud Mood collection in February 2012, after Marc convinced him.
“The Oud that we’re using, come from Laos when they’re growing naturally like a fungus. They’re like a disease which formed white resins around trees. Oud is the second most expensive essential oil in the world after Iris. It cost us US$65.000 per kilo, and we need 5 tons to make 1 liter of essential oil.”
Just like its’ predecessor, the trio in Oud Mood Collection are not all about Oud. We will only feel a fraction of Oud which wrapped with other interesting scents. “Rough and brutal Oud, wrapped up with the softness of rare and soft fabrics,” said Marc about the Silk Mood, Velvet Mood & Cashmere Mood, three extraits de parfum from Oud Mood Collection. No ordinary perfumes indeed, as they’re concentrated with 30% pure essential oil (that’s 10% more than ordinary Eau De Parfum).
Smooth as silk, Silk Mood is the lightest and the most feminine of them all. Created in Francis’ mind as a genderless perfume, this perfume extract wrapped up Oud with Bulgarian Rose, Blue Chamomile from Morocco and Papyrus. Expect to scent a very Oud scent became airy like a caressed rose petals on our skin.
Luxurious like cashmere, Cashmere Mood is definitely not for the faint of heart. Imagine walking inside an all leather store, as it’s very leathery, thanks to Moroccan Labdanum, Benzoin from Laos and Vanilla which enhanced the Oud. I imagine a very sophisticated man (with a nice leather shoes) owned this.
Mysterious like velvet, Velvet Mood is the purest and closest interpretation of OUD, the predecessor, released with cinnamon from Ceylon, saffron and exotic Copahu Balm from Brazil. It goes dark yet give those majestic and royal sense.
After attending the exclusive launch of Oud Mood in The Library at The Dharmawangsa Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia, I really believe that Oud is not for those commercial (read: mass market) type. For those who embrace life and of course, Oud fanatics, Oud Silk Mood, Oud Cashmere Mood & Oud Velvet Mood will be a permanent collection. Available in 70ml Extrait de Parfum (price TBA in Indonesia), it’s a perfect way to enjoy your fine life just like the cashmere parable mentioned above.

 

BECAUSE (REAL) LIFE BEGINS AT 30, NON?

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The wildly romantic and iconic Yves Saint Laurent’s fragrance is turning 30, and we are celebrating…

with this inspiring Limited Edition Fragrance, PARIS PREMIÈRES ROSES Eau de Toilette Légère 2013 Limited Edition. Created by Sofia Grojsman with the iconic PARIS fragrance in her mind and a symbol of eternal love & tenderness, the Rose Centifolia.

More light than the original version, it’s going to be a delightful scent for spring time. Imagine a walk in a lovely rose garden, and indulge yourself in a floral-green-musky fagrance.

YSL PARIS PREMIÈRES ROSES Eau de Toilette Légère 2013 Limited Edition will be available in Jakarta, Indonesia by July 2013.

 

FRAGRANCE TOUCH UP-DO YOU REALLY NEED ONE?

Coco Chanel once said “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future”. But wearing too much perfume is a definite etiquette faux pas.  

So, how to not over-applied your fragrance? Do you really have to bother to touch up your fragrance in the middle of your daily activities?

Layering your fragrance smartly will help. A lot. But there are more tricks than just using the same body wash and lotion as your fragrance.  Learn more about the secret of layering:

–       If you are the statement perfume fan, like Chanel No.5, leave it alone. Pick unscented bath and body products to compliment the (already) statement perfume.

–       No range of bath and body products for your fragrance? Such shame, but you can try to stick to the same fragrance family. If your perfume is citrusy, then go for citrusy shower gel and body lotion. Same goes with floral, etc.

–       Don’t forget to spritz your hair. But as some fragrance might be high in alcohol which will dry your hair gradually, do it last, after you dried and styled your hair. Or, you can use a few drops of perfume oil which will be a good frizz tamer.

–       If there’s no deodorant for your favorite perfume, no sweat. Deodorant won’t affect your fragrance layering. Make sure you pick the most lightly scented deodorant.

–       You all know the steps, start with body wash (it could be shower gel or good ol’ bar) that matches your perfume, then hydrate with body lotion (for normal to oily skin) or body butter (for normal to dry skin). Last but definitely not least, apply a drop of perfume oil or rollerball perfume where you’re about to spritz your EDT or EDP normally. Remember, the more moisturized your skin are, the longer your fragrance will last.

 

MY FAVORITE FRAGRANCE RANGE:  

Hesperides Grapefruit by FRESH. The range include: shower gel, soap, body lotion, EDP and rollerball.

Musk by KIEHL’S. The range include: shower gel, lotion, EDT Spray, Essence Oil and Essence Oil with Roller Ball applicator.

White Musk by THE BODY SHOP. The range include: shower gel, deodorant, EDT, perfume oil, body lotion, body crème. They even have body powder & body mist too.

Amazing Grace by PHILOSOPHY. The range include: bath & shower gel, body crème, body oil mist, body spritz, body butter, hand cream, body emulsion, deodorant, solid perfume, fine perfume & spray fragrance.

 

UNMISTAKEABLY GIFTS

Inspired by traveling the world, these scents will be a perfect gift for those who love to pack and go for the holiday.

The scent journey starts from London via The River Thames, China, Provence, Canada all the way to (surprise surprise) Indonesia. Five exclusive fragrances from Molton Brown, named “Navigations Through Scent”, come in a soft black leather box. Each named Londonium, Lijiang, Valbonne, Rogart and Singosari (guess which one is which?).

From floral musky, spicy woody or woody fresh, be prepared to embark on a lovely journey with these unisex scents.