2010 Top 10 Colognes

1. Egoiste By Chanel For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.7 Ounces by Chanel
A little of this one goes a long way. By far the crown jewel of colognes. For secure and confident men. Very intense and changes notes constantly.

Alright, this is challenge for my dyslexic eyes to write these down from the mirrored box, so you better read carefully if you really is interested.

Alcohol, Water, Methyl Gluceth-20, Fragrance, Hydrogenated caster oil, limonene, propylene glycol, allantoin, poly quaternium-10, linalool, butylphenyl methylpropional, citric acid, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, tetrasodium edta, citral, coumarin, citronellol, geraniol, phenoxyethanol, Yellow 5

Guys, remember this bottle is moderately priced so it's not cheap, but it's worth every penny I promise you!


2. M7 by Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz. by Yves Saint Laurent
Opinions are very split on this classic by Yves Saint Laurent. To me it smells of luxury and fine living. Starts like cherry cough syrup and ends like fine pipe tobacco, so this is strongly addictive once you start to "taste' it.

I have more than 10 different colognes in my collection right now but this one beats all of them both hands down.I hope it will stay forever.


Top notch.6 out of 5 stars.

3. LA NUIT DE L'HOMME by YSL Men's EDT Cologne by Yves Saint Laurent
This is the YSL's evening interpretation of the modern classic L'Homme. A little sweeter and longer lasting than L'Homme, and a little more sophisticated.

4. PERRY ELLIS MEN 3.4 oz EDT Cologne NIB by Perry Ellis
While strange to see a Perry Ellis frag on this list, don't underestimate it like many cologne snobs. Garners many compliments and leaves you wanting more all day. Long lasting as well. The beauty is this really smell very close to Acqua, and is light enough to wear at work or to school or wherever.

Best Perfumes for Women 2010

List of Best Perfumes for Women 2010
Usually celebrity perfumes like SJP, Beyonce Knowles, Britney Spears, etc., are the commonly known brands in the perfume industry. But designer perfumes which are known for their fragrances for years, like Prada, Escada, Gucci, D&G, Calvin Klein, etc., take up the slots for the top 10 best perfumes for women. With years, there are many new scents that are being launched. Some such fresh perfumes for women, launched in 2010 and before are listed below for your choice, as not only will you smell rich and classy but will find an identity with them. You can pick out any of your choice as the top ten perfumes for women, as they all qualify for the slots.

• Fendi Palazzo ($85)
• Gucci by Gucci ($80)
• Sarah Jessica Parker Covet Solid Perfume ($40)
• Dior J'adore L'Absolu ($82)
• Prada By Prada
• Obsession Night for Women by Calvin Klein
• Lancome Tresor Elixir ($67)
• Valentino Rock n' Rose Couture ($68)
• The One by Dolce and Gabbana ($50)
• Marc Jacobs Daisy ($70)
• Prada Tendre ($107)
• Dior Addict ($88)
• Envy Me by Gucci ($82)
• Swiss Army by Swiss Army
• Lovely for Women by Sara Jessica Parker
• Beyonce Heat by Beyonce Knowles ($49)
• Narciso Rodriguez for Her by Narciso Rodriguez ($94)
• Women's Davidoff Cool Water by Davidoff
• Banana Republic Malachite ($62)
• Missoni Acqua ($60)
• Tresor for Women by Lancome
• Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds
• Summer Romance by Ralph Lauren ($64)
• A Scent Of Issey Miyake for Women by Issey Miyake
• Light and Blue by D&G
• Flora by Gucci Eau de Parfum ($80)
• Fantasy by Britney Spears
• Escada Magnetism for Women by Escada
• Creme Bouquet by Stilla ($50)
• Brit by Burberry ($82)
• Calvin Klein Euphoria Crystalline Edition ($75)
• Givenchy Very Irresistible Givenchy ($70)
• Eternity Aqua for Women by Calvin Klein

Top 10 Most Expensive Perfumes In The World

10. Chanel No. 5 : $234 per 100 ml

Chanel No. 5 is the first fragrance launched by Parisian couturier Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, and has been on sale continuously since its introduction in 1921. It has been described as “the world’s most legendary fragrance,” and ranks on the top places in the perfumery sales charts. It remains the best-selling fragrance of Parfums Chanel,and the company estimates that a bottle is sold worldwide every 30 seconds.

The specialty of this perfume as claimed by Chanel is its artificial floral aldehyde composition, which lasts long after a single application. However, it stands starkly different from all the other flower perfumes you will find.

Channel No 5

9. Shalini Perfume: $900 a 2.2 oz bottle

Shalini perfume, created by Maurice Roucel. One interesting thing is Roucel is the perfumer of the Musc Ravageur, Iris Silver Mist, 24 Faubourg and Tocade series of luxury perfumes. Steeped in ylang-ylang,coriander and neroli, Shalini is fused with the deep luxurious aroma of sandalwood, musk, tuberose and vanilla. You can buy this spirit-lifting perfume at $900 a 2.2 oz bottle.

Shalini Perfume

8. Caron’s Poivre : $2000 per 2 ounces
The perfume becomes more luring when it comes packed in a spectacularly beautiful Baccarat bottle. The bottle encrusted with pristine crystals on the white gold collar, the bottle reflects shine of sophistication. A bottle containing two ounces of Caron’s Poivre is sold for $2,000.

Caron's Poivre

7. Ralph Lauren Perfume Notorious: $3,540 per bottle

This perfume priced at $3,540. This is one of the most expensive perfumes ever launched. Harrods is the retail outlet where it can be bought from. This perfume is used by segment of ultra premium people and positioned as the best perfume to wear during Christmas time. Advertised by French model Laetitia Casta.

Ralph Lauren Perfume Notorious

6. Baccarat Perfume Bottle Les Larmes Sacrées de Thebes : $ 6,800

Once Baccarat is Known for its production of crystal-encrusted bottles used to pack exclusive perfumes. With this perfume Les Larmes Sacrées de Thebes, Baccarat stepped into the field of perfume business. Les Larmes Sacrées de Thebes is the successful leap of Baccarat into the world of perfumes industry.

Les Larmes Sacrees De Thebes

5. Jar Perfumes The Bolt of Lightening: $765 per ounce
This perfume created by famous jewelry designer Joel A. Rosenthal. The perfume emits a heady and strong smell – something similar to the odor of the air just after a bolt of lightening has cut through the atmosphere. The perfume packaged in hand-cut glass bottles, this perfume is available at two selected boutiques in Paris. The unusual aroma of this extrait de parfum is synonymous with the dramatic and unconventional sense of style of jeweler Joel A. Rosenthal. Jar itself is derived from the creator initial.

The Bolt of Lightening

4. Joy Perfume From Jean Patou Perfume by Henri Alméras: US$800 (1 oz)

Joy is a perfume created for Parisian couturier Jean Patou by perfumer Henri Alméras in 1929. It is considered to be one of the greatest fragrances created and is a landmark example of the floral genre in perfumery.

Joy was created as a reaction to the 1929 Wall Street Crash, which had diminished the fortunes of JeanPatou’s wealthy American clientele. Despite its elevated price and the depressed economic environment, Joy became an instant success and has remained Jean Patou’s most famous fragrance.

At the heart of Joy is a luxurious combination of jasmine and rose. 10,000 jasmine flowers and 28 dozen roses are required to create 30ml of the parfum, hence its very high selling price. Joy also contains other flowers such as ylang ylang and tuberose. Despite its many ingredients, Joy does not smell like a specific flower. According to Luca Turin, “the whole point of its formula was to achieve the platonic idea of a flower, not one particular earthly manifestation.” The bottle was created by French architect and artisan Louis Süe and was designed to have a simple, classical feel.

3. Annick Goutal Perfume EAU D’hadrien: $1,500 for 3,4 ounces bottle

This perfume is a richly aromatic product by Annick Goutal, a famous perfume maker, renowned model and as well as award-winning pianist. It is a result of her extensive research on citrus fruits. Made of extracts from citrus fruits like grapes and Sicilian lemons.

The fragrance’s sweet smelling can do magic to keep all people around you under fascination of your personality. If you are on the lookout for such an outstanding perfume, you don’t need to be confusing.This perfume will provide what your need.

Annick Goutal Perfume EAU D' Hadrien

2. Hermes Perfume 24 Faubourg = $1,500 for 1 oz bottle

This perfume named after the Parisian address of the Hermes flag store, and was launched in 1995 by Maurice Roucel and Bernard Bourjois to blend the images of luxuriance and feminine quality.
Based upon the vitality of ylang-ylang, orange blossom, jasmine, iris, vanilla and ambergris fragrances, the 24 Faubourg is best compliments the soft and aesthetic self in you.

The 24 Faubourg perfume package in 1-oz St. Louis crystal bottles priced US$1,500 each. It is in limited edition line, with just 1000 bottles sold all around the world. The Hermes International company that produces this fabulous perfume enjoys a reputation for 57 years for creating scents in both male and female versions since 1951.

Hermes Perfume 24 Faubourg

1. Clive Christian Perfume: $215,000

This expensive perfume has a top-class quality to its credit, the reason why there is no dearth of buyers in spite of its high price. Its unique scent has made perfume aficionado rate it as a heady mixture of jasmine, cardamom, carnation, lemon, bergamot and benzoin. However, skeptics attribute its high price to the dazzling white diamond affixed to the bottle that alone could be worth USD215,000. Because of this price factor, Imperial Majesty is available in very small amounts; 10 bottles for Clive Christian No 1 for Men or No 1 for Women fragrances are all what you get.

Clive Christian Imperial majesty

Top 10 Winter Fragrances 2010

I take advantage of the cold-weather months and pour on amber-rich, resinous, incense-y, musky, and powdery perfumes (known as “gasp-inducers” in hot weather) but I also use perfumes to help me forget winter woes — my flowerless garden, chill-induced headaches, spark-filled hair, and dry-as-bone skin (citrus and florals…come hither). My top-ten list of winter fragrances is, of course, personal, and far from definitive; these are simply perfumes I’m enjoying this winter.

I usually wear “sharp”/herbal amber fragrances such as Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan and Tom Ford Amber Absolute, but it’s nice to have a classic amber scent handy as well. Enter Histoires de Parfums Ambre 114 (with notes of patchouli, cedar, sandalwood, tonka bean, vanilla, benzoin, and musk). Like many amber perfumes of its type, Ambre 114’s soft and sweet aromas transport me to a particular “scene” (a snowy twilight landscape viewed from inside a warm, dim room) and state of mind (contented…but nostalgic too). I suppose that means amber scents make me feel safe and comfortable and, perhaps, remind me of someone time has erased from my life.

Aesop Mystra is bold — and a bit severe. Mystra’s mastic, labdanum and frankincense notes smell “ancient” and ceremonious, like offerings to a deity. Since I’ve been accused by friends of acting in a, a-hem, “divine” manner at times, I offer up Mystra to myself.

Bois 1920 Vetiver Ambrato is simple and “pure”: vetiver and amber combined in an interesting way. Whenever I wear it, I always attract attention — from men, women, children and animals. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like it (and if I did, I’d probably think: “defective nose”).

Chanel Pour Monsieur was one of the first scents I wore — in high school. I still like the perfume, even after its many reformulations. Pour Monsieur wears well in any season, but in winter its moss and citrus give me a mental boost during long, wet, cold, gray spells.

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Pour Homme is a wonderful fougère fragrance, not too sleek or modern for its own good. Rive Gauche is a pleasing all-around/all-situation scent with notes of rosemary, rose geranium, lavender and patchouli. Though stamped with an Yves Saint Laurent logo, Rive Gauche qualifies as a “cheap thrill” at $46 for 75 ml.Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité!

I like to wear powdery fragrances in winter. Two that I love now are the lime-rich i Profumi di Firenze Agrumi di Sicilia and Serge Lutens Chergui (honey, tobacco, hay!) Powder’s not for everyone, I know, but here at Now Smell This, Ms. Angela Alamut and Mr. Kevin Habanita-Chergui cavort on a cloudy-with-powder conga line, joined by our favorite Perfume Power-Powders.

Santa Maria Novella Marescialla reminds many people of furniture polish with its resinous-lemon-y fragrance. I fondly remember the lemon-scented furniture wax used in my home when I was little. Though I hated many chores (cutting grass, doing dishes) I loved, and LOVE, waxing furniture. Marescialla makes me feel clean and lustrous.

Boadicea the Victorious produces an army of perfumes (currently: 35). Of the handful of Boadicea the Victorious perfumes I’ve tried so far,Invigorating is my favorite and makes me think of summer with its rich notes of syrupy orange and yuzu, rock rose, jasmine, and rose geranium.

I reviewed Comme des Garçons Monocle Scent Two: Laurel just last week. Its notes vary between spring (green laurel leaf), summer (marigold) and autumn/winter (smoky frankincense); Laurel is like a haiku poem that can’t decide which season to celebrate.

Thanks to a tip from NST commenter Carlos, I got my hands on a full bottle of long-discontinued Comptoir Sud Pacifique Thé Eau de Parfum — perhaps, my favorite perfume EV-ER. Apart from smelling of mellow sandalwood, black tea, lotus and Southeast Asian incense, Thé conjures up happy years for me, and, in particular, a sensational trip to Thailand where I doused myself with Thé daily.

Top 10 best perfumes of year 2010

My pocketbook took a beating over the holidays, and I'm still recovering—which means hopping a plane to an exotic locale isn't in my near future! Fortunately, I have an active imagination, so I was able to travel around the world without booking a flight. My mode of transportation: fragrance.

CUBA (HAVANA)
Perfume: Havana Vanille by L'Artisan Parfumeur

The closest I've come to Cuba is Cuba Café in NYC, but the smell of this sultry vanilla, rum, and leather blend sends me straight into the arms of Diego Luna in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.

MOROCCO (MAGHREB DESERT)
Perfume: L'Air du Desert Marocain by Tauer Perfumes

I've been to Arizona, but I'm ready for a new kind of desert—the Maghreb. After one sniff of this spicy, woodsy floral, being plunked into an arid climate is becoming more and more appealing. "Imagine finding peace in a room while lying on the bed, exhausted from the heat of the day. The window is open and the cool air, filled with scents of the desert and streets below, drifts in," says Andy Tauer about his fragrance. Mmm.

FRENCH POLYNESIA (TAHITI)
Perfume: Coco Monoi by Thymes

I've never been to Tahiti—or any of the Polynesian islands (unless you count staying at Disney World's Polynesian Resort). But inhaling this musky, white tiare-laced scent transports me in seconds. The alluring fragrance is inspired by monoi, the ancient Polynesian tradition of macerating tiare (the Tahitian equivalent of gardenias) in coconut oil.

FRENCH POLYNESIA (WALLIS)
Perfume: Manoumalia by Les Nez

Before creating Manoumalia, perfumer Sandrine Videault spent time on the South Pacific island of Wallis, immersing herself in its scents. The blend of exotic florals mixed with vetiver and ylang-ylang intoxicates the senses and brings to mind tropical evenings amid lush greenery and moonlit water.

FRANCE (PARIS)
Perfume: Nina by Nina Ricci

One whiff of Nina by Nina Ricci and I fell in love. Makes sense, given that the fruity floral is inspired by the romantic City of Light. The traces of peony, moonflower, and vanilla-laced red toffee apple take me straight to the French capital's cobblestone streets, aromatic flower carts, and fresh fruit stands... after picking up a pain au chocolat at a nearby patisserie, I bump into a sexy stranger... he smiles and introduces himself as Jean-Luc... Okay, you get the picture.

FRANCE (REIMS)
Perfume: Citron de Vigne by Fresh

I've been to Monet's gardens in Giverny, but I've yet to visit a French vineyard, the culture of which, depicted in movies like A Good Year and French Kiss, seems so enchanting. Fortunately, the scent of Citron de Vigne by Fresh is inspired by France's Champagne wine region and translates the smell of sun-drenched grapevines and rich pinot noir perfectly.

ITALY (CAPRI)
Perfume: Fiori di Capri by Carthusia

When capri pants experienced a revival around the start of the millennium, I partied in them like it was 1999. And that, sadly, is my only connection to Capri, the Italian isle where the calf-length trousers originated in the 1940s. But thanks to the Mediterranean notes of wild carnation and lily of the valley in Carthusia's Fiori di Capri, I suddenly feel like Brigitte Bardot in Le Mépris.

ITALY (BIELLA)
Perfume: Ca' Luna by Acqua di Biella

Ca' Luna by Acqua di Biella is inspired by Biella, a small town in the Piedmont region of Italy. One whiff of this unisex fragrance's unique mélange is like entering an old country palazzo—at first I smell only the green notes of lichen and ivy lining its ancient walls. Once inside, each corner I round greets me with the warm aromas of white pepper, sandalwood, leather, musk—I can't stop smelling my wrist!

AUSTRALIA
Perfume: Australian Wild Jasmine by Lucy B.

Sourced from Australian bush flower essences, this sweet-smelling fragrance combines jasmine with water lily, magnolia, pineapple, and white ginger. Also available as roll-on perfume oil, the Aussie scent takes me down under in seconds.

COSTA RICA
Perfume: Sugarwood by Costamor

Brand-new to the fragrance industry, Costamor debuts its first fragrance, Sugarwood, on luckyscent.comnext month (three more scents will roll out by summer). Inspired by founder Elizabeth Wright's childhood memories of Costa Rica, Sugarwood is a soft, woody floral laced with the fresh scent of sugarcane. Sniffing the vibrant eau, I can totally envision myself strolling along the sugarcane-strewn village path that Wright credits as Sugarwood's inspiration.

THE CARIBBEAN (ST. BARTH)
Perfume: Vanille West Indies by Ligne St. Barth

I once blogged about a luxurious spa treatment at the Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France that a group of lucky celebrities got to experience. Now I've finally gotten a piece of the luxury (okay, maybe it's more like a sliver) with Vanille West Indies by Ligne St. Barth. The blend of vanilla, caramel, and orchid is amazingly soothing. All I need is a glass of vanilla rum...

ENGLAND (WINDSOR)
Perfume: Cutting Garden by Royal Apothic

Royal Apothic is known for its exquisite candles and home fragrances—and in February, its signature scents will be available as eau de toilettes, too. Having been to Windsor, I'm a fan of Cutting Garden, which is inspired by the blooms that once filled the vases of Windsor Castle's royalty. The bouquet of gardenia, rose, jasmine, lily, and iris makes me feel like a queen.

ENGLAND (LONDON)
Perfume: The Beat by Burberry

What can I say—I'm a Burberry girl. I own at least a few of the luxury brand's delicious-smelling perfumes, but I'm currently loving The Beat eau de toilette. With its notes of Ceylon tea, pink pepper, mandarin, and white musk, I find myself traipsing around Trafalgar Square, arm in arm with a Colin Firth-slash-Mark Darcy clone.

INDIA (BANGALORE)
Perfume: Ritual de Bengalore by Cinq Mondes Pluie d'Aromes

Inspired by Bangalore gardens, Ritual de Bengalore by Cinq Mondes Pluie d'Aromes blends vanilla and cardamom spice for a soothing yet vibrant scent. One spritz and I'm ready to kick off my Sunday shoes with Shahrukh Khan in a Bollywood musical.

JAPAN (KYOTO)
Perfume: Hinoki by Comme des Garçons, Monocle Series

The idea of soaking in an outdoor hot tub, surrounded by exotic greenery sounds pretty good to me right about now. Woodsy and mysterious, Comme des Garçons' unisex fragrance Hinoki is meant to evoke the experience of spending a chilly spring morning relaxing in a hinoki tub at the Tawaraya in Kyoto.

JAPAN (TOKYO)
Perfume: Hamarikyu Gardens by Anthropologie

As its name implies, Anthropologie's fragrance is inspired by the Hamarikyu Gardens, one of Tokyo's largest traditional gardens. The scent is intended to place you among the plum trees, camellias, and irises, while sipping green tea in the garden's Nakajima teahouse. And it's a success; I'm going to have a mini tea ceremony and brew myself a cup...

CHINA
Perfume: Sugar Lychee by Fresh

While I was growing up, lychee nuts were a childhood treat (the small Cantonese town where my family is from is known for the sweet, juicy fruit). Thanks to Fresh's Sugar Lychee fragrance I can enjoy it bottled, too! Decidedly more grown-up than the fruit of my youth, the perfume's warm and sophisticated, alluring traces of lotus flower and freesia add a flirtatious touch of fun.

UNITED STATES (NEW YORK)
Perfume: 212 Sexy by Carolina Herrera

Ask any Manhattanite: The borough's original 212 area code is the most preferred and arguably the most prestigious of the triple digits doled out to the island's residents. Thanks to Carolina Herrera's Big Apple-inspired scent, which boasts a seductive blend of woodsy florals, now anyone can claim the coveted digits.

UNITED STATES (LOS ANGELES)
Perfume: Velvet Rope by Apothia

Lights, camera, action! Created by the Los Angeles-based brand Apothia, Velvet Rope smells of seductive musk, jasmine, and grapefruit. From its soft velvet packaging to its intoxicating fragrance, I feel like I just stepped onto the red carpet on a warm L.A. night. California, here I come!