Style File: Scintillating Scents to Suit Every Mood

Miss Dior, courtesy photo.

Miss Dior, courtesy photo.

I know a lot of women swear by a signature scent, but for me fragrance is all about setting the mood. And my moods tend to, well, change—a lot!

Luckily there are always new perfumes to try out.

Absolutment Absinthe, courtesy photo.

Absolutment Absinthe, courtesy photo.

 

Here a few I’ve been enjoying recently.

Feeling sweet

Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet is a refreshing floral scent that pays homage to Christian Dior’s legendary passion for flowers. The “bouquet” includes notes of Peony, Damascus Rose, Calabrian Bergamot and White Musk.

Feeling fresh

Gucci Flora Glorious Mandarin, courtesy photo.

Gucci Flora Glorious Mandarin, courtesy photo.

Gucci Flora Glorious Mandarin is a light, young, fresh scent with notes of Mandarin, Pina Colada Accord, Jasmine, Creamy Wood, White Musk.

Feeling flexible

0.2 Fragrance, courtesy photo.

0.2 Fragrance, courtesy photo.

0.2 Fragrance is a unisex scent that features notes of Italian Bergamot, Spearmint, Neroli and Orange Blossom.

Feeling sophisticated

Velvet Orchid by Tom Ford is a powerful blend of Turkish rose, jasmine, magnolia and Cattleya leopoldii, balanced by notes of honey, rum, sandalwood, labdanum, and vanilla. A sexy scent perfect for summer nights.

Feeling frisky

Absolument Absinthe, inspired by the mythical liquor, is a fun foray into the forbidden. This complex scent pairs feminine amber and floral notes with

Viva La Juicy Rose, courtesy photo.

Viva La Juicy Rose, courtesy photo.

masculine vegetal and woody notes for a very unique perfume.

Velvet Orchid by Tom Ford, courtesy photo.

Velvet Orchid by Tom Ford, courtesy photo.

Feeling fun

Viva La Juicy Rosé is blinged-out girly bottle full of  fresh, fun scents that combine a bouquet of honey-like pink blossoms and the glow of sensual amber. Girls (of all ages) who just want to have fun, will certainly do so with this one!

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on June 14, 2016.

Style File: The Scents of Love for Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day is a perfect time for rose-scented fragrances. Photo courtesy fragrance.net.

Valentine’s Day is a perfect time for rose-scented fragrances. Photo courtesy fragrance.net.

As far as I’m concerned, nothing sets the mood for romance like the alluring scent of roses. Here are some rose-infused scents to fall in love with this Valentine’s Day.

Rose The One by Dolce & Gabbana (FragranceNet.com) is a contemporary feminine floral that’s a testament to the eternal romance of the rose. An intriguing combination of pink grapefruit, sandalwood, musk, vanilla, rose and mandarin, as well as several other notes, blend to create this elegant floral fragrance.

Very Irresistible by Givenchy (FragranceNet.com) is bursting with roses and infused with star anise, and verbena leaf, this is a youthful, fresh departure from the traditional floral fragrance.

Jo Malone Red Roses (www.jomalone.com) is a lush blend of seven of the world’s most exquisite roses. With crushed violet leaves and a hint of lemon, it unfolds like a bouquet of freshly cut flowers.

Rose by Paul Smith (FragranceNet.com) is a sophisticated scent that opens with notes of violet, rose and green tea. The heart is composed of Turkish Rose and magnolia, while the base brings notes of cedar and musk.

Dolce & Gabbana Rose the One. Photo courtesy fragrance.net.

Dolce & Gabbana Rose the One. Photo courtesy fragrance.net.

Stella McCartney Stella (sephora.com) is a sophisticated scent focused on intense femininity. The fragrance is a contrast between the fresh, soft rose and the dark, sensual amber, with notes of mandarin and peony as well.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on February 10, 2015.

Style File: Think Pink to Help Fight Breast Cancer

Smell the Roses by jane iredale

Smell the Roses by jane iredale

As you probably know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, which not only helps build awareness about this terrible disease, it also brings a flurry of pink products, specially formulated to help the cause.

One of my favorites is Jane Iredale’s Smell the Roses. This hydrating facial spritz launched in September, and 100% of the profits (not just proceeds) from the sale of Smell the Roses will be donated to Living Beyond Breast Cancer,  a national education and support organization whose mission is to connect people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support.

I actually got my hands on a sample early this summer and it’s been a lovely, sweet smelling way to spritz on a little and help beat the heat. Just one little spray moisturizes and cleanses the skin, calms irritation and reduces redness, not to mention it smells like heaven!

Another great pink for the cure product to look for is Sparkling ICE, the now ubiquitous flavored, zero-calorie sparkling mountain spring water is promoting the message “Imagine a World Without Breast Cancer” on its pink grapefruit flavor bottles. In conjunction with this, the company has committed to donating a minimum of $25,000 to research facilities nationwide to help find a cure, in addition to aiding local affiliates and communities with more than $100,000 in donations annually.

They’ve even developed a “Sip Pink for the Cure” Cocktail using the pink grapefruit Sparkling ICE flavor. Here’s the recipe:

Sparkling ICE Sip Pink for the Cure Cocktail

Sip Pink for the Cure Cocktail, courtesy Sparkling ICE

Sip Pink for the Cure Cocktail, courtesy Sparkling ICE

Ingredients

•3 oz.  Grapefruit Sparkling ICE

•1 ½ oz.  vodka

•1 oz. lime juice

•Lime wedge

•Sliced fresh jalapeño

•Chili salt for rim of glass (Kosher salt mixed with chili powder)

 Directions

1. Use a lime wedge to rub the entire rim of a chilled martini glass, and dip into chili salt mixture.

2. Combine vodka and jalapeno slices with ice in a shaker.

3. Strain and pour into the chilled martini glass.

4. Top with Grapefruit Sparkling ICE.

5. Garnish with a few Jalapeno slices.

One of three chairs being auctioned to support  breast cancer research. Courtesy Regency Shop.

One of three chairs being auctioned to support breast cancer research. Courtesy Regency Shop.

While you’re sipping that cocktail, you could also be sitting pretty in a unique, one-of-a-kind stylish lounge chair that Regency Shop is auctioning off to support breast cancer research. For more information, click here.

Some additional promotions this month include:

FragranceNet.com will donate 15% of the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation each time you purchase Vera Wang Truly Pink, Lacoste Love of Pink, Gap So Pink and Lacoste Joy of Pink.

• G.M. Collin skincare donates $2 of each sold product of Daily Ceramide Comfort Capsules to Pink Ribbons Inc.

Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

•  For the 8th consecutive year, DECLÉOR will donate (10%) of net proceeds of the Sensorial Travel Collections sold during the month of October to Cancer and Careers, a program of CEW Foundation.  Each exclusive skincare program includes five full and travel-sized DECLÉOR products, housed in a large zippered travel pouch, that provide unique benefits targeted to a specific skin-type.

Suki Ultra Protect Body Balm, courtesy photo

Suki Ultra Protect Body Balm, courtesy photo

• The suki® ultra-protect™ body balm, a great moisturizing product, will donate 100% of proceeds from this month’s sales of this product will benefit Breast Cancer Action (www.bcaction.org), an organization whose mission is to achieve health justice for all women at risk of and living with breast cancer.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on October 9, 2014.