Exam Week

Morning everyone!

Things have been a little silent the past few days here on Fragrance Bouquet because I have been studying for the first exam period of the year. This week is riddled with exams and final papers so I won't be able to post. But next week Fragrance Bouquet will be back with a review of a brand new and supremely sophisticated perfume! See you then :)

Exams - Be Back Soon

Hi everyone,

I am sure you noticed things have been a little slower lately. That's because I've been studying for exams the last two weeks. I've got seven days left before my last exam and I really have to focus right now cause it's a tough one. I'll be back with reviews in a week's time, on the 3rd of June.

Stay Fragrant,

Divina

We Will Be Right Back...

Hi guys! I have a deadline for a rather huge paper which I've been slowly slaving over since the beginning of January, so I will be out for a week from today, returning with new posts on Wednesday the 11th. Look forward to a big double Forget Me Not Feature, as well as a series on perfumes that share a particular note as their dominant characteristic, including a giveaway for a delicious sample that's kind of hard to come across. Yup, all sorts of goodies coming up, so check back in a week's time. And wish me luck! This is the most hideous paper I've had to write... ever.

News from Ormonde Jayne: New Boutique, New Perfume

Everyone that has visited the Ormonde Jayne boutique in London, can’t help but gush at how amazingly beautiful and luxurious the interior is. Described by fellow perfume-lovers as the loveliest perfume playground to shop for scented delights, the Ormonde Jayne boutique has been there to satisfy our senses, from the olfactory, to the visual and tactile.

Now Dubai, a destination whose name has become essentially associated with glitz, glamour and over the top opulence has its very own Ormonde Jayne boutique. The newly opened scented haven promises to treat guests to the same luxurious experience guests of the London boutique have been enjoying for years: bronze smoked mirrors, black lacquered testing tables and mandarin leather topped stools that feature in the flagship store create an atmosphere that truly makes shopping an experience. The staff has of course been specially trained in the brand’s unique range and philosophy. The new store has been designed by Caulder Moore who created the flagship store's new look in 2006 and can be found in Boutique 1 at the Jumeirah Beach Residence, also known as JBR.

Ormonde Jayne also has a new masculine entry for its fragrance lineup! Zizan, the new eau de parfum, is described as a powerhouse scent with fresh, biting, citrus fruit notes and a smooth, rich, refined concentration of vetiver.

Official Notes:

Top: Sicilian lime, lemon, bergamot, clary sage, pink pepper and juniper berry.
Heart: bay, violet and jasmine
Base: Vetiver, cedar, must and amber.

Sounds yummy, and I can’t wait to smell it. For now, completely seduced by all this Ormonde Jayne talk, I’m off to spray some Champaca, which happens to be my absolutely favorite Ormonde Jayne scent.

Announcement: Winner Philtre d'Amour Sample

Hello, hello, hello! The winner of last week's Philtre d'Amour sample contest is ... WaftbyCarol! (Fragrance Bouquet Loves Carol!) Carol please send me your addy and I'll be shipping the sample to you!

Thanks to all who participated!

Have a great weekend,

Divina

Fragrance Bouquet on Vacation for a Week

Hello beatiful Fragrance Bouquet readers! How are you? Just a little announcement today to let you know that Fragrance Bouquet will be back next Wednesday, in a week's time. I just came back from classes and I am about to start packing my suitcases - I am leaving for Greece tomorrow. After three weeks of exams and a week of writing papers from morning till evening, I have really reached the end of my tether... I really need this week away from it all and hope that it will make some of the stress I am currently constantly feeling budge.

See you in a week's time!

Fragrance Bouquet: Back on Monday

Dear Readers,

As you probably noticed there's only been one post this week. The new term has begun at the university and I am suddenly swamped with work. I am trying to get everything organized and smoothly-flowing this weekend, so you can expect to see Fragrance Bouquet back on Monday with a post on Pacifica's new fall beauties.

See you then!

Announcement: Winner Cardin de Cardin Sample

The winner of last week's draw for a sample of Cardin de Cardin parfum is Christine! Please send me a mail with your details and I'll ship it to you. Results obtained with random.org as usual.

Wishing us all a good week ahead,

Muah!
Divina

Exciting News: Donna Karan’s Chaos at Bergdorf’s

Countless perfume fanatics mourn the loss of their beloved Chaos, perhaps the most well loved of the lost or rare Donna Karan fragrances. In fact, Chaos is the only fragrance I have not written about and yet I consistently receive emails on. The question is always the same: Where can it be found? Well, Chaos is making its comeback!

Donna Karan Cosmetics and Bergdorf Goodman unveil an exclusive collection of classic, iconic fragrances of past and present. Brought back by popular demand (Bravo to Donna Karan Cosmetics for listening!), fragrances such as the original Donna Karan signature scent, Chaos, Fuel for Men, Black Cashmere and the Donna Karan Essence Collection (consisting of Lavender, Jasmine, Labdanum and the absolutely fabulous Wenge) are finding their way back to the hearts of their adoring public in just a couple of days time! I couldn’t be more excited – this is a collection of stunning perfumes that truly deserves to be resurrected.

Donna Karan fragrance experts Catherine Barber and Annette Williams will be available at Bergdorf’s from the 13th till the 16th of August, to offer “a personalized fragrance reading which utilizes a series of provocative images, colors and sounds to help you discover the Donna Karan scent that reflects the real you”. The experts will be found at Bergdorf Goodman’s Beauty Level (timetable found below), and due to the demand, it is recommended that interested parties schedulle an appointment with the Fragrance Counter (tel: [212] 872 – 2581):

August 13, 2008: 4.00 – 6.00 PM
August 14, 2008: 2.00 – 5.00 PM
August 15, 2008: 2.00 – 5.00 PM
August 16, 2008: 2.00 – 5.00 PM

Announcement - Rosa Negra Blog Now Bilingual

A little announcement today, in regards to my friend Cris' Brazilian perfume blog, Rosa Negra: Rosa Negra, previously only written in Portuguese, is now a bilingual blog, with entries also offered in English. Those of you looking to add a new blog to your daily dose of perfume reading, should definitely take a look.

Fragrance Bouquet on Summer Vacation and Draw Winner Announcement

Goodmorning dears! I've been impatiently counting down the days left till my vacation and this Wednesday I am finally flying to Greece. It's going to be Thessaloniki-Syros-Mykonos this time around. I will be taking a much needed rest (no, no, it's a lie - I will be partying! And shopping. And partying!) until the 26th of July. Expect the Bouquet to be back in full force on Monday the 28th! I am hoping to post at least once from Greece as well, since there are a couple of summery fragrances I've been itching to write about.

The winner of the vintage and modern Le Dix samples is Edwardian! Please email me your address as soon as possible - if I have it soon enough to be able to mail the samples from here (instead of from Greece) then I will be able to include a few extra goodies in the packet!

Summer Special at the Posh Peasant

Are you planning on burning some cash on samples or decants any time soon? The lovely, warmhearted Abigail over at the Posh Peasant is having an early summer special! With any purchase of $50 or more, shoppers receive three 1.5 glass spray decants of the following perfumes for free:

- Estee Lauder's newly launched Sensuous
- This year's summer must-have, Bronze Goddess by Estee Lauder and lastly,
- Filles des Iles Floral Solaire, a fragrance which combines the salty coolness of the ocean breeze with the comforting warmth of amber.

This offer will expire on the 20th of July or when supplies are exhausted.

New Link List : Niche Sample & Decant Websites

I often receive emails and occasionally comments here on Fragrance Bouquet, from readers wondering where they can sample or purchase this or that hard-to-find fragrance. I have decided to create a new links section (easily found if you scroll down on the right hand bar), listing all the webshops I know of where you can purchase samples and decants of many of these elusive scents, not only to help you the readers, but also to show my support to the wonderful people that enable all of us to experience fragrances we wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to! If you are the owner of a decanting service I have missed, please do not hesitate to mail me and I will add you to the list.

Note: Fragrance Bouquet is not affiliated with any of the listed websites.

What's Fragrance Bouquet Up to?

Dear Readers,

The next post here on Fragrance Bouquet is due this Wednesday - I have to skip today's post due to a rather hectic schedulle. The reason? This week I am devoting most of my energy to a big project I have been working on for the past few months: I am directing a play I translated earlier this year and this will be staged for one night only this Saturday evening. We have gone from rehearsing two to three times a week to rehearsing every day now, and after that meeting with the stage crew, effects team, designers and everyone else until late in the evening, losing sleep over details. So, just a few more days now until the big day and I am bursting with enthusiasm, excitement and ...trepidation. Now, I know Fragrance Bouquet has many readers in this area, so I will go for a shameless plug: If you are thinking about joining us on Saturday, you can order tickets as well as find a little more information on the play itself on LAK Theater's website. Thank you for your patience.

See you all Wednesday!

Divina .~*

Winner Nina (Original/Classic) by Nina Ricci

Goodmorning everyone!
The winner of last week's draw for a sample of Nina by Nina Ricci is Tamara! Results were obtained by random.org.

I regularly post on Mondays but yesterday proved quite impossible since I was dog tired after my exam and promptly fell asleep when I came home. I wish I could make up for it today, but I have classes starting in half an hour, so we'll have the regular post tomorrow as usual.
Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Divina

Winner Zen White Lotus Body Serum

Hello hello!

The winner of last week's draw for Zen Lotus Body Lotion is Anita! I am preparing a few more goodies to go in the packet and I hope it will be a real pleasure to receive :) I have my last midterms of this last trimester on Monday, so the packet will most likely be posted on Tuesday, unless I nip out earlier, in desperate need of distraction!

Congratulations! For the ones that didn't win this time, don't forget there is still the Nina Ricci draw running.

Have a great day everyone!

x,

Divina

Fragrance Bouquet is Back!

After a week's silence, Fragrance Bouquet is back. Thank you so much for your patience and my apologies for being absent this past week. I finished my exams with great success: I passed two and still waiting for the results of the last one. The reason I am returning with more delay than I originally anticipated is that I booked a last minute weekend trip to Greece and only returned late last night. I went to see my dear grandmother who is not doing very well at all. But I don't want you to be sad for me... I spent more quality time with her in this extended weekend than I have in the last two years combined. I have returned with this happiness in my heart that has chased a lot of the sadness about her condition away. Or at least, that's the way I try (and choose) to see it. I was very sad before I left... It really feels better now.

One last thing before I let you enjoy today's review (found below):
I have seen that there are many unread emails in my inbox after my return. Unfortunately, I cannot access my email. Yeah, yahoo is being a pain. Just letting you know I am not ignoring your emails. I will send replies as soon as the problem is resolved.

Big hugs,

Divina

Exam Period

Good morning everyone,

today a small announcement: This week and the one after mean one thing for me... Exams. Yay... Filled with stress over here. So, as you might imagine, I won't be posting much for these two weeks. I will be posting a review for Tarantella somewhere this week, so look forward to that though! There will also be a review the week after that too. Just not the usual schedulle, can't juggle it all I'm afraid. After these two weeks, things will return to normal of course.

xo,

Divina