100 Scents

It is no secret that I love perfumes. I am a perfume addict! And on my bucket list, there is an item that says, "Smell a hundred different perfume scents." This item would be crashed out the moment I am able to try on a hundred different perfumes.

I am still quite far from the hundred mark, but here are the scents I have already smelled or tried using so far:

1. 1 Million by Paco Rabanne
2. 1 Million Intense by Paco Rabanne
3. 212 by Carolina Herrera
4. 212sexy by Carolina Herrera
5. Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani
6. Amazing Grace by Philosophy
7. Anais Anais by Cacharel
8. Ange ou Demon Le Secret Elixir by Givenchy
9. Angel by Thierry Mugler
10. Aqva Pour Homme by Bvlgari
11. Aqva Pour Homme Marine by Bvlgari
12. Arlesienne by L'Occitane en Provence
13. Attimo by Salvatore Ferragamo
14. Be Delicious by DKNY
15. Black Suede by Avon
16. BLV Notte by Bvlgari
17. Brit by Burberry
18. Chanel No 5 by Coco Chanel
19. Cherry Blossom by L'Occitane en Provence 
20. Chic by Carolina Herrera
21. Cool Water by Davidoff
22. Dune by Christian Dior
23. Eternity For Men by Calvin Klein
24. Euphoria Blossom by Calvin Klein
25. Euphoria by Calvin Klein
26. Fidji by Guy Laroche
27. Funny! by Moschino
28. Green Tea by Elizabeth Arden
29. Haiku by Avon
30. I Love Love by Moschino
31. Incanto Bloom by Salvatore Ferragamo
32. Incanto Shine by Salvatore Ferragamo
33. Intuition for Men by Estee Lauder
34. J'adore by Christian Dior
35. Kenzo Amour by Kenzo
36. L'eau The One by Dolce & Gabbana
37. L'Homme Sport by Lanvin
38. Lacoste Pour Femme by Lacoste
39. Lapidus Pour Homme by Ted Lapidus
40. Lauren by Ralph Lauren
41. Living Grace by Philosophy
42. LouLou by Cacharel
43. Miracle Forever by Lancome
44. Miss Dior by Christian Dior
45. Omnia Amethyste by Bvlgari
46. Omnia Crystalline by Bvlgari
47. Omnia Green Jade by Bvlgari
48. Paloma Picasso by Paloma Picasso
49. Poison by Christian Dior
50. Pur Blanca by Avon
51. Rose 4 Reins by L'Occitane en Provence
52. Rose Essentielle by Bvlgari
53. Shalimar by Guerlain
54. Stella Eau de Toilette by Stella McCartney
55. The Vert au Jasmin by L'Occitane en Provence
56. Touch by Burberry
57. Unscripted by Patrick Dempsey
58. Vivid by Liz Claiborne
59. Voile de Jasmin by Bvlgari
60. Wild Cherry Tree by L'Occitane en Provence

Among all these, I only have a few favorites: 212, Kenzo Amour, Wild Cherry Tree, Fidji, Lacoste Pour Femme, and Euphoria Blossom. What about you? Which perfume scents will you never forget?

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The Art of Scent-Marketing

By now, most of of you probably know how much I love perfumes. I wrote an entry last year about how my current obsession with perfumes started, and ever since then, my love affair with scents has been going strong. Lately, I've also been noticing something about perfumes other than their scent--their commercials. I truly consider perfumery an art. Now, I consider perfume commercials another art form as well. Usually, there are no conversations on these commercials. They focus on sounds and imagery. But they get the message across, and never fail to take me to another place. They are quite magical to watch. Check out some of my favorites below:


Kenzo Amour by Kenzo
Starring: Olga Kurylenko
Why I Like It: It's exotic and perfectly showcases the uniqueness of Asia, and the song is beautiful


Aqva Pour Homme by Bvlgari
Starring: Oriol Elcacho
Why I Like It: It's not the model, believe it or not. Hahaha. I love the ocean, how the perfume bottle rises up, the sound effects... the voice over (!), and this scent is amazing


Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker
Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker
Why I Like It: It's entertaining!


Flora by Gucci
Starring: Abbey Lee Kershaw
Why I Like It: It feels surreal


Shalimar by Guerlain
Starring: Natalia Vodianova
Why I Like It: Rolling around in bed--my favorite hobby. Enough said! Hahaha

Perhaps, it is just fitting that what could be the most loved perfume commercial is for one of the world's most popular fragrances--Chanel N°5. Created by the critically acclaimed film maker Baz Luhrmann, and starring Nicole Kidman and Rodrigo Santoro, it is one beautiful masterpiece.



What about you? Do you have any favorites?

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Of Perfumes and Emotions

I have always been obsessed with scents for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, my dad would always bring home perfumes which my mom and I would wear. I remember being in love with Cool Water by Davidoff, Dune by Christian Dior, Anais Anais by Cacharel and No. 5 by Chanel. Of course, I'd use baby colognes and unknown brands, too. Scents didn't have to be expensive for me to love them, they only had to smell good! I can't really explain why I'm so attracted to them. I think, for some reason, smelling a good scent makes me feel happy.

Back then, I'd use whatever perfume or cologne was available in the house, as long as it didn't give me a headache. Recently, I've been learning about what they are made of. Terms like top notes, middle notes, base notes, accords, and olfactive notes now make sense to me. Perfumes are special and complicated concoctions; and I am amazed at how they are connected with your emotions--something I've read about a lot in the past but never personally experienced until recently.

A few months ago, after using a cheap, deo-cologne that seemed to irritate the noses of my co-workers (no more Bench for me ever again), I went on a search for my "signature scent"--a scent that I could always wear and people would associate with me. After spending much time at PerfumeEmporium.com and visiting a local department store, I found Bvlgari Blv Notte, and it was exactly what I was looking for. It was sexy and sophisticated, with notes of iris, galanga, vodka, and dark chocolate. It was described by Bvlgari as "Sensual and mysterious... an Eau de Parfum of uncommon refinement inspired by the captivating atmosphere of night time. As dark and enchanting as the night... a sensual oriental Eau de Parfum. The mysterious and enveloping aromas of Vodka and dark chocolate awaken an exquisite warmth that enchants and entices the senses." When I smelled it at the store, it was love at first whiff! I had found my scent.

Little did I know that my love affair with Blv Notte would not last. You see, I started using Blv Notte during a really emotional time in my life. Now, three months later, with only a few drops left on my first 75ml bottle, and just as I am recovering from that stage of my life, I smell Blv Notte and for some reason, it's as though fears and insecurities are triggered deep inside me all over again. It's hard to explain, but it's definitely there... and I have a feeling that if I want to move on, I need to stop using Blv Notte. It is a wonderful perfume, mind you. I would recommend it to anyone. But this just proves to me how powerful scents are. They can take you up, or down... forward into the future, or back down memory lane.

I am definitely on a Bvlgari phase now, and I look forward to the future with Omnia Amethyste by my side--a fresh, floral fragrance that makes me happy. To Blv Notte, I'm sorry to have parted with you so soon. But just like the person you are intertwined with in the story of my existence, you will always have a place in my heart. In so many ways, you were a first in my life.

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