Originally posted by Fashion Wire Daily NY August 14@ 2003
Beauty Bites: The Word on Fall's New Fragrances
By Jeannette Park and Stephen Milioti
Sister Act: To celebrate its 75th birthday, the house of Lanvin will soon fete its classic Arpege perfume by introducing a younger sister: Eclat d'Arpege. Using the same bottle and image of its older sibling, Eclat d'Arpege's purple juice comes from the prominent lilac and Sicilian lemon notes that permeate the fragrance. When Jeanne Lanvin created Arpege in 1927, she wanted to make a signature scent that would produce memories of her for her daughter; this time around, the fresh scent is meant to leave a memory of the wearer on everybody around her. While the Art Deco bottle for Eclat d'Arpege has the same emblematic image of a mother and child holding hands as the 1927 version, the innovative new stopper created by Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz is faux-diamond-topped with two brass rings, to symbolize the fashion house's renewal.
Dragon Kiss: Evoking a sense of mystery with its seductive vetiver scent, Cartier's Le Baiser du Dragon ("Kiss of the Dragon") gives more of a bite than a kiss. The heady fragrance, featuring sweet almond and neroli, is not for the faint of heart; its haunting notes linger on the skin well after it is applied. Bearing the same name as Cartier's newest Asian-inspired collection, both the jewels and the scent are meant to enchant the wearer. In fact, the crystal clear bottle -- with its stamped Chinese ideogram -- is jewel-like itself, topped off with a black lacquer stopper that doubles as a dagger, piercing the heart of the fragrance. ($80, 50-ml eau de parfum spray; available exclusively this Friday at the Fifth Avenue Cartier boutique and select Neiman Marcus stores, and worldwide September 15 at remaining Cartier and Neiman Marcus locations).
Fruit Full: A baby's breath version of its powerful signature eau de parfum fragrance, Gucci's Eau de Parfum II is a lighter juice that emanates feminine chic. Maintaining the original scent's musky base, the younger floral-fruity perfume combines mandarin and black currant with jasmine and heliotrope to produce a sophisticated, spontaneous scent. Packaged in the same architecturally flawless glass cube, the juice has transformed from a rich amber color into pale pink, for a touch of whimsy. ($65, 1.7oz; available fall 2003 at Gucci boutiques, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora and fine department stores nationwide).
And Two for the Guys: Any man who appreciates a little exclusivity in the scent department will be more than pleased with Anvers, from new fragrance company Ulrich Lang New York. It's available worldwide, but in the U.S., you can only get it in New York at Aedes de Venustas and Takashimaya. Scent-wise, it can be described as a modern classic: top notes of lime, mint and basil are tempered with violet, jasmine, sesame and honey; base notes of moss and leather make it unmistakably masculine. ($75, 3.4oz; www.ulrichlangnewyork.com) And Annick Goutal's about to make a big splash into the men's market with the fragrance "Duel," to be launched exclusively at Nordstrom in October. Classically packaged in a smoky amber glass bottle, it's a woody scent with hints of tobacco and leather musk. ($95, 3.3oz; available in October at Nordstrom stores and www.nordstrom.com).
I can't wait to smell the Lanvin fragrance.