We have reviewed Whish shaving products a number of times in our What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion review columns.  This luxe brand of sinfully-scented, sensually-soft, shaving-related products for women is a little splurge that's worth every penny.  For Mother's Day, a bride-to-be, a new graduate, or for yourself, the limited edition Whish Regency Travel Bag  in sinfully-scented Papaya Coconut is a perfect choice!  The scent smells wonderfully cheery and "tropical" (as in a little bit coco, a little bit pineapple) but not like an overly sweetened fruit punch or chemical-y suntan oil. Papaya is rich in Vitamins A and C, and coconut oil helps moisturize even sun-parched skin. The set comes in a re-useable, cheerful, yellow, white and black nylon zippered travel bag. It's packed with mini sizes of two incredible Whish shaving products:  Shave Crave (1.69 oz--the most moisturizing, beautifully luxe shaving cream you'll ever use);  and Shave Savour (2.0 oz -- consider it a woman's "after shave" that moisturizes, heels and soothes minor nicks and cuts). You also get a generously-sized Body Brush (100% badger hair and made to fit a woman's hand, it transforms Shave Crave into a rich, lush cream while gently exfoliating your skin). Once you've tried Whish products there's no turning back....you'll be smitten for life!

Every August, right before school started for the year,  my mother would take me to a big store called Great Eastern Mills. It seemed huge at the time, and it sold everything from pencils to provolone cheese.  But the best part of shopping there was I got to pick out school supplies, including a new pencil case. I had the same feeling of anticipation when I saw the Sephora Pencil Case $12.00 from their "Striped Bag" collection. The coated nylon fabric features Spring-worthy pink, green, black, white and taupe stripes, and a rugged zipper with substantial, silver pull.  Of course, now the cases I cover hold makeup tools and colors instead of school supplies, but they're equally adorable and useful. There are five bags in the collection, but the most affordable and versatile is the Pencil Case.   I love it, because it reminds me of the excitement I felt when I found the perfect pencil bag and every time I used it I felt special.  The Sephora version is a long, slim, zippered case  is 9" x 2.5" x 2" that holds items up to  8" in length. It's roomy, but slim and light enough for you to fill it up with b basic makeup essentials, brushes and tools. When you tuck it into your tote or purse, it won't weigh you down.

We love the way candles light up our lives. An inexpensive and lovely way to add scent to your home is the Votive Gift Set $9.99 by Chesapeake Bay Candle. The hard-sided cardboard Kraft-paper box with pretty pastel floral accents can be re-used, and inside are three pure white, natural soy wax candles with lead-free cotton wicks, poured into go-with-everything, clear glass votives. Ours featured softly-sweet Tuberose & Gardenia, spicy Lemongrass & Eucalyptus, and soothing Lavender & Vanilla (there's also a Cardamom & Clove, White Ginger & Ivy, and Passion Fruit & Papaya set). These impressively-packaged sets look pricey and make a perfect gift for Mom on Mother's Day, or stock up now for your weekend hosts this Summer. For an even more impressive gift of scent (or little splurge for yourself) you can't beat the Chesapeake Bay Pure & Natural Bento Gift Set $16.99 (ours in "Ginger & Ivy- a soft herbal that smells light a fresh touch of Spring, with a hint of floral sweetness). You get a long, rectangular, pure white porcelain tray (use it later on dressing table or for hors d'ouvres) onto which you place three items in your chosen scent: a white votive candle, a small reed-diffuser with a green leaf-decorated set of wooden reeds, and a set of light green scented crystals that fit perfectly into a small oval, gracefully-sloped, soft green and white oval, re-useable, porcelain, Japanese-style condiment bowl. The display not only looks great in any room of your home, it also leaves the beautiful scent to enjoy 24/7. This wonderfully-affordable set also makes a nice gift, beautifully packaged in a large, impressive, cardboard and clear cello presentation box. This set is available exclusively at Target and it's a great value, so stock up for Summer!

Seeking something sweet, small, cite. and special for Mother's Day?  The Candycare Hot Mamma Sweet Kid Gift Box $14.95 sets six satisfying candy treats together in a clear, cello-presentation box, along with cardboard labels that pronounce "Hot Mama!" and "Sweet Kid."  It's a way to indulge mom's (or a new mom's) sweet tooth, in a cute way and for under $15.00!  Full sized bags of Sweet Tarts, Red Hots, Sugar Babies, Hot Tamales, Runts, and (my favorite) Junior Mints, look colorful and sinfully delicious. Send a box with your love to Mom, or with congratulations to the new mother. Candycare isn't just about sweets, there are also gift packages for other occasions such as birthdays, holidays, and even for "thank you."  All are just $14.00 (plus shipping) and are filled with bath and body products, candy, or adorable items for that new little baby including a teething rattle and pink or blue socks. What a great idea!

This is the season of celebrations.  This is also the perfect time to stock up on quantities of the Congratulations Gift $20.00 by Philosophy. It's the wittiest way we know to send salutations in a truly memorable way.  Inside the cheerful, cardboard box with pink and blue "bubbles" on a white background, and "Congratulations" in large letters on the side, sits a huge, 24 oz clear plastic bottle of  pink-"champagne"-tinted, (all in on3) bath, shampoo and shower gel. The pampering cleanser is super-hydrating, and makes both hair and skin super-soft.  Suitable for both men and women, this "bottle of bubbly" can be an everyday indulgence and a true celebration every bath or shower you take!  Make a pink champagne wish come true!  Why just send a card when this clever gift will be remembered long after cards are filed or discarded.  Along the same lines, is Philosophy's Thank You $25.00  a cute, grey, white and brown cardboard "envelope" box has a velcro closure.  Lift the envelope lid, and there's a place to write a few lines of thanks to your lucky recipient.  Open the box, and nestled inside are  8 oz bottles of pearly pink Amazing Grace-scented (all in one) bath, shampoo and shower gel, and pearly white Pure Grace-scented (all in one), shampoo, bath and shower gel *see the left hand column's Bath & Body Section for more information on the scents. The clever packaging, the beautifully, luxe, high quality, scented products....it's the perfect gift for a special woman who has done you a good turn, and it's appropriate for women of all ages.  It's a perfect way to thank Mom on her special day, a lovely way to show someone you are grateful. Both these Philosophy gifts are unique but affordable--I really hope they create more of them because they are a clever, and perfect way to give a heartfelt gift. Thank you, Philosophy!

Just looking at the Marc Jacobs Daisy Solid Perfume Ring $30.00 gave me an "Omigod!" moment. A tiny, gold, zippered pouch/change purse holds one of the cutest presentations for perfume this season.  Inside the pouch is a substantial, mod white and gold daisy ring that twists to reveal a small amount of Marc Jacobs DAISY solid perfume. There's a slender, gold keychain included to turn your ring into a fashion dangle for your purse or jeans, too. We reviewed the DAISY scent back in October 2007, stating that is fragrance from wonderful designer Marc Jacobs that starts with fruit notes of wild strawberry and red grapefruit, and a bit of violet leaves, but quickly matures with a floral heart of gardenia, violet, jasmine that mixes well with the warmer base of musk, vanilla and white woods, making this a subtle fruited floral that's lighthearted and fresh--perfect for warmer weather but appropriate year-round. This limited edition is too cute...and waaaay to good to pass up.  It's  a "must-have," so get one for yourself, one for Mom...fast!

If I had the power to create a scent that made women feel like a princess, I couldn't have designed anything more perfect than Vera Wang's new and limited edition, Vera Wang Flower Princess $52.00 1.7 fl. oz, $68.00 3.4 oz.  The outer packaging is a feminine print of floppy white daisies with pink centers, lounging on a field of light green with a heart rimmed in carefree silver, topped with a pink and white silver crown. The bottle itself is a faceted, clear glass heart showcasing the pink-tinted scent, perfectly. It's topped with a silver crown studded with pink "jewels" and a remove-able silver ring studded with tiny pink crystals that you can actually wea--charming! The scent, created in cooperation with Firmenich, is also a feminine fantasy. Flower Princess is a light, bright, floral that smells like a bouquet of Spring flowers, starting with top notes of green ivy, tangerine, and dewy water lily, with a heart of romantic flowers: orange flower petals, Moroccan roses, jasmine sambac, and river mimosa. This combo could be overly sweet, but the fragrance artfully has a smooth scent of apricot skin, and a base of amber, precious woods, and musk, to give it a ladylike appeal. When I smelled this fragrance I felt like all I needed was a frothy ball gown, satin and sparkling slippers and a tiara! This amazingly appealing scent makes a great gift for a special Mom this May, especially coupled with the lovely, moisturizing Satiny Body Lotion $33.00 5 fl. oz. and Foamy Body Polish $30.00 5 fl. oz that I especially loved, because it looks so sweet in a pink pearle gel, and yet gently but thoroughly sloughs off dead skin and leave it soft and scented with Vera Wang Flower Princess. 

Also from Vera Wang, the queen of bridal couture  is Vera Wang Bouquet Eau de Parfum  $87.00 3.4 fl oz, $67.00 1.7 fl oz/50 ml $67.00.  This tea-green-tinted scent in a slightly modernized traditional Vera Wang bottle, with "Platinum" collar is subtle and fresh, perfect for a Summer bride. The fragrance is floral and romantic but it's not heavy. It's the kind of fragrance that smells initially pretty but then becomes one with your skin, individualized.  It starts with light top notes of Dew Drops, Radiant Sicilian Bergamot, and  Black Currant Leaves, a heart of romantic Paperwhite Narcissus, and Honeysuckle, and a sensual base of  Lavender Musk Accord, Moroccan Cedar and White Iris Root. Layer the lovely fragrance with Body Lotion $50.00, 5.0 fl oz. Shower Gel $45.00 5.0 fl oz, Body Creme $85.00 6.7 fl oz.  A quote from the designer herself says: "for me, flowers and fragrance are the perfect expression of love and commitment, and a Bouquet symbolizes that union."  Well, said, Vera Wang!  If you're a bride this year, this is your scent, for sure.

I fell in love instantly with Guess Eau de Parfum $65.00 3.4 oz, $49.00 1.7 oz. by Marciano. It started with the just-right-for-summer, metallic copper, cardboard box with subtle, turquoise "netting" design, the luxe, champagne-colored satin drawstring bag that held the bottle, a sleek, rounded, triangular column of coppery glass with copper cross-hatching. But when I spritzed the actual scent, developed by Parlux Fragrances, Inc., the spicy floral is strong and sophisticated, but also "creamy"  and sexy. I think it goes well with the origins of the company--sexy jeans that look and fit like a tailor made them just for you.  The scent captured my attention and my admiration, being modern and unique among the plethora of florals (mostly fruity ones) flooding the marketplace right now. This one starts with sparkling top notes of curacao orange and cardamom, mingling with a heart of peony, pink honeysuckle, and crystal jasmine to make it feminine and flirty. But  the smooth, creamy finish includes blonde wood, vanilla, dulce de leche, and musk. making the scent warm and sensual, and almost good enough to eat. There is also a Body Lotion $30.00 6 fl. oz and Body Butter $35.00 5 fl.. oz. I didn't try them, but if I did, I think I'd be re-applying them all day long!  The scent lasts and stays true, even in the heat.  You'll get people asking" "what's that wonderful scent you're wearing?" so be prepared! 

We couldn't help but like a fragrance called Exceptional ...Because You Are $54.99 3.4 fl. oz. by Exceptional Perfumes, available at FragranceNet.com.  This nice, bright, lightly spiced floral is casual, but sophisticated. It starts out bright with a hint of citrus, combines with a spicy floral heart, and softens upon drydown with (my best guess) a hint of  woods, a tiny bit of vanilla, and amber. It was difficult to get more information on specific notes, and there's little out there on this unusual fragrance, actually created in 2006.  The outside packaging is a calming lavender trimmed with black, and the bottle is a simply, chunky, rounded glass with matte silver top. But you won't smell yourself coming and going like a clone in this one, and it's long lasting enough to stand up to a day's work or an evening's "play" without overpowering your partner.  Tell Mom just how "Exceptional" she is...this one will say it all.

I used to think of Gwen Stefani solely as a rocker, but she's a multi-talented artist whose trend-setting style is making her as famous in fashion as in music.  "L," Stefani's first fragrance for her own fashion line L.A.M.B., was named L since it's the first letter of L.A.M.B. and stands for Love. Before I describe the scent, I have to admire the packaging. The outer cardboard has a bold, black stripe trimmed in bright turquoise with L.A.M.B's medieval-looking letter "L" and L.A.M.B. in gold, on a mottled, mustard colored background. The flacon, designed by Ms. Stefani, has a rock-star vibe. The cap is a huge, metallic chunky gold square of two intertwined L(s) in plastic, lined inside with turquoise, to cover the smaller brick of amber glass holding the scent. The top of the spray diffuser has a turquoise enamel L, adding a truly luxe touch. The actual fragrance, created by perfumer Harry Fermont of Firmenich,  is feminine, but modern. The top notes of sparkling green green freshness, leafy water hyacinth, white freesia, fresh pear, and violet leaves start things out light,  juicy and fruity. A heart of jasmine petals, rose, muget, sweet pea, and orange blossom add a very distinctive, romantic, floral touch that smells almost like a bride's bouquet. Although not evident right away when you spritz L, the notes of frangipani blossom, peach skin, heliotrope flower, and sensual musk eventually blend with your skin and body chemistry to subdue the fruit and floral into a  fragrance you can truly make yours simply by wearing it. It's a lovely new scent for ladies of all ages.

I have adored just about every scent Marc Jacobs has created but the simple, giant, square, clear glass bottles of Splash Eau de Toilette $65.00 10 fl. oz  that he has created in carefree Spring and Summer scents, are a personal pleasure.  For Summer 2008, Marc Jacobs has crafted three new limited edition, "sorbet inspired” scents of Splash:  "Grapefruit, Basil, and Pear," to be worn separately, or layered. The "Basil" scent, created by Andrea Lupo, is not the one of the herb, exactly, but more of  a “fresh, green musk."  It starts with basil, plus top notes of tomato leaf and lemongrass, so it’s brighter, and more invigorating, enhanced with a heart of freesia, jasmine, and orange flower, and a dry down of cashmeran, white musk and sandalwood, that keep the scent from smelling like your kitchen, while giving you the same “ahhh” factor. The scent is unisex and quite unique. The sparkling bright pink "Grapefruit" scent (also created by Lupo of Takasago), is a citrusy woody fragrance that is the perfect pick-me-up when you’re dragging on a humid, hot day. The grape-fruity scent appears to be all fruit, but it actually includes orange flower and watery ozone, mixed with ginger, freesia and tagette, with a bottom of amber vapors, white musk, and patchouli. It smells intoxicatingly of the perfect, pink grapefruit...a perfect Summer scent.  You can smell an immediate but soft hint of spice in "Pear," developed by Honorine Blanc of Firmenich, It starts with ripe pear, bergamot, and lemon zest, but the heart of juniper, gin accord and freesia is almost immediately discernable, so you don’t feel like you’re dousing yourself with a fruit basket. Upon drydown, another surprise: musk, teakwood and amber give a slightly sexy, satisfying, but light sensation of the aftertaste of ripe pears but with a hint of wood. This is a great scent for men and women to lavish on themselves (and each other).

Thierry Mugler’s Eau de Star RefillableSpray 1.7 f. oz $79.00 , Non-RefillableSpray 0.8 fl. oz $49.00, Refill Bottle 1.7 fl. oz $59.00 is dramatically presented as if it were a precious sculpture, complete with a plexi-glass presentation-type case. Like all Mugler’s fragrances, this one is very distinctive. It’s the kind of scent that if you love it, nothing else will quite match up. The clear, plastic, outer packaging is the first distinctive note, but the three-cornered clear bottle, designer by Jean Jacques Urcun, featuring a delicate, light blue starburst (that seemingly is suspended in the middle of the bottle)  looks different at every angle you view it. The triangular, shiny, silver top adds to the glamour and sparkle. The fragrance, created by Louis Turner, if I got this right, is a "double olfactory partnering aquatic notes (in Aqua Desire) with Oriental Notes (Star Desire.)."  In sum, the overall effect is dazzling, sophisticated, complex, and assertive in a flurry of watery notes, a hint of vanilla patchouli, and flowers. It will make it's presence known. We sprayed this to sample it in one room, but someone in the room next door immediately sensed it and asked us what we'd used. While the press literature describes this as an "Oriental Aquatic," that's a new term for me., which simply means it marries two distinctive types of scent together in a new way.  And, if you love this scent, you'll appreciate the fact that the large sized Eau de Toilette Spray features an easy, economical refillable bottle.  A little of this scent goes a long way so you can indulge and enjoy it every day.

Sometimes you come across a scent that you think you know, but you really don't.  Such is the case with Incense $20.00 1 fl. oz by Demeter Fragrance Library. This new fragrance is a single note, centered on a unique core of copal (a type of resin produced by aromatic plant or tree secretions and used ceremonially  by the cultures of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica).  When I think of Incense, I think usually think of the heavy and intoxicating incense used in religious ceremonies. My mind about what incense should smell like was again changed when I tried Bois d'Encens by Giorgio Armani from his Prive Collection. That amazing scent features two types of incense and it is quite deep and intense, and lovely, and unisex.  But now I've tried Demeter's "Incense", and I'm surprised once again. This fragrance is light, ladylike, and sensual.  To me, it is more reminiscent of delicious of vanilla and bitter almond than the church-y blends of incense. It's happy, it's warm, and it's incredibly sexy. And, it can be yours without breaking your budget! “Enchanted Orchid Eau de Toilette $19.00 1.7 fl. oz from the Signature Collection of Bath and Body Works has that fascinating, rare feeling.  The Signature Collection offers a more sophisticated and more intense version of this Bath and Body Works Enchanted Orchid scent than their casual Body Splash. It’s a very feminine, floral. It starts with top notes of pink grapefruit, wet greens, waterlily and crisp apple, but the fruity tartness is tempered almost immediately by a heart of Calypso orchid, fresh gardenia, iris, and violet petals, and a base of vanilla orchid, heliotrope, creamy amber, and skin musk. The scent is something special to give to mom for her special day, and light enough to take you through Summer without fading away too quickly.

Tommy Hilfiger's Dreaming 1 oz. Eau de Parfum spray $35.00 (other sizes and bath and body products available) is a fresh, spirited, fruity floral that delights and surprises I wasn't sure what to expect from this designer, but while Hilfiger's very successful scents: Tommy and Tommy Girl, were created for a younger girl,  Dreaming is for girls of all ages.  It is for women, but it's definitely not a  "grandma's" scent either.  It's light, but pretty and lasting, with an immediate, happy burst of  succulent white peach, with feminine tuberose, and freesia at the heart, and a drydown of white woods and orris to make this a sophisticated blend. We tried the Eau de Parfum, nicely packaged in a red cardboard box, and inside, a lovely glass bottle features the facets of the Tommy Hilfiger Dreaming's woman: elegant and feminine, but still strong.  It's two chunky squares:  one clear to hold the palest pink-tinted juice, and the other, a clear Lucite top to cover the spray diffuser, are joined with a silvery metal band enameled in chic, hot pink. As with many fragrances these days, Dreaming has it's own, interactive web site where you can find a dream expert, dream interpreter, dream confession, download computer backgrounds and wallpaper, see the entire Dreaming collection and view behind-the-scenes footage of the making of the advertising campaign with model Mona Johansson, the face of the fragrance. This is a lovely choice for Mother's Day, for a special event, and "just because."

Absolutely unique are the fragrances from Thierry Mugler's MIROIR, MIROIR!  Collection. True collector's fragrances, they arrive in shiny silver cardboard boxes into which a stunning completely mirrored presentation box is nestled. Inside the mirrored box is the actual perfume bottle. The story behind the scents are that mirrors are guardian of personalities, revealing both our inner light and quiet shadows, Thierry Mugler was inspired by the art of metamorphosis before being on stage. There are five very different scents in this collection. We tried No1. A Travers Le Miroir "Through the Looking Glass" $150.00 1.7 fl. oz. Eau de Parfum Spray. It's an aromatic floral designed by Mane’s Alexis Dadier. The other scents are: Miroir des Secrets (Mirror of Secrets), a bitter-sweet aldehydic by IFF’s Domitille Bertier; Dis-Moi, Miroir (Mirror Image), a floral by Mane's Fabrice Pellegrin; Miroir des Vanités (Mirror of Vanities), a woody scent also by Mane's Alexis Dadier; and Miroir des Envies (Mirror of Desires), a floral created by Givaudan's Christine Nagel and Louise Turner." No1. A Travers Le Miroir  is the kind of fragrance I particularly like, because it isn't immediately signally girly or floral.  It has a very feminine note (tuberose flower) but like all women, there's also some masculine traits, reflected in the woody accord which includes the very unique and  aromatic accents of absinthe, something you would expect to find in a man's scent, plus a minty wintergreen. Also unique is the cool web site,  with sophisticated flash and interactivity.

Beautiful Love Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 fl. oz srp. $78.00 by Estee Lauder is a substantial, sensual floral that cannot escape your notice. It feels floral, but fresh, almost invigorating, with unusual blends that make it mysterious and inviting. The top notes are:  pomelo zest, cantaloupe, mango mist, white freesia, magnolia, marigold, and a surprise of wet ivy leaves and pink pepper. The heart is a feminine blend of florals: Tahitian tiare, tuberose absolute, jasmine absolute and jasmine sambac, along with romantic rose, osmanthus, and a hint of spicy carnation and black violet. The bottom has something I just personally adore in perfumes--white orris, plus vetiver, cashmaran, heliotrope, tonka bean, a whipped cream accord,  sandalwood, white moss and a hint of sensuous patchouli. People will stop and ask what you are wearing, but not in a bad way--it's got just the right balance, neither too heavy, "girly" or "grandma." The sculpted, glass bottle is so impressive and elegant--a perfect gift for a special woman, a romantic choice for a bride, and a treat for you.

Calvin Klein's euphoria blossom Eau de Toilette $65.00 3.4 fl. oz is exciting and covet-able. It's a light, sparkling, fresh floral that radiates optimism!  The original euphoria scent was an instant favorite, a woodsy oriental that contrasted fruits with seductive florals such as black orchid. But while the name remains the same, the new, euphoria blossom relies on the allure of lighter, brighter scents, such as the white orchid. It's top notes are similar to the original, with pomegranate and a green accord, but the original euphoria added persimmon, and this new version has fruity kumquat. The new heart features white orchid (not black), lotus blossom, and pink peony.  And the drydown is still sensual and assertive, but with a lighter touch including blond wood, white amber, and frosted sheer musk. The sexy, elongated glass bottle (original designed by Calvin Klein and Fabien Baron) is now a subdued frosted mauve-ish-pink color, with a slim, tall column of sheer violet and clear plastic over the spray diffuser.  There's also a Body Lotion $36.00 6.7 fl. oz and a Body Wash $27.50 6.7 fl. oz to layer the lovely scent. I loved the original euphoria, and euphoria blossom actually is even better if that's possible, and perfect for even warm days...which makes me completely "euphoric" (pun intended)...but it's a distinctive, lovely scent that catches notice and will be one to love for a long, long, long, long time!

Clinique Happy is a new classic, a fragrance that debuted in 1999 and that women of all ages and personalities, embrace. But if you are thinking of giving this as a gift to a special mom (or perhaps, your bridal party) this Spring or Summer, go one better and make it a Clinique Happy Custom Bottle $52.00 3/4 fl. oz. You upload your digital photo on the Clinique Web Site and in 7-10 working days your bottle of Clinique Happy will arrive with your photo right on the bottle!  I can think of dozens of ways to give this fresh and citruss-y fragrance.  Upload your baby picture for a Mother's Day gift, or use a group photo of "the girls" on the town, for your bridesmaids, or select your best friends cat for a friend's birthday gift.  The photo will show up nicely, but you can still see right through the bottle. What a great gift!  It's unique, and it takes just seconds to preview your bottle and order it. Clinique Happy is a pleasing, light blend of citrusy scents with top notes of lemon, tangerine, mandarins, oranges, and grapefruit a heart of Yuzu, and to temper the citrus with a softer base, cedar, Mediterranean cypress, and guiacwood. It's always been a lovely scent, but with the personalized bottle, it's now even better.

Text it" to all your friends....CKIN2U HIM  Eau de Toilette Spray $50.00 srp. 3.4 fl. oz is the latest from Calvin Klein and a sequel to CK One for 20-something "Millennial bloggers" and the  "technosexual generation."  For a young dad (or young-at-heart Dad), a great Father's Day gift is sure to be CK IN2U HIM *we didn't get the CKIN2U HER, but it features pink grapefruit fizz, so you know it'll be light and fruity. The CK IN2U HIM created by perfumers Bruno Jovanovic & Jean Marc Chaillan,  is a nice, woody oriental. The advertising is sexy, and the scent is also fairly sexy. It starts with top notes of lime gin fizz and pomello leaves, followed by frosted tangelo, a heart of bitter cocoa bean with pimento, fresh shiso leaves, and cool musks, white cedar, and vetiver, to soften the finish.  The outer packaging is silvery and masculine, featuring bold, dark blue, metallic lettering. The bottle, designed by Stephen Burks, is made from the plastic and glass, evocative of the smart phones and other gadgets every 20-something can't do without. And the name? When you're young and inpatient, text messaging is more to the point: "IN2U" is easy and hip, but spelling out: " in to you"  is so last decade! Still, our male reviewers gave a thumbs up to the scent and all were over age 30! So I guess the point is,  don't let the name or the fact that it's not "4U" if you're not 20, or  the mean-spirited press on these products, turn you off.  Judge the fragrance based on it's merits and your personal preferences. In the end, there is really no scent that evokes bloggers or belongs solely to an age group ...scents are for everyone, including this one.

The distinctive, sophisticated scents from Armani Prive Fragrance Collection have quickly become favorites. There's not one in the bunch that's less than beautiful. Mr. Armani created the initial scents for limited distribution, but now they are available to wider audience of fashionistas and fragrance lovers. Now there's a "sub-collection" entitled: Armani Privé Les Eaux, with two lighter, fresher fragrances featuring the same, square shaped bottle now the bottle is clear glass instead of opaque, dark wood, and this time there's a plastic, faux "stone" topper instead of the semi-precious stone one. I haven't yet tried "Rose Alexandrie" but I did try Vetiver Babylone Eau de Toilette $185.00 3.4 fl. oz, a lovely fragrance whose "story" evokes the mythical suspended gardens of Babylon. Notes in this easily unisex scent feature "garden-y" top notes of bergamot, citron, and mandarin, with a spicy and fresh heart of green cardamom, coriander and pink pepper, plus base notes evoking the earth scents in a garden, including patchouli and (of course), vetiver (a grass native to India, that is related to lemon grass, and other fragrant grasses).  The scent is light, fresh, and androgynous, but it's also uplifting.  Get it for both Mom and Dad--or treat yourself and you'll have a unique scent for Summer I guarantee will let you stand apart from the crowd, but invite people in for a closer "sniff."

Wondering what to get both Mom and Dad for Mother's and Father's Day? Or, perhaps, you're seeking a couples gift for a wedding shower?  Maybe you just want something new, hip and different.  Liz Claiborne's latest are Curve Connect for Men Cologne Spray $50.00 4.2 oz. and  Connect for Women Eau de Toilette Spray $52.00 3.4 fl. oz.  The men's product is a cologne, not a more intense version of scent, so that's probably why it is a little bit less expensive for a little bit more product.  Both arrive in cheerful, re-useable tins that go along with the design of past Curve products--his in shiny red, hers in regal purple. And the bottles are also reminiscent of the other Curve fragrances, his in a slightly chunkier red glass version with red stopple, hers in a blue/purple with red stopple. There is no doubt that this couples-oriented duo is meant to be modern:  "for those who are motivated by social networks, meaningful relationships and staying interconnected." But everyone likes Liz Claiborne fashions. A fragrance trend does seem to be for an established designer with successful fragrances  e trend seems to be to create "young" scents even if a designer has a wider audience.  For sure, most of the over 40's I know understand the value of social networking and even mommies groups are using Facebook and MySpace, so I really don't care much who the fragrance was originally targeted to.  It's the scent that matter.  Curve Connect for Men has a modern, masculine scent I really like, featuring exotic foreign teas, tobacco flower, sandalwood and tonka bean. It's sexy but not over the top or too heavy for warm weather wear. Curve Connect for Women is light but soft,  starting with notes of tangerine, white melon, cactus flower, plum, saffron, cinnamon bark, with a heart of sandalwood, cedar, sheer patchouli and a bottom of amber crystals, and Tahitian vanilla.

I adore a fragrance that has an unusual bottle and looks as good as it smells. That's the case with superstar Jennifer Lopez's latest scent that launched in February:  Deseo Eau De Parfum $46.00 1.7 fl. oz, $56.00 3.4 fl. oz, $27.50 Body Lotion 6.7 fl. oz For starters, the packaging is fabulous--the outer carton is a  pale, yellow-gold with bright blue Deseo logo and gold foil accents, with a delicate, watermarked pale yellow floral design inside.  And then there's the incredible bottle that depicts a diamond-in the rough.  It's an amazingly eye-catching chunk of faceted aquamarine glass with lemon citrine plastic top that looks like a precious gem hewn directly from the earth. Every fragrance has it's story and this fragrance was created by Givaudan perfumers Ellen Molner and Jim Krivda, Deseo, supposedly inspired by a midnight walk in Jennifer's flower garden just before a thunderstorm. If so, she's got one interesting garden!  The scent has a lot going on: woods, citrus, florals, and warm woods. But it really blends them into a fresh, unique, woody scent with a bit of floral. The actual notes are watery bamboo leaves, garden yuzu, and Sicilian bergamot, mixing with soft feminine florals such as freesia, star jasmine, pink geranium flower, orange blossom, French mimosa, plus  "earthy" base notes of warm amber, oak moss, sensual musks, creamy sandalwood, Cedarwood, patchouli, and mineral accord. "Deseo" means "desire" in Spanish. The scent will appeal to both young and old, because it blends with your body chemistry to make it your own.  Get it for the impressive packaging and the fragrance. It's fairly sophisticated and modestly-priced for a celebrity scent, so whether you are as J-Lo fan, or just want something new and different, we think you'll desire, Deseo!