#1. Best basic: Lancome Hypnôse & Clinique Happy in Bloom Hynose, a sensual oriental blended with notes of passion-flower, vetiver & vanilla, is Lancome's 50th fragrance. It's a safe choice for a daily fragrance, one many will want on their shelves this season & beyond. But it's not for everyone, I recommend testing it out before buying. Extra plug: Glamour Beauty Director, Felicia Milewicz, loved this scent so much she's saving it to wear with her Jimmy Choos.
Clinique's new Happy fragrance, Happy in Bloom, has a crisp scent & isn't too pricey (about $38). We think it's perfect for day (leave the others for night). Look for it to be mentioned on Clinique's website (we haven't seen it listed there yet) or look for it at Clinique counters in your favorite store.
#2. Best posh perfume: Editions de Parfums by Frederic Malle Carnal Flower This is a serious perfume & worth trying out if you're a serious fragrance connisseur. Inspired by Malle's aunt, the actress Candace Bergen, this fragrance reportedly took the perfumer, Domonique Ropion, 2 years to perfect. It also contains the highest amount of natural tuberose absolute in any fragrance. It's mixed with coconut, musk & orange blossom & topped with bergomot, melon, ylang-ylang & jasmine. The perfect spring fragrance.
Where to find it: $155 at Barneys New York.
#3. Best 'couture' fragrance: Aftelier Perfumes Fans of these natural perfumes reportedly include celebrities Liv Tyler, Kate Hudson & Kirsty Hume. They are crafted with only natural ingredients by perfumer Mandy Aftel. You won't catch any whifts of alcohol in these fragrances, instead they smell rich, luxurious & saturated. Try the new Essence Minis, which can be worn alone or layered over each other OR order 3 samples for $15 before you buy. $125 & up.
Where to find it: You have to go online. www.afterlier.com
#4. Best clean fragrance: American Beauty Wonderful This is the scent you wear with jeans & a white t-shirt. It's an almost green fragrance that combines leaves, shoots & stems of seedlings. Top note is Mackayi orchid with white gardenia & pink peony blending with bergamot, magnolia & honeysuckle.
#5. Best new celebrity fragrance: Live Jennifer Lopez The fourth of J.Lo's scents, 'Live' was created with 3 things in mind, according to J.Lo in Harper's Bazaar: 'a baby's head, warm yellow cake' & her 'favorite red currant candle.' Lopez apparently sent the formula back 'a million times' before it was perfected & you'll smell the candle & the cake but not the baby powder. What it is: A blend of orange, lemon, pineapple, peony, violet, caramel, vanilla, Tonka beans (a luxurious vanilla scent) & sandalwood. A bonus: It lasts all day but is best left for night (it's very urban & bit dangerous).
#6. Best undiscovered (yet) perfume: Shelley Kyle's Tiramani When I smelled this at 'The Bathroom' (one of my favorite boutiques in Manhattan) the salesguy said it was the boutique's best-selling fragrance. When I went back to buy a couple weeks later, the owner, Colin, said people were buying it off the shelves (& he wasn't lying because I got the last one).
Here's how Shelley Kyle's Website describes this fragrance: 'A floral bouquet of wild jasmine enhanced by fresh citrus and cut grass on a background of musk.' It's all true.
Click here to buy from 'The Bathroom' directly.
#7. Spring's sexiest scent: Calvin Klein's Euphoria This is an evening scent, perfect for breaking out of the every day. Top notes include lush green accord, pomegranate & persimmon. The bottle, designed by Klein and Fabien Baron, was reportedly inspired by an orchid about to bloom.
#8. Best exotic fragrance: Alien Thierry Mugler Fashion designer Mugler's most famous perfume, Angel, is still a popular choice for many fragrance lovers, but his newest creation is dark & romantic. The distinctive top note here is amber.
#9. Best inexpensive perfume: Avon Extraordinary The scents here are almost edible: Chocolate orchid mixed with patchouli musks, vanilla & sandalwood. We find the scent daring & bet you will too. Look for it online & enjoy the price ($25).
#10. Best 'gourmand' perfumes: Try these 3 These new fragrances have distinct fruity flavors. Love pineapple & coconut? try Escada Pacific Paradise. If you're into pineapple, you might love Ferre Eau de Parfum. Prefer creamy vanilla? Try Ralph Lauren 'Hot'.
#11: Best new feminine floral: Tracy by Ellen Tracy We loved this rich scent.
Julyne Derrick
