BEAUTY
o n
th e
s c e n t
Roll, blot, rub, or splash it on. The freshest new fragrances
allow you to wear perfume in a whole new way. They're
just the thing to help you break out of a perfume rut and
don something new—without spending a mint.
ROLL ON
You can charact erize
rollerball-encased scents in one
word: easy. Containing the same
“juice" found in the perfume bottle,
rollerballs can be applied where and
V when you want, without leaving a
telltale trail of perfume hanging in
the air. It’s the ultimate in
portability—and the slim case lets
you tuck it into the smallest of
purses or carry it through airport
securitycheckpoints.
Found in DKNY Be Delicious
Interchangeable Rollerball set
contains 3 versions of the designer’s
apple-inflected scent, $30; Lavanila
The Healthy Fragrance Rollerball in
Vanilla Grapefruit; $19.
DECEMBER 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
ANCILLARIES
Scented body
washes, lotions, and powders offer
two different options. When used
on their own, they produce a light
veil of scent that may offer some
moisturizing quality and perhaps
even lend a light sparkle to skin. But
when layered under a fragrance,
they increase the scent's longevity.
Found in Elizabeth Arden Pretty
Body Powder and Puff,
le ft,
$38;
Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely
Collection Body Lotions in Dawn,
Endless, and Twilight, $28 each.
SOLID PERFUME
Wax-based solid scents aren’t
exactly new, but they are growing
in popularity. “Solid perfumes
apply a vintage approach to
perfumery,” says Jan Moran, noted
fragrance expert and author of the
Fabulous Fragrances books. “They
are a very personal way to wear
scent, as the wax literally melts
onto the pulse points.”
Concentration-wise, they contain a
lower percentage of the fragrance
compound. They're also alcohol-
free, and last about as long as an
eau de toilette.
Found in Michael Kors Very
Hollywood Solid Perfume Ring,
ab o ve right,
conceals this glamorous
floral scent in a dazzling bauble, $40;
Nuts Cream Perfume Solid
Fragrance in Mimosa Bouquet is
made with wholesome ingredients
and eco-friendly packaging, $12.
SPLASH
These are the
women's counterpart to men’s
aftershaves. Splashes are meant to
be, well, splashed on with lavish
abandon all over the body. These
sheer and refreshing formulas are
more dilute than a typical eau de
toilette, and because they aren’t
very concentrated, the scent will
not last very long. But the bottles
are large (10 ounces compared to
the typical one to four ounces per
bottle of perfume), and they're a
wonderful option for those
looking for a lighter alternative to a
perfume mist.
Found in Bath & Body Works’
W inter White Splashes,
le ft,
which
come in four scents: Fresh, Citrus,
Floral, and Cool; $14 each.
-MELISSA MILRAD GOLDSTEIN
WHERE TO WEAR
PU LSE P O IN T S “Apply
perfume on warm places: at the
neck, wrist, back of the knees,
and behind the ears,” says
Laurice Rahme, founder of Bond
No. 9 Perfumes.
IN T H E A IR Spraying a cloud
of perfume into the air and
walking through it will create a
veil of scent on your skin. “But
for best results,” says Rahme,
“apply fragrance directly to
skin.” The natural warmth of
the body helps distribute the
oils in the scent.
O N T H E H A IR “Hair is an
excellent carrier of scent,” says
fragrance expert Jan Moran.
“But it’s also drying to hair, so
limit it to the occasional
application”
T H E W R IS T RUB Somewhere
along the line we were taught
to spray perfume on our wrists,
then rub them together.
“Rubbing breaks down the
complex mixture of materials
that create the character of a
fragrance,” says Rahme. “It’s best
to allow the fragrance to
develop to its full potential and
avoid rubbing” ®
