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I’ve had mystery perfume #346 for a few weeks now. I’m giving it a test run for the Fragrance Advisory Board. Haven’t worn it lately, although it is hard to compete with all the fragrances I have to choose from.

I gave it a good go for one week.  It started growing on me, not seeming as sweet and fruity as it did from the first spray.  In fact, it reminds me of a perfume I have, called “Bendelirious” from Etat Libre D’Orange.   Bendelirious is a delicious blend of Champagne, cherry and grapefruit, followed by iris, violet, leather, musk and tonka bean.

Perfume #346 has a few of these notes, especially the cherry accord.  But it has much more green to it, which I am not crazy about.  It also develops a somewhat powdery note Bendelious doesn’t have.  I even wore both fragrances at the same time, just to make sure they weren’t the same perfume. #346 on the left wrist, Bendelirious on the right. While they start out smelling almost the same, as time goes on, I like Bendelirious a lot more.

I purchased Bendelirious at the Etat Libre d’Orange boutique in the Marais district of Paris this summer, just after my Sniffapalooza perfume trip to Grasse.  If you don’t know this brand, it is worth seeking out, simply because their scents are so different from anything on the market.  The stories behind the perfumes are entertaining as well.  I also like the new “Like This” which was a collaboration with actress Tilda Swanton, and “Jasmine & Cigarettes.”

For those of you interested — and with time read on, The Fragrance Advisory Board sent out a survey. My responses are in bold.  Looking forward to seeing what they do with the survey results.  We are to get one more questionnaire.

Approximately how much of the fragrance product is left in the bottle?

More than three-quarters

Between half and three-quarters

Between one quarter and one half

Less than one quarter

Bottle is empty

Approximately how often do you apply the fragrance product?

More than once a day

Once a day

3-6 times a week

1-2 times a week

Have not used it since the initial application

How do you feel about the scent after using it for approximately one week/two weeks?

Love it

Like it

Neither like nor dislike it

Dislike it

Hate it

What do you specifically like about this fragrance?

The fragrance grew on me over time.  Hated it at first, but on subsequent wearings, I like the floral fruityness of it – feels a little flirty. And it doesn’t come on too strong.

What do you specifically dislike about this fragrance?

I don’t like the green note.  Also dries down to powdery which I also don’t like.  It reminds me of Etat Libre d’Orange Bendelirious which I love, but there’s something missing in this scent 346.

How would you describe the strength of the fragrance after wearing it for a while?

Much too strong

Somewhat too strong

Just About Right

Somewhat too weak

Much too weak

Approximately how long would you say the fragrance lasts after you apply it?

2 hours or less

3-4 hours

5-6 hours

7-8 hours

9-10 hours

10+ hours

How would you rate the length of time the fragrance lasts after you apply it?

Lasts too long

Lasts just the right amount of time

Did not last long enough

To what extent do you feel this fragrance is…?

Clean not at all

Fresh slightly

Unforgettable very much

Unique/different not at all

Feminine very much

Old-fashioned not at all

Modern slightly

Listed below are some attributes that people have used to describe scents. Please select the attributes that you feel best apply to this fragrance. Would you describe this scent as being:

High quality

Light

Youthful

Feminine

Bold

Chemical / synthetic

Soft / gentle / mild

Easy to wear

Harsh

Upscale

Unique / different

Heavy / sickening

Fresh

Masculine

Sophisticated

Refined / elegant

Cheap / down market

Classic / timeless

Unforgettable

With character / personality

Prestigious / classy

Warm

Overpowering

Makes a statement

Difficult to wear

Sparkling / bright

Clean

Familiar

Natural

Pleasant to wear / suits me well

Seems to last very long

Subtle / delicate

Simple

For someone like me

Cold

Rich

Addictive

Casual

Sporty

Modern

Old fashioned

Strong, powerful

Sharp / aggressive

Well rounded

Ordinary / nothing special

Dull / bland

Do you feel this fragrance is… ?

Floral

Dirty

Animal

Oriental

Vanilla like

Watery / marine

Too floral

Sticky

Woody

Green / grassy

Medicinal

Sour / bitter

Fruity

Powdery

Too fruity

Spicy

Dry

Juicy

Herbal

Perfumey

Metallic

Milky / creamy

Sweet

Soapy

Greasy

Citrusy

Edible

Too sweet

Exotic

Which of the following moods, if any, does this fragrance bring to mind?

Energizing / Invigorating

Sensual

Makes me feel good

Refreshed

Happy / joyful

Playful / flirty

Confident

Romantic

Relaxing / calming

Comfortable

Sexy / seductive

Other, please specify

None of the above

For which occasions and times have you worn this fragrance?

Weekends

Special occasions

During the week

Nighttime

Everyday

Daytime

None of the above

In your opinion, is this fragrance.?

For a teenagers

For someone in their 20′s

For someone in their 30′s

For someone in their 40′s

For someone in their 50′s

For someone in their 60′s or older

How would you rate this fragrance overall on the following scale?

Poor

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

How much do you like this fragrance compared to when you first applied it, right after you received it? Would you say you…?

Like it much more now

Like it somewhat more now

Like it about the same

Dislike it somewhat less now

Like it much less now

If this fragrance was available where you normally buy fragrances and priced acceptably to you, how likely would you be to purchase it?

Definitely would buy it

Probably would buy it

May or may not buy it

Probably would not buy it

Definitely would not buy it

How likely would you be to recommend this fragrance to a friend or relative?

Definitely would recommend it

Probably would recommend it

May or may not recommend it

Probably would not recommend it

Definitely would not recommend it

Which of the following have you experienced so far when wearing the fragrance?

Received a negative comment on the fragrance itself

Received a compliment on the fragrance itself

Was asked the name of the fragrance

Received a compliment on the strength of the fragrance

Received a negative comment on the strength of the fragrance

Other, please specify – no comments except when i said smell this, and reviews were mixed

None of the above

Happy new year!  Like me, I’m sure you are recovering from the holiday 2010 season, and trying to get back into the swing of things. This post is a bit overdue, but I just had to share my most favorite holiday gift.  It is from my brother, and he wanted to be on the phone when I opened it.  Voila, the coolest shoe ever.  It’s a shoe wine bottle holder – a total wine fashionista must!  Gotta love the leopard print and the rhinestone embellishment.  I can’t believe I’ve never seen this; my brother gets major kudos for finding it!

The shoe wine bottle holder comes from Cypress Home in their High Spirits line.  There are several other styles  – but I love the leopard print best.  Such a fun gift, sure to get a big smile!  What a great way to start off the new year – cheers to 2011.

I just got a box with the fragrance that I’m going to be test driving for the Fragrance Advisory Board.  The letter enclosed with it instructs me not to open it yet!  First, I have to start the online survey.  My mystery perfume is labeled “346,” and it looks like it has a pale lilac color, but that means nothing.  Ok, here we go!

First, they want me to open the bottle and spray just ONCE on my wrist. Easy enough…can I sniff yet?? No, I have to click the “start exercise” button and wait 60 sec.  (Ok I cheated, the fragrance is kind of floral and fruity).

Time’s up.  Now I answer a series of questions.  Do I love it or hate it?  Like it so far…but not crazy about it  yet.  A little sweet to me, some rose, and a big fruity note. Cherry?

What is my initial response? 

“It’s a little sweet — getting some fruity notes, floral too.  Rose? Cherry?  Not offensive, but it does come on a little strong.”

What don’t I like?  “For me it’s too sweet.  Almost bubble gum sweet. “  Also comes on a little too strong.

Fresh? How could anyone think this is fresh?  Certainly not old fashioned.  Wouldn’t exactly call it modern, but there are no other choices.

Frankly, it’s starting to give me a headache.  Oh boy, and I have to wear this all week?  I hope it gets better.  I’m starting to smell like cotton candy.

Just did the sniff test with my husband.  “It’s not anything special.  I don’t like it.”  I have to agree.

It’s sticky sweet, very strong.  I think it’s for a young girl.

If I have to wear this, when would I?  Never, actually, but that’s not a choice.  Ok, weekends.

For the next two weeks, I’m to wear the fragrance as often (or little) as I want, then there will be another survey.  To family and friends, apologies in advance if you don’t like this scent.  Either do I.  The sweetness is toning down some on the dry down. Wonder if this is one of those “celebrity” fragrances?  Can’t wait to find out.

I am going to be a perfume tester.  No, not one of those annoying perfume spritzers spraying everyone who walks through the department store cosmetics counters (although the thought of that brings back memories of Obession).

Instead, I’m actually gonna take part in a Fragrance Advisory Board program where I’ll be sent an unmarked bottle of perfume.  I’ll fill out a survey about my impressions when I first try it on, and about my impressions after wearing it for a couple of weeks.  I hope I like it!!  I’ll blog about the process as I go.  Just be aware, I may come up to you and stick my wrist out and ask you what you think of the scent.

If you are a perfume fanatic (like me), check out the Fragrance Advisory Board’s website.  It’s free to become a member, and you get to take part in online surveys and contribute your voice to the world of perfume.

This is going to be THE fashion event of the year.  At 8 am ET on Saturday, November 20, fast fashion retailer H&M opens the doors to hoards of fashionistas who will snap up every single piece of the Lanvin for H&M collection.  If you are lucky enough to live near one of H&M’s flagship stores (NYC, San Francisco) you can wait in line for your chance to grab no more than two of the same item.  I’m bummed that I will not have that chance, to buy a couple pieces of Lanvin for the masses.  I predict the stores will be cleaned out within hours.

OK I could drive up to SF early tomorrow morning and stake out a place in line.  But it’s cold, and it might rain, and I’d have to leave home about 5 or 6 am to get a good spot in line.  Even then it might be too late.  Oh, the unfairness of it.  Why can’t H&M bring Lanvin to every store? And, why can’t H&M have an online commerce site?

Both H&M and Lanvin have been building anticipation over the last several weeks.  First it was a rumor.  Then the rumor was confirmed.  Then little bits of video of the collection leaked out.  Finally, a full blown webisode featuring all the pieces.  Brilliant.

If you must have Lanvin NOW, you can start bidding on the half dozen or so Lanvin for H&M dresses already up on eBay.  Who are these people who have advance copies?  A few of the dresses that retail for $199 are being offered for $599.  We’ll keep an eye on the auction action.

H&M is no stranger to designer collections.  In the past few years, we’ve seen lines from Madonna, Matthew Williamson, to name a few.  But teaming up with uber designer Alber Elbaz of Lanvin takes this not just to the next level, but to the stratosphere.

Here’s the entire collection.

Let me know if you score any of the collection!

The winery tasting room.  Let’s face it.  Often crowded, it’s not always the ideal spot to taste wine.  But if you want to try a range of said winery’s offerings, the tasting room has been the place to go. Until now.

You can have the tasting room come to you. TastingRoom has created wine tasting kits with four or six little bottles, each holding 50 ml (that’s 1.7 oz). This is the size of most small perfume bottles, and I say that because these kits remind me of perfume samples. You can get fragrance samples sent to you, and can try and buy perfume without ever leaving home.  A terrific online fragrance store is Luckyscent. You can order a sample vial of any perfume on their website.  Once you get it and try it and like it, you can order a bottle.  If not, you’re out about $3.

TastingRoom works under the same concept. You can try and buy at home, without traveling to the winery tasting room, or buying the wine blind off a shelf and hoping for the best. TastingRoom takes the guesswork out of buying wine.

A sample box of Yorkville Cellars in Mendocino just showed up at my door one day last week. I decided to take it for a test run at my cookbook club meeting, to see how some wine lovers would react to the kits.  I also had a kit of Grgich Hills wines (full disclosure, the Grgich Hills kit was provided by TastingRoom public relations).

The little bottles all have screwcaps, making these kits really portable.  If you don’t take very big pours, there are enough sips of wine in each bottle for several people to try it. The two oft repeated comments were “these bottles are so cute,” and “what a great idea for a gift.”  We were all impressed by the wines in the kit, especially the Grgich Cellars samples, which included both Chardonnay and Cabernet.  The favorite wine out of either kit was the Grgich Hills Violetta, a late harvest white wine blend  that went really well with an appetizer of cheese stuffed figs wrapped in proscuitto.

Should I want to buy a bottle of Violette, I can get it from TastingRoom for $73.  Thats $12 less than the same wine on the Grgich Hills website, which is $85.  I also found this tasting kit offered on the winery’s website, for $29.99. TastingRoom sells the kit for $24.99.

Yorkville Cellars‘ kit is made up of six Bordeaux varietals, from Cab Franc to Carmenere. Winery founder and winegrower Edward Wallo tells me his approach is to showcase these varietals that are the winery’s specialty, as Yorkville Cellars may be the only winery growing these six grape varieties in the same vineyard.  They don’t blend, preferring to highlight the individual character of these classic varieties.  We didn’t do this, but you could certainly have fun making your own Bordeaux blend from these samples.  You can find the Yorkville sample kit on the winery website or in the tasting room for $34.  (While this kit was made with TastingRoom, it is not sold on that site.)

Another idea for the kits is doing a blind tasting.  I could go into all the mumbo jumbo about the technology TastingRoom uses to bottle these samples, green practices and about all the information about each wine and winery on its website, but you can check that out on your own.  The kits come with descriptions and tasting notes.  The company expects to add more wineries to their sample kit list.

This may be the winery tasting room opening of the year.  Raymond Vineyards, in Napa Valley, has partnered with the legendary French crystal maker Baccarat, to create a one-of-a-kind tasting room, the Crystal Cellar.

It’s pretty awesome.  Granted, I was at the soiree to celebrate opening the Crystal Cellar. The atmosphere was like a sophisticated night club. Mirrors everywhere – on the tasting bar and display cases.  A stunning crystal chandelier, the focal point of the cellar. A mannequin hanging from a trapeze.  Lots of colorful mood lighting.  Display cases with Baccarat wine decanters, glasses, and other decorative objects.

I have seen the cellar during the daytime, when it’s much more subdued, but equally brilliant.

The pairing of a winery and crystal manufacturer is nothing new, but this is the first collaboration for Baccarat with a winery.  The inspiration comes from Jean-Charles Boisset, who is head of Boisset Family Estates.  Boisset bought the Raymond winery  in August 2009, setting its sights on improving the wine quality and developing a unique wine tasting experience.  This is Boisset’s first Napa Valley aquisition.  They also own DeLoach Vineyards in Sonoma County, and recently opened Taste of Terroir, a wine tasting room on the square in Healdsburg.

Jean-Charles told me he starting collecting Baccarat at the tender age of 11.  You can imagine he’s got a large collection now.  He approached Baccarat about a partnership with Raymond.  Makes, perfect sense, both Boisset and Baccarat are rooted in France, and Baccarat creates beautiful decanters and glassware.

I can’t wait to take friends wine tasting in the Crystal Cellar.  You don’t need to make a reservation, but there is a $25 tasting fee.  What they’re pouring:  the Raymond Vineyards District Cabernet Sauvignon series, including the 2006 Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena wines, the ’06 Generations, a 2009 barrel sample of a barrel fermented Chardonnay, and a 1987 Napa Valley Cab. This last wine was poured at the opening event, and I found it to still have fruit and a floral nose, and soft tannins.

If you get to Paris, you should plan to go to the Baccarat museum.  The crystal collection is amazing.  The galleries and restaurant were designed by Philippe Stark (reason enough to go).  The display cases are filled with both vintage and modern works.

His pain is palpable, his dream crushed.  On Thursday’s finale part 1 of Project Runway, Michael C’s elimination for a spot to go to New York Fashion Week is the most gut-wrenching of any over the past 8 seasons of the show.

Whether or not you thought he should have been chosen doesn’t matter.  I think we all cried a little bit with him.  But man, that was tough to watch.  Remember the open to ABC Wide World of Sports, where the ski jumper dramatically crashes off the ramp and into the crowd.  Well now we have a replacement – Michael’s total breakdown on the runway and in the backroom.

Seems many viewers thought Gretchen should have been auf’ed and I agree.  WTF.  Her collection isn’t just granola, it’s downright dowdy.  Whatever.  We all know Mondo will win, or will PR/Lifetime just screw with our minds on that too?

What I want to know is, was this episode taped before or after the Spring 2010 collections in September?  At that time, PR was only a few episodes into the current season 8.  So not to spoil the surprise of the show, many of the PR designers did create and show their collections – as decoys – at the new home of fashion week at Lincoln Center.  Yes, Michael C. got to show.  So did Casanova for that matter.  Their runway debuts were on September 9, 2010.

If they showed before the finale was taped, then Michael’s reaction does feel way over the top.  He got his Lincoln Center fashion show, and the entire line photographed and watched countless times online.  Great exposure for him, no doubt.

If the shows happened after the finale taping, Michael’s emotional outburst is absolutely more real, as he believes he won’t get to make it to the fashion week runway.

Yet, I couldn’t help feel the PR producers were milking Michael’s crushing disappointment for all it was worth.  I just want to say, shame on you, at least let they guy be auf’ed with what little dignity he may still have.   You know when reality TV has gone way overboard if you squirm in your seat, as we all did, watching the PR finale play out.

Best wishes to you, Michael C.

Who doesn’t love Tim Gunn?  At the end of last week’s Project Runway, he rocked our world by putting Gretchen in her place (finally!) and admonished her team, Luxe, for letting her run all over them.  Wow.  I had to rewind my DVR over and over to watch.  It was a rare insight into what he’s seeing behind the scenes.  Bravo Tim!

Then he kicks it up a notch in his new book, Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work. Tim dishes on his observations in the fashion world, and has the nerve to call out Vogue‘s Anna Wintour on her diva-like behavior.  Oh no, Tim may be banished to fashion wilderness! Tim, we’ll follow you anywhere.

I can’t wait to see Project Runway tonight, to see what the fallout of his scolding Team Luxe will be.  At least he’s making PR interesting, something it certainly needed.

What are your favorite Tim Gunn moments?

Click here for more on Tim’s book

I was on an Italian holiday, roaming the streets of Positano, when I happened across a storefront selling custom-made sandals. You could choose the color of the leather straps, the style — such as thongs, or toe rings, and the sole, whether it’s flat, a wedge or a heel.

Several hundred feet later, there’s another custom sandal shop, with more brightly colored leather straps, and lots and lots of crystals adorning the sandals. My friend and I were trying on sandals to see what looked best on our feet, and got yelled at by the

cobbler – he was impatient and wanted us to make a quick decision. We left in a huff, vowing never to buy from him.

We searched Positano and Capri for other sandals, but his were the best. I went back the next day, swallowed my pride, and bought a gorgeous pair of pink sandals, with major bling.

Ever since, I’ve dreamed of opening my own custom sandal business. But in the meantime, I made a discovery that lets me fulfill my sandal cravings. I was in New York City a few weeks ago, walking along 5th Avenue, and something in the front window of Henri Bendel stopped me in my tracks. There was a live cobbler making custom sandals!

Turns out Bendel partnered up with Tuccia Di Capri to offer customized sandals.

If you can’t get to the NYC Bendels, you can order your sandals online. Tuccia di Capri gives you instructions on how to measure your feet. This is now my second pair of custom sandals, and I have to tell you, there’s nothing better than the fit of a shoe made for your feet. They are so comfortable, and they don’t rub at all.

If you know of any other custom sandal makers, please do share!