Sandra‘s Closet

Tuesday evening, I attended the Estée Lauder press conference in Zurich at the Metropol restaurant. The famous house celebrates this years its 50th anniversary in Switzerland and has been since decades the number one beauty brand in the country. Therefore we were spoilt with this yummy cake and amazing products.

Many new launches will take place during the next months but two have absolutely caught my eyes and I couldn’t wait any longer to share them with you.

The new ENLIGHTEN range is designed to work as a trio to provide prevention and treatment for pigmentation, day and night. It includes a moisturizer, a serum and a completely new product, the EE (Even Effect) cream. Yes, after BB and CC creams, there is now an EE cream, not a double D! It gives you an even skin tone while defending environmental stressors, protecting against UV rays with a SPF 30 and building a barrier against pollution and free radicals. I have been sold immediately!

Enlighten Serum CHF 95.00 (30ml) and CHF 142.00 (50ml)
Enlighten Moisturizer CHF 95.00 (50ml)
Enlighten EE Cream in Light, Medium and Deep CHF 52.00 (30ml)
In stores from October 22, 2014.

The house’s new flanker fragrance MODERN MUSE CHIC is a warm and sensual scent that I personally like much more than the original Modern Muse that had been launched last year.
Please click HERE for the interview with the face of the campaign Arizona Muse.

FLORAL WOODY MUSK

Top notes: Plum and artemisia
Middle notes: Jasmine sambac, tuberose and lily
Base notes: Cashmere wood, agarwood, labdanum, patchouli, ebony tree, musk, madagascar vanilla and suede

Modern Muse Chic Eau de Parfum Spray is available from September 2014 for CHF 68.00 (30ml), CHF 98.00 (50ml) and CHF 138.00 (100ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder and © Sandra Bauknecht

Acqua di Parma‘s GELSOMINO NOBILE is a tribute to a radiant fragrance and a unique flower. This spring it is celebrated for the first time with a special edition in a limited flacon that provides the same, sophisticated shades of the classic from 2011.

The bottle is adorned with an elegant stylised interpretation of the jasmine flower. Hand crafted by skilled artisans in Tuscany, the 24 karat gold decoration is created by an elaborate manual silk screen printing process. Each individual petal is engraved by hand through delicate craftsmanship and close attention to detail.

FLORAL WOODY MUSK

Top notes: Mandarin Orange and Pink Pepper
Middle notes: Orange Blossom, Tuberose and Jasmine
Base notes: Musk and Cedar

Available now as one shot for CHF 236.00 (100ml). To find out more about the wonderful world of Acqua di Parma, please click here for a previous post and an interview with Gabriella Scarpa, CEO and President of Acqua di Parma.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Acqua di Parma

Estée Lauder has launched a new fragrance, so-called MODERN MUSE. It is the first major perfume launch in a while and the brand’s attempt to get back to the top of the perfume houses.

MODERN MUSE stands for the contemporary woman, who is independent, self-confident and sure of her style. Model Arizona Muse is the face of the new fragrance and her name fits obviously perfectly. During New York Fashion Week, the launch of this new fragrance was celebrated with an amazing party at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in NYC (post coming up shortly), where both, the print and TV campaign for Estée Lauder’s new fragrance, were shot.

Before the event took place, I had the honour to meet and interview Arizona herself. There is something undeniably charming about her… enjoy her answers!

Your name is already telling it. You are a muse to many women around the globe, a modern women – a single mother and a famous model. How do you manage both parts of your life successfully?
I would like to ask this question to all the other mums. I am lucky to have the most amazing help, great nannies and my mum, even that she is not living like me in London, she is extremely close to me. I used to take my son on my business trips when he was smaller. He is now 4 years old, in school, so he stays in London.

Your secret to success?
(Laughs). I don’t see myself that successful. Everyone is so much more successful than me. I look up and admire so many people. There is a lot more to climb. I still feel so young, I am 24 now, but feel younger now than I did when I was 16.

Have you ever felt pressure to inspire people? To be a role model?
I start beginning to feel that. I look to everyone else around me. So it is interesting to feel that other people look at me. I hope that I am setting a good example.

Do you think that your beauty helps you in daily life?
I am a model. So yes, it kind of helps. But I don’t notice things like that. Maybe I should use it more often. (She smiles and asks me the same question. How can I not love her?!)

How did you get your amazing body back after your pregnancy?
I would tell other mothers not to rush it, take one year, be relaxed about it. Breastfeeding helps to burn a lot of calories.

What exercise do you do to stay in shape?
I love yoga. It is more than just physical fitness. It is about balance in your emotional life as well.

Which ones are your favourite fashion designers?
Right now, Louis Vuitton! And also Tregar Delaney. They are an English duo who are friends of mine and they design beautiful clothes with high quality fabrics. They have such great integrity.

Arizona Muse in three words.
Curious – shy – warm-hearted.

Are you nervous before the big event tonight?
Yes, I am nervous. I am even nervous now…

One last question. What do you think of MODERN MUSE?
I love the fragrance because it has a duality to it. It is feminine yet strong. The woods give it a richness, but it also has a lightness with the florals. It is now my signature scent – of course!

Thank you, Arizona!

MODERN MUSE
FLORAL WOODY MUSK

Top notes: Mandarin orange
Middle notes: Tuberose, fresh lily, honeysuckle, dewy petals, Sambac jasmine and Chinese Sambac jasmine absolute
Base notes: Patchouli, Madagascar vanilla, amber wood and soft musk

Available as 30, 50 and 100ml Eau de Parfum.

The fragrance has an innovative ‘dual-impression’ structure of a jasmine and a wood accord. The flowers are most noticeable but not as prominent as you might imagine. The scent is very soft and develops in a very nice and musky way. Personally speaking, MODERN MUSE is an easy-to-wear scent, extremely pleasant and sophisticated. In stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder and © Sandra Bauknecht

Three new flankers for summer have hit the shelves, all telling the story of love, with all the excitement, intoxicating attraction and euphoric feeling of these first moments. Those magic seconds when he is the only one are captured in a bottle. New scents that the skin can no longer do without, inspired by the sensations of a first kiss, a forbidden love, love at first sight and all the other moments that accelerate your pulse.

AMOR AMOR IN A FLASH by CACHAREL

A true love potion, this luscious oriental fragrance created by Pierre Negrin, encapsulates the excitement of love at first sight.

FLORAL FRUITY

Top notes: Red apple, mandarin orange and apricot
Middle notes: Cinnamon and jasmine
Base notes: Vanilla, sandalwood and caramel

Available as Eau de Toilette for CHF 55.90 (30ml), CHF 83.50 (50ml) and CHF 114.80 (80ml).

L’AMOUR FOU Eau de Toilette by EMANUEL UNGARO

The new 2013 Eau de Toilette flanker of the 2012 launched Eau de Parfum concentration is adapted to the sunny days of the year, a softer and more romantic version of the original, designed by Véronique Nyberg.

ORIENTAL FLORAL

Top notes: Black currant, toffee apple and pink pepper
Middle notes: Violet, rose and peony petals
Base notes: Musk, orris and vanilla

Available as Eau de Toilette for CHF 59.00 (30ml), CHF 79.00 (50ml) and CHF 119.00 (100ml).

AURA BY SWAROVSKI LOVE COLLECTION

This season, Swarovski is launching a new very sensual interpretation of the original perfume Aura from 2011, created by perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin with a beautiful floral-woody-musky trail.

FLORAL WOODY MUSK

Top notes: Physalis and freesia
Middle notes: Lily and rose
Base notes: White musk and sandalwood

Available as Eau de Toilette Légère for CHF 73.00 (50ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the brands

If a brand sees that a perfume is very successful, it will happen very likely, that new slightly modified versions of the said scent will be launched, as a cross-selling strategy, mostly targeted at the fans of said original fragrance. For spring 2013, many of those flankers will hit the shelves and they are all worth a try. All are light, floral and feminine, everything you need to smell good this summer. And that a beautiful scent deserves a beautiful ad campaign you can see below…

LA PETITE ROBE NOIRE Eau de Toilette by Guerlain

From the Eau de Parfum, the lighter Eau de Toilette version is not far and it is extremely yummy!

FLORAL FRUITY
Top notes: Jasmine, rose and green accords
Heart notes: Cherry, orange blossom and apple
Base notes: White amber, white musk and patchouli
Eau de Toilette CHF 77.00 (30ml), CHF 100.00 (50ml), CHF 149.00 (100ml)
Available from March 1, 2013 in Switzerland.

LOVE EAU FLORALE by Chloé

The French fashion house is launching a new romantic version of its iconic Love fragrance family with the fusion of rich floral notes. One of my favorites as I love its powdery aspect.

FLORAL
Top notes: Sweet pea
Heart notes: Green tea
Base notes: Powdery notes
Eau de Toilette CHF 83.00 (30ml), CHF 109.00 (50ml), CHF 128.00 (75ml)
Available from April 15, 2013 in Switzerland.

SHALIMAR PARFUM INITIAL L’Eau Si Sensuelle by Guerlain

This fragrant novelty is a successor to last year’s fragrance Shalimar Parfum Initial L’Eau, very romantic in a matte glass flacon. Absolutely beautiful!

FLORAL GREEN
Top notes: Green notes, grapefruit, neroli and bergamot
Heart notes: Iris, jasmine and rose
Base notes: Vanilla and tonka bean
Eau de Toilette CHF 97.00 (60ml)
Available from March 1, 2013 in Switzerland.

FOR HER L’EAU by Narciso Rodriguez

A vivid and delicate floral interpretation of the famous scent. Personally speaking, the perfect body scent, but be careful, it is addictive.

FLORAL WOODY MUSK
Top notes: Peony, cyclamen and jasmine
Heart notes: Lily-of-the-Valley, amber and rose
Base notes: Patchouli and musk
Eau de Toilette CHF 65.00 (30ml), CHF 95.00 (50ml), CHF 135.00 (100ml)
Available from February 2013 in Switzerland.

VALENTINA ACQUA FLOREALE by Valentino

This new fragrance version is all about summer, nature, the scents of a beautiful garden, very sensual and feminine.

FLORAL
Top notes: Bergamot and orange blossom
Heart notes: Neroli, mimosa, tuberose and jasmine
Base notes: Amber and patchouli
Eau de Toilette CHF 96.00 (50ml) and CHF 122.00 (80ml)
In stores now.

SIGNORINA Eau de Toilette by Salvatore Ferragamo

This joyful fragrance is ideal for a romantic young and elegant woman. Exceptionally fresh, its is proof that a Signorina can be a different Signorina every day.

FLORAL FRUITY
Top notes: Grapefruit and litchi
Heart notes: Rose oil and rice steam
Base notes: Milk mousse and cashmeran
Eau de Toilette CHF 59.00 (30ml), CHF 89.00 (50ml) and CHF 119.00 (100ml)
Available from February 2013 in Switzerland.

NINA L’EAU by Nina Ricci

The French fashion house launches a new version of its famous Nina perfume from 2006. Romantic and subtle, fresh fruity and aquatic, it will be perfect for the warm summer months.

FLORAL FRUITY
Top notes: Neroli, mandarin orange, grapefruit and apple
Heart notes: Gardenia, cherry and watery notes
Base notes: Musk
Eau de Toilette CHF 50.00 (30ml), CHF 71.00 (50ml) and CHF 85.00 (80ml)
Available from March 2013 in Switzerland.

MISS DIOR Eau de Toilette by Christian Dior

The creation of this modern chypre and romantic fragrance is signed by Francois Demachy. The face of the new fragrance is actress Natalie Portman. A truly beautiful new scent that I can only recommend.

CHYPRE FLORAL
Top notes: Tunisian neroli
Heart notes: Turkish and Bulgarian rose
Base notes: Patchouli
Eau de Toilette CHF 108.50 (50ml) and CHF 156.00 (100ml)
Available from March 8, 2013 in Switzerland.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills and Ad Campaign Photos: Courtesy of the Brands