Sandra‘s Closet

Setting out to discover distant horizons can lead to experiences that are as unexpected as they are magical. An aurora borealis rising across a lava desert.
A cloud of fireflies taking flight in a tropical forest.
A shower of shooting stars raining down over the open sea.
Such rare and fantastic phenomena become engraved in the memory forever.

LOUIS VUITTON Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, fascinated by the trace of such fleeting moments that you wish you could keep forever, dreamed up an enchanting composition: a jubilant perfume that stirs all the senses and celebrates our capacity to experience awe. To grasp what is impossible to capture. To photograph the natural mirages we envision constantly. In his quest to embody waking dreams from far-flung explorations, he found the olfactory direction for Attrape-Rêves.

Such a composition would never settle for a conventional beauty. It needed an explosive fragrance trail; one that was vibrant and surprising in equal measure. Inspired by the euphoria one feels when gazing at a burst of shooting stars, he let himself be guided by an African cacao flower of absolute purity. A raw material, treated in Grasse, that distills regressive, animalistic inflections.
To airy cacao, he added a bouquet of peony, delicate flower with thousand petals, fresh and luminous. He reinforced the power of the duo by pairing it with the slightest touch of essence of patchoulol, the noble, modernized heart of patchouli. Even then, settling for a gustatory fragrance was out of the question. Like an olfactory about-face, lychee and Turkish rose absolute created an unexpected and purebred elegance. He also used ginger and bergamot like flavor enhancers, to amplify this extraordinary perfume’s contrasts and freshness.

Eau de Parfum Attrape-Rêves 100ml 210€
In-store refill 100ml 125€
Eau de Parfum Attrape-Rêves 200ml 320€
In-store refill 200ml 250€
Travel Spray 4×7.5ml 210€
Travel Spray Refills 4×7.5ml 115€
Miniature Set 7x10ml 260€

Available as of 13th September at select Louis Vuitton stores and at louisvuitton.com.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
#LVParfums – #louisvuitton

Armani/Privé consists of four, continually evolving fragrance collections, revealing different facets of the designer’s vision of luxury. “Les Éditions Couture” are limited editions, inspired by his latest S/S runway collections; “La Collection” celebrates the most legendary perfume ingredients; “Les Mille et Une Nuits” revisits the opulence of the Orient; and “Les Eaux,” is a luminous hymn to nature, awakening memories of mythic gardens.

Pivoine Suzhou is Giorgio Armani’s newest launch which is for the first time inspired by the legendary gardens of Asia, combining elegance and freshness with soft, lingering sensuality. An olfactory journey inspired by precious flowers and plants, sunlight and pure, cascading water – the source of nature. In China, its character also represents femininity – the yin – and the beginning of life itself, it is a pure celebration of China’s most beloved flower: the peony.

Suzhou is an UNESCO World Heritage site, a city full of canals and bridges. Marco Polo described Suzhou as the “ Venice of east”.

“In front of the courtyard, the common-garden peony is entrancing but without style, On the pond, the lotus is pure but lacking in feelings. Only the tree peony is the most beautiful in the land, When it opens its blossoms, the whole capital stirs into motion.”
– Liu Yuxi’s poem – Tang dynasty, 9th century

The fragrance is dominated by a peony accord and intensified with a special May rose absolute. The opening accord is given by citrusy tangerine notes and raspberry and the ultra long-lasting base notes are created by the amber-like notes, musk and a hint of patchouli that warm up the whole composition. Pivoine Suzhou is a sublimely essential fragrance, created for a discerning woman who appreciates the art and craft of haute perfumery.

Armani/Privé Pivoine Suzhou Eau de Toilette will be available from January 2015 in limited edition.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Armani

As promised less than two weeks ago, here is the new fragrance, that I was telling you about: Pleats Please by Issey Miyake – the perfume that moves you.

The launch event took place at the Louvre in Paris with a very different und beautiful presentation. Dressed in pleats of every colour, models leaped and danced, twirled and spinned, motivating the audience to join in the fun.

The designer Issey Miyake is known known globally for his signature pleats – a look that went around the world in more than 80 colours; it is contemporary yet timeless. Today, the iconic line Pleats Please Issey Miyake has its own fragrance. It is a scent that pays homage to a seminal fashion creation: an infusion of emotion and olfactory ode to joy.

The iconic L’Eau d’Issey and L’Eau d’Issey Pour l’Homme burst forth from the fountain of Issey Miyake fragrances; clear and shimmering, the waters heralded Issey Miyake’s first foray into perfumery.
Pleats Please is completely different, a joyous, light-hearted scent with meticulously sculpted facets created by perfumer Aurélien Guichard. For this new fragrance, the exuberance and heartiness of a floral bouquet was a must – flowers to define the femininity of a subtle delicate composition.

Perfumer Aurélien Guichard

Top Note: Nashi (a hybrid fruit that oscillates between pear and apple, with the pear note predominating).

Middle Notes: Peony and sweet pea. Indole adds a fleshly, voluptous touch and „gives substance to the note“, the perfumer explains. The accord is warm and vibrant, like „an invitation to fluidity“. (Remember Roja Dove who explained me the sexual power of indole. Click here if you would like to know more.)

Base notes: Cedar, patchouli, vanilla and white musks.

Available from September 2012. The product range comprises a trio of eau de toilette in three formats: 30, 50 and 100 ml. The EdTs are supplemented by two derivatives infused with the notes of Pleats Please: a creamy, body lotion and a deodorant spray.

The bottle is very interesting. Its shape is reminiscent of a bag that is put down on the floor. The cap takes the form of a floral calyx, a finely pleated abstraction that symbolises both a white flower and the Pleats Please fabric.

In his quest for the timeless and functional in fashion, Issey Miyake found his answer in pleats. Fashion keeps moving, and so does fragrance!

It was such a beautiful presentation at the Louvre! For more details about my look, please click here for the previous post.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Swarovski pursues its story and opens a chapter on the theme of love: Aura by Swarovski Collection Mariage. Boasting an olfactory composition inspired by moments of happiness in a marriage, it brings women good fortune and bliss.

The fragrance is composed of 3 main notes:

Sparkling and fruity, lychee blends perfectly with tea leaves to symbolise the seal of emotional commitment.
A delicate blend of peony and lotus evokes happiness, serenity and the promise of an eternal alliance.
In moments of intense love, white musk wraps women in a luminous and glittering aura.

This limited edition collection is available now.

Aura by Swarovski Collection Mariage EdT Légère CHF 73.- (50ml)
Prestige Edition EdT Légère CHF 121.- (50ml)
Makeup Jewel Crystal Gloss, Rose Scintillant CHF 73.-

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Swarovski Parfums

Are you dreaming of the perfect even skin tone? Switch to spot-less clarity with Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution. With the help of the active ingredients Activated C, White Birch and Peony, it visibly diminishes the number and intensity of dark spots and discoloration caused by age, UV exposure or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and helps to deter the formation of spots on skin’s surface.

With daily, continuous use, skin is visibly brighter, more even and radiant with a great improvement in clarity. The results are pretty impressive (see chart below).

It may be used as a spot treatment or over entire face as well as on hands, neck and chest.

Available in Switzerland from April 2, 2012 for CHF 68.- (30ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Kiehl’s

For Spring 2012, the “Jean Paul Gaultier Classique X Collection” has launched a lighter variation:

“Jean Paul Gaultier Classique X Collection L’Eau” which has peony and orange blossom accords and top notes of bergamot zest along with neroli, vanilla and iris.

This time the legendary bottle is transparent and dressed in calligraphy to better reveal the crystalline soft pink fragrance.

Limited Edition “L’Eau” Classique, Eau de Toilette 100ml, CHF 107.-
Available now.

I love Jean Paul Gaultier’s new fragrance for men “Kokorico”.

Fig leaf, patchouli, cedar, cocoa and vetiver together exhale pure masculinity with a feminine accent.

A striking trompe l’oeil bottle, a man’s face when viewed from the front that turns into a sexy and virile torso in profile.

Kokorico Eau de Toilette, 50ml (CHF 85.-) / 100ml (CHF 117.-)
Kokorico After Shave Lotion 100ml (CHF 77.-)
Kokorico After Shave Balm 100ml (CHF 52.-)
Kokorico Shower Gel 200ml (CHF 40.-)
Kokorico Déodorant Stick 75gr (CHF 36.-)
Available now.

And here is a little teaser of what is coming next:

Jean Paul Gaultier’s new limited edition 2012 summer fragrances “Urban Jungle”
which will be in stores in May 2012.

Classique Summer 2012 (for women) opens with fresh notes of clementine from Sicily, rose and orange blossom. Exotic flower of ylang-ylang forms the perfume’s heart note together with petals of jasmine, lily of the valley and white iris, while the base notes are oriental and warm with amber, vanilla and fresh musk.

Limited Edition Classique Summer Eau de Toilette, 100ml (CHF 84.-)

—————————————-

Le Male Summer 2012 (for men) begins with fresh aromatic accords of lavender, mint and cardamom. The heart exudes green – it contains notes of green leaves and grass. Vanilla, sandalwood and musk complete this composition.

Limited Edition Le Male Summer 2012, Eau de Toilette, 125ml (CHF 80.-)

The signature bottles in the shape of male and female torsos and their can boxes are decorated with vivid design inspired by safari, an urban jungle, tropical leaves, flowers and vines.

Can you smell summer already?

LoL, Sandra