THE FLIRTY DOZEN
By DANICA LO and MAXINE SHEN
December 18, 2006 -- FINDING the perfume that makes perfect scents isn't easy - just ask anyone trying to navigate the bewildering array of bottles at a local shop. There are hundreds of perfumes on the market, and everyone from fashion houses to celebrities and boutiques are getting in on the act, churning out fragrances on a seemingly weekly basis.
But there are some aromas that waft above the fray. They are legendary, they have a loyal following, and they are sometimes impossible to find. More often than not, they have been immortalized in pop culture by being associated with a celebrity (Marilyn Monroe, Jennie Garth) or for being highlighted in a film ("Sunset Boulevard," "Scent of a Woman"). Or maybe it's a juicy rumor - the ability to get men to faint in your presence, for instance. Here are the stories behind a dozen good sniffs and why they send people into raptures - one of them may just become your new signature.
Strange Brew
It's too bad "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" (out Dec. 27) won't be released in smell-o-vision, because it would be a truly olfactory experience.
Set in 18th-century France and based on the best-selling novel by Patrick Suskind, it's the story of a perfumer with an extraordinary sense of smell, although he emits no odor himself. In his quest to achieve the most intoxicating scent on Earth - that of a beautiful young girl - he turns to murder.
As a macabre, even perverted, movie tie-in, Thierry Mugler's created a limited edition $700 "Perfume" Collection Coffret, available in limited quantities at perfume.thierrymugler.com. The 15 glass bottles of "essence" perfectly replicate the smells described in the novel and film, sometimes to a horrifying degree.
DEAL OF THE DAY
Elaborate chunky shoes were all over fashion week in September, and there still ripe for the wearing. These metallic Wilmington Sandals form Nine West are a great heel height, and they're only $39.99 down from $85. Check out the rest of their... more >
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