Sandra‘s Closet

The name of Guerlain‘s newest fragrance launch alone had me intrigued: FRENCH KISS. Belonging to the Exclusive Collections LES ELIXIRS CHARNEL that previously included Chypre Fatal, Oriental Brûlant, Gourmand Coquin, and Floral Romantique, and which is designed for perfume-lovers who enjoy rare scents, exquisite ingredients and absolute refinement, the floral fruity scent is as spellbinding as a sensuous kiss.

Top notes: Litchi and Raspberry
Middle notes: Rose and Violet
Base notes: White Musk, Vanilla, Orris Root and Heliotrope.

FRENCH KISS is such an addictive scent that made its way extremely fast into my boudoir. It is available now at Guerlain counters for CHF 260.00. In Switzerland at Manor Geneva, Bon Génie Geneva and Jelmoli Zurich.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Guerlain

For women who crave luxury and high fashion, I have great news. Five of my Swiss readers can win the new MERCEDES-BENZ L’EAU fragrance (60ml), a flanker to 2013’s Mercedes-Benz for Women. This light, sparkling and very feminine fragrance is delicately balanced and imaginatively romantic and I am sure that you will love it.

FLORAL FRUITY

Top notes: Black currant, peach and bergamot
Middle notes: Mimosa, rose, violet and lily-of-the-valley
Base notes: White musk, amber and cedar

The nose behind this fragrance is Michel Almairac.

To participate in the contest, please send me an e-mail with your postal address and the header “Mercedes-Benz L’Eau” to . All entries must be received until October 2, 2014. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this contest. By entering this contest, entrants accept and agree to be bound by these official rules. The winner has to have a Swiss address.

For those who won’t be the lucky winners, I recommend shopping this lovely scent online HERE AT HARRODS.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mercedez-Benz

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

Next month, Jo Malone is launching a new limited edition fragrance that is just perfect for summer: OSMANTHUS BLOSSOM Cologne.

Delicately exotic. This white flower captures the duality of apricot counterpoised with supple leather. Luminous petitgrain and luscious peach and orange flower ripple over voluptuous cashmere wood. Packed in a beautiful decorated bottle.

FLORAL FRUITY

Top note: Petitgrain
Middle note: Osmanthus blossom
Base note: Cashmere wood

Available in May 2013 as Cologne for CHF 68.00 (30ml) and CHF 130.00 (100ml). 
In Switzerland exclusively at Jelmoli Zurich and Globus Geneva.

Combine it with Jo Malone‘s Blackberry & Bay to add a tart verdant depth, or with Nectarine Blossom & Honey to amplify with a sophisticated sweetness.

For romantic summer feelings with a touch of exotics. I love!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jo Malone

Salvatore Ferragamo‘s S/S 2013 collection is super luxe with some beautiful pieces in must-have pastel colors. Celebrate yourself with a look that will make heads turn: Turquoise linen blazer, apricot silk dress and leather Sookie tote, all by Salvatore Ferragamo and Dolly suede platform pumps by Charlotte Olympia.

The house of Salvatore Ferragamo knows how to make fashion desirable and the same goes for their fragrances. Be a different Signorina every day with the new joyful SIGNORINA Eau de Toilette.

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)

Great news for my Swiss readers: Five lucky readers have the chance to win a 30ml bottle of SIGNORINA Eau de Toilette by Salvatore Ferragamo. Send me an e-mail with your postal address and the header “Signorina” to .

All entries must be received until April 26, 2013. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this contest. By entering this contest, entrants accept and agree to be bound by these official rules. The winner has to have a Swiss address.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Salvatore Ferragamo and Charlotte Olympia

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

Sparkling fashion label Swarovski launches a new scent for women, so-called SWAROVSKI EDITION. After the huge success of last year’s launch AURA, the brand presents its new delightful limited edition fragrance that will hit stores this month. The design of the bottle is reminiscent of the house’s clutch evening purses.

A fruity-floral fragrance created by perfumer Sonia Constant.

Top notes: Clementine and red currant jam
Middle notes: Wild rose and gardenia
Base notes: Cedar and musk

Available now as a limited edition Eau de Toilette 50ml (CHF 71.-).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Swarovski

All good things come in threes. Here is the final “Bestsmellers” post for Mother’s Day. I hope that you will find some inspiration for a little odorous surprise. Those four flankers below are lighter versions for summer, mostly related to the original fragrances.
A great gift for the warm season.

LoL, Sandra

SWAROVSKI – AURA EAU DE TOILETTE
Eau de Toilette, CHF  49.- (30ml), CHF 73.- (50ml) and CHF 97.- (75ml) – all refillable

Oriental Floral
A lovely interpretation for the warm season of last year’s luxurious fragrance composition.

Top notes: Litchi and rose
Heart notes: Tuberose
Base notes: Pink pepper, benzoin, amber and musk

THIERRY MUGLER – ALIEN AQUA CHIC
Eau de Toilette Légère, CHF 74.- (60ml)

Oriental Floral
For all women who love transparent, aquatic fragrances.

Top notes: Lemon verbena and ginger
Heart notes: Freesia
Base notes: Amber and woodsy notes

BULGARI – MON JASMIN NOIR L’EAU EXQUISE
Eau  de Toilette, CHF 99.- (50ml) and CHF 116.- (75ml)

Floral
Fresh, airy and ultrafeminine – reminiscent of a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Top notes: Pomelo, almond and grapefruit
Heart notes: White tea and jasmine
Base notes: Musk and cedar

YVES SAINT LAURENT  – PARISIENNE L’EAU
Eau de Toilette CHF 111.- (50ml) and CHF 143.- (90ml)

Floral Fruity
A juicy, floral fruity summer version of the original scent that was launched in 2009.

Top notes: Vinyl accord, green notes, violet leaf and rose
Heart notes: Cranberries, red fruit and black currant
Base notes: Patchouli, cedar and white musk

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht and Stills: Courtesy of the brands