The nectar of ripe fruits has always been magical for Gabriele Strehle. “Purity in opacity, this sensual essence gleaned from a plant – that was what fascinated me.” Above all, almond milk, because almond trees embody mystery for her. The delicate yet intense fragrance of the blushing blossoms, the delightful flavour of the nuts and their milk, the contrast between the rough, sturdy shell and its white, sensuous core. A darker, natural intensity was added: the depth of iris wood, tangy sandalwood, black vanilla seeds, and animalistic amber. But at its heart remains the almond, combined with other notes both white and light: peach blossom and bergamot, jasmine, heliotrope and lily of the valley.

CHIC is a fragrance overflowing with inspiration. An original and evocative balance between delicate, distinctive freshness and enduring sensuality. A floral woody musk, CHIC unfolds with Bulgarian rose petals and red freesia. Mandarin flower and orange flower absolute combine to form the middle note and sandalwood,vanilla absolute and white musk unite to form the sensual base note. A scent with a unique personality, CHIC is alive and complex, fresh and elegant. The bottle, a highly contemporary prism which in its cut and shape subtly conveys the color, is a direct reflection of Carolina Herrera who uses both light and color as basic elements in any of her creations. A work of art, the CHIC bottle is a dedication to Impressionist abstract sculpture.

Like everything she designs, her fragrance is modern, elegant and sensual. Vera Wang is a fragrance to be possessed by a woman but embraced by a man. A modern floral bouquet, the Vera Wang fragrance is sensual and intimate. It is the fragrance of joy, passion and commitment. The first encounter is a flirtation that begins with Bulgarian rose, calla lily and mandarin flower. The flirtation is followed by a passionate kiss of gardenia, lotus, iris and white stephanotis. The fragrance is wrapped in a final embrace of sheer musks, white woods, and precious floral nectar. The modern, yet distinctly sensual lines of the Vera Wang fragrance bottle reflect her design sensibility. An elegant flacon embraces the fragrance and captures it with a platinum collar and a faceted glass stopper.

Prestigious and unique in its silk-lined orange box, the ninth edition of Eau d’Hermès celebrates the theme of the year; “Looking for the Beauty of the Earth.” Its solid crystalbottle is engraved with a drawing by Jean-Louis Dumas representing the famous horse-drawn carriage supporting a beautiful globe, and a young groom admiring the world offered to him. A Hermès orange leather ribbon around its neck, this superb crystal vessel holds the olfactory masterpiece of that great master of perfume, Edmond Roudnitska. The stunning harmony that is Eau d’Hermès blends together citrus, spicy, floral, amber, woody and leather notes. An exceptional, timeless fragrance evolves on the skin from freshness to warmth. Created for discerning collectors, the 2001 edition is limited to only 500 copies. Each bottle is engraved and numbered by hand by the master engraver Jean-Luc Guyomarc’h.

Russell Simmmons continues to extend his renowned Phat Farm brand into new territory with the launch of a men’s fragrance line developed in partnership with Stern Fragrances. “Premium by Phat Farm” will be a fresh, sophisticated scent for men that will stake its claim as an innovative American classic. The bottle features a unique twist: a flint glass bottle encased in a metal shell that serves as a visual reflection of our technology-driven society. An innovative feature will be a mechanical door which when activated, opens to become a stand for the bottle. The scent is a warm, spicy, masculine fragrance that features top notes of wet cilantro leaf and chilled vodka citron. The middle notes include cracked pink peppercorn, tobacco flower and fluid liquid oxygen. The bottom notes consist of urban tar accord, hip hopps, white-washed driftwood, and stone-washed leather.