From Gianni Rose, 4 pear-shaped soaps: “Enjoy the scent of freshly picked pairs with these 4 French-milled soaps, enriched with moisture-rich buttermilk and exfoliating oatmeal.” $33 at Caswell Massey…

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Idylle is the latest feminine pillar from Guerlain, and the first from house perfumer Thierry Wasser, and as such, poor thing, carries with it a fair amount of baggage. I liked Guerlain’s last such effort, Insolence, but would not be surprised to hear that it was not a big seller. I did not like the one prior to that, L’Instant, but would not be surprised to hear that it sold quite well. So.

Insolence made reference to Guerlain’s past and the brand’s famed Guerlinade base.¹ Idylle does not, so we can dispense with that right away. Instead, it offers a “contemporary interpretation” of Guerlinade, based on a “chypre signature of patchouli and white musk”. I’ve gone on ad nauseam elsewhere about the modern chypre concept — which apparently means only that you’ve added a bit of clean patchouli to the base — so I won’t belabor the point here, but I will say that there’s nothing unusual or striking enough about the patchouli and white musk base of Idylle for it to constitute a recognizable brand signature, far from it — it very neatly marks Idylle as a modern department store fragrance…

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The miracle of nanotechnology brings us the aromatherapy mattress, such as Magniflex's Lavender Comfort ($1,899 queen). But there are several makers and several available scents to be woven into the fabric of where you sleep: vanilla, rose, green tea and chamomile, for starters. The more you lie on the bed, the more the scent capsules break, which guarantees years of odorous sleep.

— From Mattress makers try to lure us into bed with fragrance, soy and more at the Seattle Times.

Avon has launched Sweet Honesty Everlasting for women (shown above left):

A romantic blend of vibrant fruits and fresh, flirty florals captures the feeling of falling in love…

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New at beautyhabit: Comme des Garcons Artek Standard, Comme des Garcons 2 Glitter edition, Serge Lutens Borneo 1834.

New at bloomingdales: Victorinox Swiss Unlimited.

New at first-in-fragrance (Germany): Parfums de Nicolai Patchouli Homme & Violette in Love.

New at macys: Couture Couture by Juicy Couture.

New at nordstrom: Lanvin L'Homme Sport, Chloe Intense.

Irié has launched the Mythologies Box of Smells:

Irié Mythologies is a surprising and innovative concept! This is a box of smells where it’s not about wearing perfume but smelling 7 fragrances…

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In Perfume: Joy, Obsession, Scandal, Sin, Richard Stamelman quotes from a 1936 Chanel publicity text about Chanel Cuir de Russie:

…I easily imagine this perfume floating in the wake of a tall, slender brunette, whose moves are confident, who voice is accustomed to giving orders, and who fingers are slightly darkened by tobacco. She is one of those women who always wears a suit, even at midnight at the Savoy; one of those women captivating to watch at the casino in Monaco, who after having lost a sum of money, takes bills and a money order from a love letter hidden in her fine leather handbag, where they have taken on a pungent, slightly wild odor, and with great calm throws them on the green baize of the gaming table.¹

Wowee! Who could resist a fragrance like that? (Let’s hope the copy writer went on to a career as a novelist.) But by dint of perspective or reformulation, today’s Cuir de Russie is still beautiful, but not the butch aristocrat of yesteryear. Instead, it’s as if the Cuir de Russie of 70 years ago earned an advanced degree and spent time on the therapist’s couch. She’s still elegant and self-possessed, but she’s not getting written up in the gossip columns…

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Parfumerie Generale will launch their latest fragrance, No. 24 Papyrus de Ciane, in February:

Woody, green, build on a contemporary interpretation of “Mousse de Saxe”…

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New at macys: Power by 50 Cent.

New at nordstrom: Cartier Roadster Sport, Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Pink Sparkle.

New at ulta: Mariah Carey Forever, Rocawear X, Usher VIP, Lancome Hypnose Senses.