Chanel N°5 The Body Oil

My limited-edition Chanel N°5 The Body Oil ($85) arrived, and it's everything I imagined and more. If you order from Chanel's Web site, your new body oil will be presented in a heavy black and white box with Chanel printed prominently on the top. The box alone is a keepsake. Then, your first impression as you remove the box containing the bottle from the shredded, environmentally safe and recyclable white paper will be, "Wow, this bottle is heavy - luxurious!"

The 6.8 fluid ounces of body oil are packaged in a glass bottle with a sprayer under the pop-off black top; hence the weight. N°5 is such an iconic fragrance, Chanel doesn't have to promote it heavily. If you love N°5, you will love this body oil - and I do.

The now and forever fragrance in a body oil spray. This luxurious emollient easily absorbs into the skin, leaving a soft, silky finish.

That's it. Chanel, confident in its iconic fragrance, needs to say no more to tempt those who love N°5 or body oils in general.

The scent, spray for spray, is a little softer than the perfume, and that's a great thing for those of us who must work in an office. I want to smell pretty to those in close proximity, but I certainly do not want to leave a trail of sillage as I roam the aisles. It is extremely hydrating, making my skin feel soft and moisturized - and not oily. Even better, the oil has excellent longevity. I can still smell it on my arm after a full day of work.

N°5 was created by Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel to be the ultimate in femininity. The scent is imbued with jasmine, rose, sandalwood, and vanilla, with a heavy dose of aldehyde. N°5 has cast a spell on millions of people around the world. Inimitably luxurious and infinitely seductive, its legend lives, each year adding to its mystery, depth, and desirability. Although some fragrance snobs might call it old fashioned, I think it's ageless. If it weren't $2100, I would buy a bottle of the perfume for myself. That price is way beyond what I can afford (unless I win the lottery - then it will be high on my list). Actually, it has been written recently that Chanel may be tinkering with the N°5 formula to "modernize" it. If they are, I hope that they leave the original alone and release a flanker, like Eau Première.

If you are interested in the origins of this 90-year-old fragrance, you can read an excellent history of N°5 at this link. If you already know and love N°5, you can order The Body Oil at Chanel's Web site.  They will not charge shipping, and you can select two free samples with an order.

Photo courtesy of Chanel

Aroma M Camellia Body/Bath Oil by Maria McElroy

I've used more oil on my face and body this winter than at any other time in my life. My skin has been skin-slurping dry, and it has appreciated the oils that bolstered my other moisturizers.

One of the oils I have used - and used up - is Maria McElroy's Camellia Body/Bath Oil ($60). Maria graciously sent me a large sample, and my arms and legs enjoyed every drop of it. I first told you about Maria McElroy, founder of aroma M, when I tried her Camellia Hair and Face Oils. If you missed that feature, I'll summarize it here (see the link for more background information).

American born artist Maria McElroy synthesized her love of blending colors and textures with her passion for scent to create aroma M perfumes in 1995. Maria's seven-year journey, rich in Japanese history, romance, and mystery, became the genesis for aroma M Beauty and the inspiration for her beauty products.

Maria's appreciation for Japanese culture and aesthetics and her extraordinary experiences in the secretive world of the Kyoto Gion Geishas have been the foundation for aroma M’s Beauty products. Steeped in the ways of ancient Eastern traditions, and adhering to the Eastern mandate that beauty is a daily routine, Maria uses unexpected, precious ingredients in her beauty line.

In her beauty products, she uses organic cold pressed oils and organic essential oils - all carefully selected for the ultimate refined beauty experience. Although she is well known for her fragrances, her beauty line is relatively new. Her initial two offerings were the Camellia Hair Oil and Camellia Face Oil. Then she added the Body/Bath Oil. I have to admit, all of it went straight to my skin; I didn't want to use a drop of it diluted with my bath water. I have less luxurious oils for that.

The fragrant, healing fragrant Body/Bath Oil treatment combines beneficial emollient organic oils (Camellia Seed Oil, Grape Seed Oil, and Golden Jojoba,). It is charged with the synergy of essential oils derived from flowers and other botanicals (Jasmine, Geranium, Frankincense, and Neroli) with the addition of heady Moroccan Rose Oil. Each time I read the ingredients, I swoon.

This elixir effortlessly melts into all skin types without leaving any residue and adds the experience of uplifting, fully natural fragrance to soothe the mind and banish anxiety and moisturize the skin, leaving it soft, supple, and beautifully scented. Even if it didn't moisturize, the aroma of this wonderful oil would have left me in a zen-like state. Application before bed comforts and relaxes me while the oil does its work to prevent scaly skin. Before I started using Maria's Camellia Body/Bath Oil on my legs, I could have traced an urban road map.

If you choose to create a moisturizing bath, add a tablespoon of this luscious oil to a cup of milk (which I never have on hand because I'm lactose intolerant) and soak in its near-magical powers. This is the ideal liquid moisturizer for hydrating skin to create a luminous complexion. Maria McElroy of Aroma M Beauty has combined her experience in the beauty rituals of the Japanese Gion Geisha and Western aromatherapy traditions to create a product for a beneficial and beautiful beauty ritual that combines the best of both traditions.

Camellia oil has been a Japanese beauty secret for centuries, and it is considered to be so beneficial and valuable that it has become a symbol of wealth, virtue. and happiness (I can only testify to happiness). It is made from cold-pressed Japanese camellia (Tsubaki) buds, which are a member of the tea family. It is very lightweight and absorbs well. Camellia oil is lighter than oils like shea butter and jojoba, is hypoallergenic, and will not clog pores. It is a superb daily moisturizer and emollient, protecting the skin from chafing and drying out. It replenishes vital nutrients as it offers a variety of healing, nourishing, and stimulating properties to purify and protect the skin. Camellia oil restores the skin's pH balance and shields the skin from penetration by environmental pollutants. It acts as a natural sun block by forming a barrier against harmful UV rays. It's so complete a treatment that only a dancing bottle could add another feature.

We have yet another snow storm forming on the coast - one that is likely to move in Wednesday night and continue through Thursday. I doubt I can order more and have it delivered by Wednesday. I should have thought about that last week - but I didn't know then how big the snow event might be. I'll order my full bottle this week, though, and luxuriate in this oil as camellia blooming season starts (she says with hope).

There is a store locator here, and it includes online retailers like Luckyscent. If you love flowers, botanical skin treatments, or skin oils, you will love Maria's Camellia Body/Bath Oil. Let us know how you choose to use it. Bath or body - or both?

Photo at top courtesy of aroma M; camellia photo courtesy of Monrovia.com

LIERAC Sensorielle - Sensory Oil with 3 White Flowers

White flower lovers, rejoice! If you happen to love body, face, and hair oils too, head for your closest LIERAC source (CVS for me). LIERAC launched Sensorielle, "Sensory Oil with 3 White Flowers," in Collection Blanche (Huile Sensorielle aux 3 Fleurs, $34) this spring.

In April, I read about this gorgeous oil in WWD's Beauty Inc. It was featured in an "In Stores Now" feature. So, I hopped in my car and drove to the closest CVS. I had to have it - right then and there. It wasn't in stock, but knowing that the closest CVS has lost its beauty expert, I decided to try two other nearby stores. I was obsessed! I didn't find it that day, or the next, or even a few weeks later. One day in June, as I was strolling by the LIERAC display, it caught my eye, and it was finally mine. It was worth the wait!

White flowers (camellia, jasmine, and gardenia) join argan, sweet almond, grape seed, and hazelnut oils in this multitasking elixir for body, hair, and face. The luxurious sensory oil provides 24-hour hydration that nourishes and softens the skin and hair. The fragrance is absolutely intoxicating. It's light, refreshing, and relaxing.

Sensorielle provides long-lasting moisture. I've been using it on my body before bed, and I drift off to sleep feeling cleanly moist. It's a dry oil, meaning it doesn't feel greasy, and it absorbs quickly, leaving behind a sublime scent that I can smell many hours later. Last night, I happened to awaken about four hours after I had applied it. Always testing, I smelled my arms to see if the white flowers were still there. They were; it was a light, comforting scent, one that helped me drift off again. Eight hours later? I could still smell it.

It has a spray cap, which I love, except that the spray dispenses as a stream. If it were diffused, I could spray it right onto my target areas. Instead, I spray it into my palm and apply it with my hands. The good news is that my hands are left with a divine smell, since the oil itself absorbs so quickly. I don't bother to wash it off.

I have never used Sensorielle on my hair. I'm not a big fan of oils to de-frizz or hydrate my hair. My hair is too fine and will go limp with only the suggestion of weight (or humidity). I'm sure those who love argan and other oils for their hair will love Sensorielle too. I do plan to use it in my bath water, as soon as I get a second bottle. For now, I don't want to waste any of this precious elixir by mixing it with water.

You can find Sensorielle at your favorite source for LIERAC products or at LIERAC's Web site. It's a must-have for white flower lovers!

Update 7/12: I forgot to mention that Sensorielle is a limited edition. The bottle tag reminded me today.

Photo courtesy of LIERAC

Red Flower Kinmoxei Wild Lime Silk Oil

Red Flower Kinmoxei Wild Lime Silk Oil ($44) has been one of my bathroom staples for years. I realized this past weekend that I had never written about it - or any other Red Flower product I use. I'm changing that today!

Kinmoxei Wild Lime Silk Oil was inspired by the fifth step of a Japanese cleansing ritual that has been perfected by centuries of attention to the sensual and thorough art of caring for the body.

The first thing you notice about Kinmoxei Wild Lime Silk Oil is the unusual, exotic fragrance. The blend of the beautifully tiny, yet intensely scented, kinmoxei flowers and hints of wild lime, vetivert, and ylang ylang in rice bran, leave the skin fragrant. The bergamot and wild lime help to warm and stimulate the skin to bring a healthy glow to the surface. Rice bran and monoi oil, which are high in vitamin E and fatty acids, add moisture and antioxidants that are quickly absorbed. The blend of penetrating nutrients leaves the skin soft, scented, and radiant.

Its key ingredient is concentrated hydrolyzed silk for true softness that renews the skin and leaves it supple and healthy. Natural silk proteins provide intensely penetrating moisture to smoothe and soften the skin.

The company says to dispense several highly penetrating drops into your hands and blend the oil generously into water-misted skin (or skin still damp from bathing). Then deeply massage the oil from the nape of your neck to the bottom of your feet, becoming aware of the radiant energy circulating freely throughout your entire system. Believe! The experience is warming and pleasant. I've also been known to spritz bath water with the oil and just soak in the aromatherapy treat.

Red Flower (which technically should be all lower case, but that hurts my eyes) was launched nationally in 1999 at Barneys New York with six flower candles and two organic flower teas. The line continues to evolve and grow, with over a hundred products, each with a generosity of scent, health, and environmental consciousness, performance, and integrity - all of which make Red Flower so innovative (and good for you). The products are entirely free of drying agents and harsh preservatives. They are not tested on animals. The ingredients are 100% botanically based and essential oil-derived. The packaging is 77% post-consumer recycled paper, and it's printed at a 100% wind-powered plant. You can feel good about using Red Flower products.

You can find them at many sources now. A few are Barneys New York, LuckyScent, the Red Flower Web site, and Amazon.

Photo courtesy of Red Flower

RODIN Olio Lusso Luxury Body Oil

Some may consider body oils an indulgence. I consider them a necessity. There are so many nice ones from which to choose! I have known about RODIN's top-of-the-line Olio Lusso Luxury Body Oil ($95) for a long time, but I never really wanted to pay for it, given the many fabulous body oils in my collection already.

Not too long ago, I finally decided it was time to try RODIN's Olio Lusso Luxury Body Oil, and am I glad I did! Olio Lusso is an aromatic blend of 11 essential oils derived from flowers and other essential botanicals. Every one of them is known to hydrate, soothe, and soften the skin and make it glow. Olio Lusso is more than a liquid moisturizer; it's a natural, chemical-free fragrance as well. The scent is an aromatherapy treat.

I love to apply it before bed to lull me into a sense of well-being. One of my mental tricks for relaxation used to be imagining a garden, filled with beautiful flowers, all grown to perfection. Must have been something akin to counting daisy petals.

Linda Rodin, the creator of Olio Lusso oils, must have seen my garden! She spent 40 years as a stylist and editor in the fashion and beauty industry working behind the runway scenes and magazine covers, including a stint as a fashion editor for Harper's Bazaar. During that career, she saw every skin care product the industry had to offer. She said that she became disillusioned with the hype, knowing that many of the promises of eternal youth and instant gratification were bunk (my word, not hers). So she set out to develop a simple product - one that would drench the skin in moisture and make it look and smell good at the same time.

Her Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil ($140), her miracle elixir for the face, was the result of her quest. Once she tested it on models, makeup artists, and celebrities, she knew she had a hit. Word spread within the industry that Linda's face oil was a must-have. It made sense that she used her fab formula to create a body oil.

Here's what's in Olio Lusso Luxury Body Oil: Jojoba Seed Oil, Jasmine Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Orange Flower Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, and Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil (yep, our favorite argan oil). That's it! No chemicals, no preservatives, no stabilizers. You should hop over to RODIN's Web site to read about each of these botanical ingredients, what they do, and how. Once you do, you'll understand why this body oil smells so good - and works so well!

So, the next time you're in the mood to treat yourself (like I was after cracking a few ribs), remember RODIN Olio Lusso Luxury Body Oil. You can find it at Beautyhabit in the U.S. Glowgetter carries it in the U.K. It's also available in tony spas and shops. There's a locator at the RODIN Web site.

You will love the way your skin feels!

Photo courtesy of Beautyhabit

Dauget Huile Seche pour le Corps - My Favorite Olive Oil for the Skin

This is one of my secrets - secret because Dauget's Huile Seche pour le Corps is incredibly hard to find! Made by the French company, Dauget, the spray body oil is made with 100% organic extra virgin olive oil, sunflower oil, arnica oil (good for sore muscles!), marigold oil, vitamin E, and St. John's Wort oil. It has a heavenly scent and melts on the skin. I spritz with it almost every night before bed.

The use of olive oil in skin care dates back to ancient times. Cleopatra was known to take baths in olive oil. The Greeks and the Romans slathered their bodies with olive oil after a bath to hydrate their skin and protect against the acidity of water. Olive oil was also used for hair treatments.

Dauget points out olive oil's unique properties for skin care.

• It's a pure fruit extract, an elixir of youth, and a fruit juice! In fact, olive oil is the only oil made from a fruit. All other oils are made from grains or seeds of fruit, but not from the fruit itself.
• Olive oil is rich in vitamins A a E, antioxidants that neutralize free radicals in the body.
• It's rich in chlorophyll, a natural anti-aging substance, with notable nutritional and medicinal qualities known to stimulate wound healing and cell renewal.It's also rich in squalene, a natural organic compound and rich emollient that penetrates extremely well into the skin. Squalene is usually found in the liver of cartilaginous fishes, such as sharks. Since we don't approve of using squalene from animals, olive is the best source.
• Olive oil also helps regulate the secretion of sebum, which maintains and restores moisture in the skin and hair.

Do you know the olive oil basics?

• Olive is a fall/winter fruit.
• Out of twenty delicate flowers, only one olive will form.
• An olive contains 15 to 25% oil.
• The olive harvest in the south of France is called “Olivade,” and olives are harvested from October to February by “Oliveuses” (olive pickers).
• In Provence, the ritual of Olivade today is no different from that practiced at the beginning of the century due to the commitment of olive associations that demand excellence in their produce.
• The hand-picking of olives one by one is considered ideal because it respects the integrity and purity of the olive.
• Olive oil is the only oil that does not foam. Consequently, you can test the authenticity of olive oil by shaking it. If it foams it means that it has been mixed with another type of oil.

If you can find this luxurious Dauget Huile Seche pour le Corps, I highly recommend that you try it. There are a few spas and boutiques in the Washington, D.C. area that carry it. Their distributor even has two Virginia phone numbers: (703) 534-9021 and (703) 992-4072. I left messages at both trying to find you more sources. When I hear back, I'll post an update.

Photo courtesy of Dauget

Belou's P Lorient Fragrant Body Oil

How does this sound for heavenly? Created in Saint-Barth with rose hip oil from Chile and Vitamins A, E, and F...no alcohol, no coloring, no artificial preservatives - just voluptuously natural and organic fragranced oils for the body and hair. Belou's P makes all-natural and organic fragrant oils, a tanning oil, a mosquito repellent oil, and a 100% vegetable soap.

Although they had been written up in Town & Country, W, and Bazaar, I stumbled upon the Belou's P Body Oils at Beautyhabit. Each fragrant oil is named for a different island beach. Colombier, enriched by lily, jasmine, and frangipani, sounded right up my alley. It was the first one I purchased. Used to moisturize or as a substitute for perfume, the body oil leaves a scent that is rich, floral, and tropical. I find it intoxicating. Not only that, the bottle is beautiful and recyclable.

Beautyhabit sells the body oil in two other scents. I couldn't believe that either could rival Columbier. Because of its name, I thought Lorient might be an oriental blend. I was so wrong! Lorient ($38) is a sensuous floral blend of tuberose, gardenia, narcissus, and iris. I bought it two weeks ago, and when it came, I wore it to bed. It's nothing short of divine. I'm living in it now. Just like its sister Colombier, Lorient telegraphs rich, floral, and tropical flowers, transporting you to the islands. Once you have visited the islands, you never forget the smells; they become ingrained in your memory, emerging when you catch a whiff of a fragrance like the Belou's P Body Oil.

The third scent, Chauvette, is said to radiate warm spices, santal wood, and lime. I'm not a spice lover, but it may be just the thing for you! If it's as enticing as the other two, I'm sure it has plenty of fans.

Pick your scent and try one! The fragrance will last for hours, enriching your mood while it moisturizes your skin.

Given the season, I'm thinking about trying the Belou's P Mosquito Repellent Oil ($35). I meant to try it last year and never got around to it. Advertised to keep mosquitoes away, the oil is also supposed to help with the itchy, unsightly red welts from bites. If this summer is like our last few, I am going to need it.

Head over to Beautyhabit. Let them tempt you with the Belou's P line.

Photo courtesy of Beautyhabit

Adara Organic Coconut Virgin Oil

On each visit to Art with Flowers in the Tysons Galleria, I find something new and delightful. Recently, it was Adara's Organic Coconut Virgin Oil ($30). True to its name, Adara (which means beauty in Greek and virgin in Arabic), Coconut Virgin Oil is made with a 100% extract of virgin coconut milk, pressed into an oil for face, body, and hair. It's luxurious and decadently rich!

Organic Coconut Virgin Oil includes good stuff for your skin, such as lauric acid, vitamin E, and antioxidants, and has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. The pure coconut oil is so fresh it is processed from its original coconut shell within 24 hours of harvesting and packaged in Singapore.

The oil is an intensive skin booster – it helps prevent premature aging and wrinkling, is perfect for dry rough patches, and aids in the removal of dead skin cells to promote new growth of smooth and supple skin. You can massage it into your hair and then cover with a shower cap or warm towel for a superbly deep conditioning treatment, or apply it on dry ends to smooth unruly locks. I poured a bit in my bath and soaked in it - heavenly. In the last few days, though, I have simply massaged it into my dry skin.

There is one unscented oil, to which you can add your favorite essential oil to create your own signature fragranced oil. There are five scented oils available, all with specially blended fragrances from Japan: Oriental Jasmine, Soothing Lavender, Heavenly Peach, Innocent Rose, and Refreshing Green Tea. I fell for Heavenly Peach. The Adara oil reminds me of Bio Oil, but with your choice of fragrance, it's more of an aromatherapy treat.

Because the oil is pure, you don't want to let it get too cold. If you do, it solidifies and you'll have to put the bottle in some warm water to re-liquify it. I brought home a solid bottle that had been stored in a cold room, but the heat from my home's second floor, with the gorgeous warm weather we had had, liquified it over a two-day period.

The Adara Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is available in two sizes at Art with Flowers, Amazon, and b~glowing.com.

Photo courtesy of Adara

Dauget Huile Seche pour le Corps

This is one of my secrets - secret because this stuff is incredibly hard to find! Made by the French company, Dauget, the spray body oil is made with 100% organic extra virgin olive oil, sunflower oil, arnica oil, marigold oil, Vitamin E, and St. John's Wort oil. It has a heavenly scent and melts on the skin. I spritz with it every night before bed.

I was buying it from Art with Flowers at the Tysons Galleria in McLean, Virginia, but they (Bill and Jose) stopped carrying it. There are a few spas that are listed online as offering it. Guess I'll have to find a French source when I run out. Either that or see if I can pester my friends at Art with Flowers to order a case for me! Just in case you live near Washington, DC, check out Art with Flowers. They carry wonderful, hard-to-find fragrances and home products - quite a boutique. And their floral design services are extraordinary.

If you can find this luxurious body oil, I highly recommend that you try it.

Photo courtesy of Dauget.