By Kilian Asian Tales Giveaway Contest - Water Calligraphy and Bamboo Harmony

Thanks to the wonderful and generous Mindy Yang at MiN New York Apothecary & Atelier, an amazing emporium of niche fragrances and a gathering place for perfume lovers, I have 10 sample sets of By Kilian's new Asian Tales fragrances to give away to Best Things in Beauty readers! I featured Kilian Hennessy earlier this week, and I told you about his two latest introductions, Water Calligraphy and Bamboo Harmony - both of which I adore. Spray samples of both fragrances are enclosed in these fold-out stories.

Kilian Hennessy's newest collection, Asian Tales, was first conceived as a spiritual journey, with significance and relevance behind the meanings of symbols and words. All of his collections have a narrative. As the first two creations in Asian Tales, Water Calligraphy and Bamboo Harmony, took shape,"every detail was placed with careful attention and with the intent to pay homage to this great [Asian] culture.”

Kilian confirmed for me that both fragrances were developed to appeal to an Asian aesthetic that includes a preference for light fragrances. Those who want their fragrances to announce their presence in a room and leave a trail behind them probably won't like the new By Kilian scents. I love them! I appreciate a light, perfectly crafted harmony of notes that's personal. I don't want others to smell me from four feet away. I'm looking for a more intimate connection with fragrance. I want to enjoy it, and I'm happy if anyone within a few feet of me can enjoy it. I may overuse the term "office-friendly," but Water Calligraphy and Bamboo Harmony are office-friendly.

Water Calligraphy Eau de Parfum ($225) is an "olfactive impression of an aquatic flower sitting next to a pond of water lilies...a moment of delicacy. A harmonious duo of sparking grapefruit zest and reseda blossom underlined by dewy water lily awaken the senses. In the heart, the majestic jasmine sambac enhances the evanescent magnolia, giving an impression of quiet water sliding over cardamon and vetiver, like Chinese ink slides on rice paper."

Bamboo Harmony Eau de Parfum ($225) wears an aura of subtle sips of white tea taken in the heart of a bamboo grove, "a moment of spirituality." "Bamboo Harmony opens with luminous notes of bergamot, bigarade, and neroli. It evolves through a comforting heart combining white tea leaves and mimosa, highlighted with a very light touch of spices. The character of the trail is given a rare mate essence interlaced with sensual fig leaves and oak moss." Like Water Calligraphy, Bamboo Harmony is light, but long-lasting on my skin.

I haven't formed the words yet to tell you in personal terms how much I love these fragrances. Yesterday, I wore Bamboo Harmony to meet up with friends for a late lunch. We were outdoors on the terrace, and with the humidity, I caught an occasional whiff of the wonderful fruity white tea fragrance. It's so fresh. Water Calligraphy, is an elegant aquatic floral with a touch of fruit that gives it a sparkling presence. If you separate your fragrances by season, these are perfect for summer.

Members of the Kilian Club at Facebook were sent complimentary samples of both fragrances right before they arrived at the fine stores that offer By Kilian (such as MiN). If you didn't know about that club, you have a second chance - here. How can you enter to win this contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, May 12, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winners - all 10 of them. I will e-mail the winners on Sunday morning. The winners will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, any unclaimed prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I may not be able to replace it with another prize. I really can't even identify the contents on customs forms. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photos by Best Things in Beauty