Art with Flowers - Favorite DC-Area Boutique

Interested in an elegant boutique that specializes in home and personal fragrances, flowers, gifts of all kinds, decorative accents for your home, and art? There is a fabulous one nearby if you live in the DC area. I am surprised at how many locals have never heard about Art with Flowers at the Tysons Galleria. Perhaps it's their third-floor location between Macy's and Crane & Co. (something akin to Siberia in the mall)?

Art with Flowers is my all-time favorite boutique - not only for the merchandise, but also for the friendly atmosphere and the ever-present, adorable Teacup Yorkie mascot, Bunchie, who fell asleep in my lap the other day. If you have a little extra time over the next few weeks, check it out! You won't be disappointed.

Where to start in describing the variety you'll find there? I'll start with the fragrances. Art with Flowers has brands you won't find in department stores. Unusual, classy, and something to please every taste - brands you won't see in other local boutiques. The owners, Bill and José, seek out chic, cult fragrances that may lead you to want one of everything. Some of the fragrances they carry can be found online at b~glowing, Beautyhabit, and LuckyScent, but you can smell them before you buy if you stop by Art with Flowers. Examples range from the well-known, but hard-to-find Kai, Maille, Laurence Dumont, L'Artisan, and Serge Lutens, to unique brands I haven't seen anywhere else, such as Pecksniff's, No 10, and 06130.

There are personal care products too, including Aesop, Organic Salvage (they even have a shampoo for your dog!), Diana B, and Pure Figi.

Not only do they have a vast array of choices to make you smell good, they also have the best selection of home fragrances around. Diffusers, candles, room sprays, and more are all available at every price point. My favorite, the pricey Rosso Nobile, came from Art with Flowers, but you don't have to spend that kind of money to brighten your home with fragrance. You could bring a touch of the tropics with Malie, or try something new with an Altru candle.

Art with Flowers creates the most elegant flower arrangements in Northern Virginia. They do the flowers for the Ritz Carlton at Tysons - a testament to their craft. Whenever I send flowers locally, I call Art with Flowers. I also buy the orchids for my office there. The orchids are of such high quality that they bloom for months and then rebloom after a rest. I took flower arranging classes in a "former life," and I am so impressed with the flush elegance of the arrangements they send out. On occasion, I have gasped as they left with flowers for a local customer - I would have killed to grab one and take it home! Instead, I headed into the flower cooler to appreciate the variety and color of the flowers ready to be part of someone's celebration.

You would think that would be enough, but Art with Flowers offers the most gorgeous accent rugs I have ever seen, cards (I stocked up on Christmas cards at a 50% discount a few days ago), chocolates, tea, small serving pieces, lamps, vases, pillows, shawls, CDs - you name it. There's a little of everything there.

Stop by, get yourself on their customer list, and you will be invited to their frequent parties - just like going to a party at a friend's house - only better. You meet so many new people, while eating and drinking a mix of catered and home-cooked food (José is a fab cook). In addition to being a great boutique, Art with Flowers has a reputation for being a diverse gathering place for people who appreciate beauty in all of its forms - friends from every nation who find themselves staying in the DC area. Recently, the boutique had a party to showcase local perfumers and jewelry designers. It was great fun meeting the artists whose passion for their work was evident in their beautiful and fragrant creations. Of course, the food and wine were divine.

Stop by Art with Flowers sometime soon. Or call them at (703-903-6837) if you need to order flowers or want help selecting a unique gift. Tell them Best Things in Beauty sent you. I'll bet you'll be glad you found a cool, new place to shop.

Photo courtesy of Art with Flowers

Laurence Dumont Les Senteurs Gourmandes

Laurence Dumont Laboratories in southwestern France produces some of the nicest vanilla-based fragrances I have tried this year. The company's founder, Nadine Petit, produces sensuous perfumes using high-quality, classic essences from around the world. The result is a unique range of scents that are warm and voluptuous.

Some of Laurence Dumont's best-selling scents are included in the Les Senteurs Gourmandes line. The company has combined vanilla with everything from bourbon, chocolate, apricot, and figs to blueberries and orchids to create soul-warming fragrances.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to play with all of Les Senteurs Gourmandes at Art with Flowers in the Tysons Galleria. I had a blast! Each of them took me to an imaginary kitchen, scented with baked goods, fruits, and flowers. They are all dive-in fragrances. Spray one into the crook of your arm, and your nose will find its way there every few minutes for a whiff. Vanilla has that effect on people - it's comfort food in a bottle.

Imagine Vanille Monoi, like the generous caress of a summer sun. A beautiful blend of vanilla, tiare, and coconut-scented air mixed with citrus fruits and island breezes carrying a light mist of sweet rose and jasmine. I'm sure this one was made for me!

Vanille Frangipanier, shown here, is my second favorite. It has top notes of lemon, almond, and toffee; middle notes of ylang ylang, spices, and milk; and base notes of white musc, woods, and big-time vanilla.

Could I stop with two? No! There's Vanille Bourbon, a melange of bourbon vanilla, anise, toffee, red berries, coconut, and white musc. This is José's (Art with Flowers) favorite of the line, and it's seductive. I was also taken with Tendre Madeline until I detected a faint note of cinnamon. I know the world loves cinnamon, but it makes me run for cover. Then there's Fig Sauvage, the scent of "sun-drenched fruit," with green notes, ylang ylang, fig, and violet over the vanilla base. It's a beauty.

Each of the 10 eau de parfums in the line is long-lasting, giving you a day's worth of fragrance with just one or two sprays. A 100-ml eau de parfum spray costs $50.00 - a recent price reduction with the relaunch of the line after a multi-year absence. Some of the scents are available in shower gels.

If you like vanilla-based fragrances, you should look these up. There's one for every taste. Art with Flowers at the Tysons Galleria has the full range of Laurence Dumont's Les Senteurs Gourmandes. Other sources can be found at this link. If there is no source near you, give Bill a call at Art with Flowers (703-903-6837). He will be glad to help you select a favorite and ship it to you. The line is also available at the Lush Oasis Web site, but it appears you will pay a little more than you would at Art with Flowers (Lush Oasis doesn't reflect the recent price reduction).

Photo courtesy of Laurence Dumont

Home Fragrance Diffusers

As I spend more time indoors over the winter, I turn to home fragrance diffusers to make indoor time more pleasant. There's nothing like walking in the front door to the fragrance of blooming jasmine or entering a kitchen filled with the scent of fruit.

While they used to be "exotic" and hard to find, fragrance diffusers are widely available today. I have so many favorites, I will only mention a few in this post. I have bought many at Art with Flowers at Tysons Galleria, but they are available in department stores, boutiques, and gift shops; at Amazon; and on company Web sites. They have become mainstream.

How does Tuberose, Hyacinth & Lily of the Valley ($62 to $92, depending on size) sound? Antica Farmacista makes a heavenly floral diffuser in these scents. It's the scent of spring, but I love it year round.

You may remember that I wrote up the Art with Flowers star of the show, Rosse Nobile, in July. Elegant and expensive, the fragrance fills my home with an indescribably enticing and voluptuous fragrance. I have never smelled anything quite like it! The top notes are dominated by strawberry and blackberry, but mixed in are tannins from red wine, citrus, violets, and roses. This short description doesn't really do it justice. It's just heavenly. It wraps you in luxury. Men and women find it intoxicating - we keep sniffing at the bottle!

Anthousa makes a wide variety of fragrances, and I have bought several over the last few years. I am anxious to get a whiff of a new limited-edition signature fragrance inspired by hand-painted wallpaper created by de Gournay of London in a creative alliance with distinguished artists in China. Touched by the elegance of one particular piece of original art, Jardinières and Citrus Trees ($114) is a blend of top notes of Italian mandarin, Sicilian tangerine and Valencia orange, with subtle hints of mountain fir, petitgrain, peppermint, and lemon leaves grounded with dry notes of cedarwood, woodland moss, and white musk. I can almost smell this in my kitchen! Shown to the right, doesn't it look gorgeous? Even the box is pretty.

One more that I have to mention is Agraria's Mediterranean Jasmine ($110). This exquisite bouquet of florals includes Mediterranean jasmine, blooming honeysuckle, gardenia buds, freesia, lily of the valley, and tuberose. The presentation in an Italian crystal perfume bottle with glass stopper is classy.

The concept is simple. There is a fragranced liquid in the container, and the porous wooden sticks soak up the liquid. You turn the sticks over every day (or every other day), and the fragrance spreads its luscious scent throughout the room.

Do you have to spend a hundred dollars or more to purchase fragrance diffusers? Absolutely not. They are available in a wide variety of price points, with scents to match your tastes. Try one!

You can find the diffusers described here at Art with Flowers at the Tysons Galleria, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Amazon, and other sources. Or, just try your local fragrance or home furnishing shops.

Photos courtesy of Saks, Nordstrom, and Anthousa

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

L'Artisan Parfumeur Havana Vanille

L'Artisan Parfumeur's latest introduction, Havana Vanille, officially launches this month. Called the fragrance of a magical place, Havana Vanille was created by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour to evoke "travels around the world, the nostalgia of crossing the seven seas to discover far-off treasures, and the smell of a wooden boat mingling with the aroma of rum and spice." From its vibrant Salsa rhythms to its famous cigars and rum, the mystique of Havana, Cuba, was bottled by Duchaufour. Worked for me!

Just in case you haven't figured it out, I'm most comfortable with florals and fruits. Too many spices trigger my cut-and-run instincts. This one is different. I first wore it on my wrist, a place I could easily scrub to remove it if my nose said enough. I didn't have to scrub; I found my nose wandering to my wrist for frequent whiffs.

At the soul of the fragrance is the Mexican vanilla pod soaked in aged rum, the makings of a good exotic drink. There are notes of clove (which I don't smell), crystallized dried fruit, rum, mandarin orange, leather, tobacco, powder, honey, narcissus, tonka bean, balms, smoked woods, vetiver, and musks around a vanilla absolute that's dry, creamy, mellow, and addictive. You'll be the exotic drink wearing this one. Men will lean into it to inhale the seductive, yet charming blend of sweet and spicy scents. In fact, men may want to wear this fragrance.

Vanilla fragrance lovers will find Havana Vanille unique, complex, and sophisticated. You would think the world has enough vanilla-based fragrances, and then along comes one that's unique and powerful. If you love fragrances with vanilla, spices, tobacco, and woods, you will want to seek out this one. Even if you don't think you love those fragrances, like me, you may like this one. Bill at Art with Flowers, who provided me with the pre-release sample, isn't going to believe I like it!

As soon as supplies arrive this month, you will find Havana Vanille at Art with Flowers at the Tysons Galleria, Bluemercury, and Henri Bendel. You can order a sample from L'Artisan's Web site, and, I'm sure, you can order the fragrance when it's available. It will cost $115 or $155 for 50 ml or 100 ml, respectively.

Don't forget that you're invited to a party the afternoon of November 15 at Art with Flowers. DC locals will find fragrances, gifts, and flowers galore (this is where I buy the orchids for my office). Join the party, and you will save 5% on all purchases by mentioning Best Things in Beauty when you pull out that credit card. You'll have fun too. Art with Flowers has fabulous parties! And you can smell and pre-order Havana Vanille if it moves you, but hasn't arrived.

Happy Veterans Day, and to all of our veterans, our sincere thanks for your service!

Photo courtesy of L'Artisan Parfumeur

06130 Lierre Rose and an Art with Flowers Event

The zip code for Grasse is 06130, the brand name of one of the most enchanting fragrances I wear. Grasse is a picturesque town in France that became the world capital of perfume during the 17th century and remains a world center of perfume creativity and production today.

My favorite fragrance from 06130, Lierre Rose ($125), is one of those fragrances you want to dive into. Master Perfumer Jacques Chabert set out to create a floral perfume of unparalleled quality using rare and costly natural absolutes, essential oils, and concretes (a result of fragrance extraction). I think he succeeded.

"Lierre," of course, is ivy, so the translation of Lierre Rose is Ivy Rose. While I don't think ivy is in the fragrance, there are green notes. The top notes are Indian tuberose concrete, rose, cypress, Guatemalan cardamom, Madagascar ylang ylang, violet absolute from Grasse, and neroli. Jasmine petals, tuberose, rose, ylang ylang, and violet are its heart. The bottom notes are Haitian vetiver oil, tuberose, rose, sandalwood, and Indian tuberose concrete. This symphony adds up to one of the most delectable fragrances I wear. When you first spray it, you smell roses. Then, almost immediately, it blooms into something much more complex - a true bouquet with a touch of powder on the side.

Lierre Rose is feminine and elegant. Its elegance reminds me of Joy in a sense. It's lighter, though; the green notes make it a more diverse garden. It's intoxicating, and it has serious staying power. A few sprays in the morning, and I can still smell it on myself 12 hours later. I love that!

Here's what LuckyScent has to say about Lierre Rose.

A luminous green rose unfolds in Lierre Rose, a composition that combines the honeyed allure of roses with crisp ivy leaves. The floral melange of tuberose, rose, and ylang ylang is lit up by the warmth of cardamon. The radiance of neroli lifts up the richness of roses, and woven trough the composition is a verdant accord. Lierre Rose is a bouquet masterpiece of fragrant flowers, and you'll become a faithful 06130 follower once you experience this creation by perfumer Jacques Chabert.

They got that right! I have become a 06130 devotee. If you like floral fragrances, you should look for this one. Can you tell I love it?

You can purchase Lierre Rose and other 06130 fragrances at LuckyScent or Beautyhabit. I also found Lierre Rose for $110 at the Perfume Shop online.

Party Alert!
If you are interested in 06130 fragrances, Best Things in Beauty can save you some money - while you are having fun. If you live anywhere near Northern Virginia, you might want to consider shopping at Art with Flowers in the Tysons Galleria. They carry 06130 and countless other unique, hard-to-find fragrances. This coming Sunday, November 15, from noon to 6:00 pm, Art with Flowers is having a Fall Festival. Local perfumers and jewelry designers will be featured. Join the party, and you will save 5% on all purchases by mentioning Best Things in Beauty when you pull out that credit card. You'll have fun too. Art with Flowers has fabulous parties!

Photo courtesy of LuckyScent

Kai - Another Cult Fragance Favorite

There's no question I'm a floral fragrance fanatic - a selective fanatic, though. My florals have to be "pure," meaning they cannot contain ubiquitous stink bombs like patchouli or amber.

Kai is a blend of gardenia and white flowers (jasmine, tuberose, and lily). It evokes Hawaii, where the creator spent her youthful vacations, or Florida, where I loved to sit near the gardenias in a friend's garden. Perhaps I inherited my love of gardenias from my mother; she carried a gardenia bouquet at her wedding to my father, a marriage that lasted until he died in his 80s a few years ago.

Kai is light, green, clean, and heavenly. What's great about Kai is that there are so many products to love. There is the Eau de Parfum Spray ($72) for those who simply want a spray fragrance. The Perfume Oil ($45), which comes in a rollerball, is perfect for throwing in your purse. One really cool product is the Body Glow Spray ($30). This is a lightly fragranced spray body oil that adds a bit of glow to your skin - nothing dramatic, just a nice clean sheen. The new Body Butter ($60 in a big jar) has a shea butter base that leaves you moisturized and irresistible.

There's more! Check out Kai at Beautyhabit.com, LuckyScent, or Google Kai if you like florals. Devotees include Charlize Theron, Cate Blanchett, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Gardner, Tyra Banks, and Mariah Carey - and then there's me.

Although this fragrance has been available for years, it's still not well-known. Perhaps because it's not a department store or magazine ad staple? DCers: you can buy it at Art with Flowers at the Tysons Galleria.

Photo courtesy of Kai.

L'Artisan 2007 Limited Edition Fleur d'Oranger

A few weeks ago, I said I would review L'Artisan's Fleur d'Oranger ($295), a limited edition Eau de Parfum. I had bought the original 2005 Fleur d'Oranger, which sold out. I am still wearing it because the bottle is generous in size (I suspect I am actually hoarding it). As soon as the 2007 edition was introduced, I purchased it. Now, I need to buy another 2007 before it becomes "extinct."

I thought about how I would describe this wonderful fragrance and decided that I couldn't match Lusciouscargo, so here's an edited quote.

"Fleur d'Oranger was the first fragrance in L'Artisan's brilliant new series of outstanding perfumes that share one simple trait: each is dependent on the vagaries of climate, cultivation, and harvesting - in essence these scents celebrate an exceptional vintage year of a particular natural raw material. The stellar crop was reserved exclusively for L’Artisan Parfumeur - quite an innovative and clever concept - and judging by the overwhelmingly enthusiastic reception this perfume has enjoyed, it's safe to say L'Artisan's novel and ambitious new series will most certainly endure.

By definition, each entry will be a (very) limited edition; since the shrewd folks at L'Artisan have purchased the entire crop, once it's exhausted it cannot be recreated or duplicated. Each perfume is presented in the stunning L'Artisan fashion we've all come to adore, and each bottle is numbered.

And the first exclusive raw material in the series? Tunisian orange blossom - the '04 harvest - which was a very good year indeed. Harvested and processed in the Tunisian fields, each and every one of these orange blossoms was reserved for L'Artisan. How incredibly cool!

Now, to our infinite delight, they have brought it to us again - new crop, same sublime artistry. Doubtless, the fact that the original Fleur d'Oranger sold out nationally in about 45 minutes had something to do with their decision to brighten our lives once again with an orange blossom fragrance that is, to put it mildly, without peer.

For the first creation of this new collection of “Grand Cru,” L’Artisan Parfumeur’s hallmark 100 ml bottle is adorned with a slew of elegant details: the facets are engraved with orange blossoms, the bottle is numbered and signed (2990 copies). It is topped with a copper cap reminiscent of one you might find in a still, and nestled in custom-printed silk paper. The presentation: a coolly elegant wooden box fastened with a sliver of grosgrain ribbon and L'Artisan signature brass coin. And finally, the bottle is engraved on all four sides - a la the Grandes Reserves."

The single-note fragrance is all about orange blossom, and it's blended with petit grain and beeswax. People at work stop me and ask what I'm wearing. I can't smell it, but obviously, it lasts. I feel transported to a grove of orange trees in bloom when I spray it - sublime!

There is a difference between the 2005 and 2007 editions, but I won't tempt you with something you can't get. Other limited editions have been Iris Padilla and Fleur de Narcisse. I purchased the Fleur de Narcisse, but gifted it to a very good friend because there was a hint of tobacco in it. My nose couldn't get past the masculinity of that note, despite the very floral nature of the rest of the blend.

Fleur d'Oranger is available at Lusciouscargo, LuckyScent, and L'Artisan. Art with Flowers at Tysons Galleria also has it, but shhh, don't tell anyone before I get my next bottle. I'm saving up.

Photo courtesy of Lusciouscargo.

L'Artisan's New Fleur de Liane

L'Artisan has introduced a floral perfume, Fleur de Liane (Flower of the Vine). With notes of leaves, guava, magnolia, tuberose, frangipani, vetiver, guaiac, patchouli (yes, it's there, but it's not obnoxious), and moss, it's the line's latest trip to the islands. It's unique, as all L'Artisan fragrances are, and it's worth checking out.

Here's what the L'Artisan Web site has to say about the mysterious Flower of the Vine of Panama.

"The fourth perfume in L'Artisan Parfumeur's Travel Series, Fleur de Liane was created by a renowned perfumer to commemorate his trip to the island of Bahia Honda in Panama. Inspired by the sultry, tropical atmosphere of the island, Fleur de Liane celebrates lush rains and the ocean, the exuberant green of leaves, the mossy and woody aroma of the sap, and the mysterious, narcotic white flower of the tropical forest. A perfumer's dream of an exotic flower, an enthralling and wild fragrance!" Hmm...white flowers, tropical, wild...I was inspired to go smell it.

To get started without breaking the bank, you can purchase the Scented Body Cream ($50) at Art with Flowers in the Tysons Galleria or from any store carrying L'Artisan. The ingredients include apricot nut oil and Vitamin E, so it's good for the skin in addition to having a unique floral fragrance. I put it in the crook of my arm, and seven hours later, it was still there. Long-lasting is good!

The Eau de Toilette Spray, shown above, is $135. Art with Flowers carries the full range of L'Artisan products, including the limited edition fragrances. If you can stop by, say hello to owners Bill and Jose.

L'Artisan Parfumeur has stores all over the U.S. and Canada, and you can also shop on their Web site. Sometime soon, I'll tell you about their limited edition Fleur d'Oranger 2007, which is one of my all-time favorite fragrances - extraordinary.

Photo courtesy of L'Artisan.

BURN - Wonderful Lotions, Soaps, and Candles

BURN (yes, an awfully strange name for a line of heavenly scented products) makes some of the nicest hand and body lotions, hand and body soaps, and candles you will ever "smell" or use. A few of my favorites are on sale at Beautyhabit, meaning, I fear, that they are about to be replaced by newer products (sometimes change isn't all that good). Right now, though, you can purchase Kaffir Lime Basil body cream, hand lotion, and other BURN Liquid scented products for a deep discount. Not only that, a $100 or more BURN purchase at Beautyhabit now will earn you a complimentary full-sized Pink Pepper Candle, a $60 value.

I keep two of BURN's hand lotions on my desk at work, and I have frequent visitors who come for nothing more than a squirt of hand lotion. The two I have at work are Kaffir Lime Basil and Blood Orange Neroli, which I purchased at Art with Flowers in the Tysons Galleria in Virginia. The hand soap is a luxurious addition to any kitchen sink or any bathroom.

The BURN candles ($55-60) are fabulous - not only for their scent, but also for how long they last. Among my favorites are the two fragrances listed above, Lemon Honeysuckle Vine, Tunisian Orange Blossom, and Tiare Coconut Milk. Just read Beautyhabit's "transporting" description of the Lemon Honeysuckle Vine Candle..."Truly a classic fragrance that reminds us of the English countryside in the first rush of summer, with wild honeysuckle growing roadside, ivy trailing up the aged walls, and the first fruit from lemon trees kept through the winter in estate greenhouses." I'm there!

Hurry on over to Beautyhabit for those discounts on BURN Liquid products. You won't regret it. I'm headed over now to take advantage of the deep discounts. Use code BHBELLA at checkout for a free small Tocca candle (available until August 14) with a purchase of $65 or more.

Photo courtesy of Beautyhabit.

It's a Good Time for Tropicals

Isn't it a nice time for tropical scents? "Hawaii's premiere organic skin care products" come from a company called Malie Organics (mah-lee-ay). They offer hand soaps, room fragrance diffusers, soy candles, body washes and creams, aroma mists, and more. Here's what they have to say about their ingredients.

"At Malie Organics, we’ve created a sustainable approach to providing the purest, natural ingredients our island paradise has to offer. Our reverence for the land and commitment to the preservation of natural resources guides us in our organic farming methods and in harvesting our wild tropical plant life. We ensure that the fertility of our rich volcanic soil is never depleted. Our highly sensitive “wild-crafting” methods allow the precious flowers from our pristine rain forests to thrive in a state of constant renewal. True to our Hawaiian roots, all of our ingredients are sourced here.

Everything in Malie Organics is safe and nontoxic, with absolutely no petroleum, mineral spirits, sulfates, or parabens. Because of our commitment to your health, wellbeing, and the environment, we only use all natural, organic, and wild-crafted ingredients.

Finally, we translate the purity of the most fragrant flowers and fruits in the world through our advanced hydrosol distillation process so that you enjoy the aroma-therapeutic benefits of each botanical in every product."

Sounds nice? They have my stamp of approval!

Here are some of the scents I love. Pikake come from the exotic star-shaped pikake (Hawaiian jasmine), which is prized for the buds that are strung into fragrant leis. Its name derives from “peacock” because the exalted Hawaiian Princess Ka‘iulani loved the bird and the flower. I love them both too! This tropical scent is heavenly. Malie claims it to be an anti-depressant. I guess the thought of sitting next to a tropical pikake plant in its native habitat would be a picker-upper.

Plumeria is another of my favorites. Think jasmine, gardenia, and citrus, and you'll get the idea. It's lush. Kokee is a newer intro. It has a very "green" fragrance. Purchases of the Kokee products benefit the Kokee Resource Conservation Program. You can read all about it on the Malie site.

To give you an idea of pricing, the hand soaps, which last a very long time, are $20, and the soy candles are $30. The products are available at the Malie Web site, Art with Flowers at the Tysons Galleria in Virginia, and even Amazon (must have been karma). If you can't dash off to Hawaii or another tropical location, do the next best thing and bring the tropics to your home!

Photo courtesy of Malie Organics.

My Favorite Home Fragrance - Rosso Nobile

The nicest - and probably most expensive - home fragrance diffuser on earth has to be Rosso Nobile by Dr. Vranjes ($350). I was introduced to this wonderful product at Art with Flowers at the Tysons Galleria in Virginia. It's available online at Luckyscent and a few other places you can find with a Google search.

The fragrance fills my home with an indescribably enticing and voluptuous fragrance. I have never smelled anything quite like it! The top notes are dominated by strawberry and blackberry, but mixed in are tannins from red wine, citrus, violets, and roses. This short description doesn't really do it justice. It's just heavenly. It wraps you in luxury. Men and women find it intoxicating - we keep sniffing at the bottle!

The container is gorgeous, as you can see here, with a modern, Danish appeal to the glass vase (reusable) and grape vines to diffuse the fragrance. As with any diffuser, all you have to do is turn the vines over now and then. Once you purchase the set, you can buy refills ($250) and continue to use the same container "forever."

For those of us for whom $350 is more than a splurge, there are beautiful candles (and refills for those) and a room spray. I keep the room spray at my office and use it when someone's awful perfume wafts in - or when I just need an aromatherapy treat.

If you are wealthy, win the lottery, or just want a splurge, you will love Rosso Nobile!

Photo courtesy of Luckyscent.

Cult Fragrance - i Profumi di Firenze

Why call it anything but a cult fragrance? You won't stumble on it in stores - you just have to know. How did I find it? Beautyhabit, of course. Once I discovered Beautyhabit, I spent what the Brits would call a bloody fortune.

Among other Beautyhabit purchases, I started ordering the i Profumi di Firenze fragrances, and each one that arrived was special and individual. Here is what Beautyhabit has to say about the line.

Inspired by original 16th century secret formulas commissioned by Caterina de Medici, "i Profumi di Firenze" perfumes are meticulously hand-blended in small batches with the finest selections of floral and botanical essences from Italy and around the world.

In the mid-1960's, when synthetic perfumes were all the rage, a renowned Florentine apothecary carefully re-created these Renaissance fragrances using only all natural ingredients and their own secret methods of essence extraction. These scents are timeless and harmonize beautifully on the skin - you will not be disappointed!

A nice summery scent I am wearing a lot now is i Profumi di Firenze Acqua di Firenze ($99). I can't find this scent on Beautyhabit now. Fortunately, Acqua di Firenze is available at several Web sites, including Lusciouscargo. A blend of white flowers, including heavenly honeysuckle, and green leaves, this light, fresh scent is divine. I picked up a few extras at Art with Flowers at Tysons Galleria.

This line has a fragrance for everyone, from floral lovers to citrus fans to spice gals. Tuberosa d'Autunno is based, like its name implies, on tuberose, a seductive white floral that has found a home at my house in many different brands and fragrances. Mughetto di Primavera is a single-note wild lily of the valley scent. This also doesn't seem to be available at Beautyhabit, but you can find it online. I don't know why some of these come and go - perhaps since they are handmade, they are available only for a limited time (just a guess).

Check out Beautyhabit or Lusciouscargo and then choose the one that appeals to you. You won't smell like "everywoman."

Use code BHVOYAGE at Beautyhabit for a purchase of $50 or more to receive a seven-piece sampler. The code is good until July 27 (or until supply is exhausted).

Photo courtesy of Lusciouscargo.

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.