Because Sweetness Is A Weakness – Love’s Baby Soft Perfume

Posted on June 15, 2011 by admin

The smell of fresh cotton wafted by a gentle spring breeze. The scent of jasmine along a country lane. The earthy fragrance of a wooded copse. The candy sweet smell of sugary lip-gloss and teenage fantasies. Love’s Baby Soft conjures such personal memories for so many users, that trying to define the scent for just one aspect of nostalgic value is virtually impossible. The classically rubenesque bottle, decorated with girlie candy hearts and pinkness is a reminiscent nod to the vibrant 70′s, when color defined and individualized.

Versatile Sweetness

Clean, contemporary and bearing a wonderfully natural aroma, Love’s Baby Soft represents a fragrance with versatility. Dress it up with the ultra-feminine Love’s Baby Soft Body Wash, or All Over Body Mist for a truly noticeable sweetness; or simply spritz upon the pulse points for casual wear, and a gentle, gradual sillage that will permeate the air around you throughout the day. The beauty of this baby-gentle fragrance is it’s conformity – it can be whatever you choose it to be, and unlike many fragrances, can be layered to achieve just the right level of noticeable aroma.

Laced with the subtle sweetness of jasmine; a soothing hint of rose, and an underlying base note of patchouli; Love’s Baby Soft is delightfully feminine, yet with a musk the 20 plus woman will find quite mature. Herbaceous patchouli is actually a member of the ‘mint’ family, and renowned for it’s woody, spicy notes. Conversely, vanilla takes the edge off what would otherwise be an Opium-like strength of scent, and really boosts those subtle floral notes. The sugary essence that many attribute to Love’s Baby Soft’s gorgeously gentile aroma stems from a delightful infusion of rose to the powdery scent (often likened to strawberries) – surely one of the subtlest finer ingredients to this free-as-a-bird fragrance.

Old vs. New

Those who have been using Love’s Baby Soft since it’s inception in 1974, will no doubt be aware the original fragrance was the product of M.E.M – responsible for the equally popular Love’s Cosmetics, which went down a storm with both teens and twenty-somethings. Love’s Baby Soft proved to be as iconic – the delightfully simple fragrance layers contributing to a clean-cut scent that embodied the innocence of childhood, and the transition into maturity. Women loved it’s youthfulness and subtle sexy undertones – must be the musk!

The present day formula for Love’s Baby Soft remains unchanged from the vintage original, still bearing those essential notes which made the fragrance ripe for it’s time. Today, women love Baby Soft for it’s casual femininity,  strawberries and cream overtones and a longevity which transcends from day, to night. Unlike many subtle fragrances whose sillage eventually erodes down to nothing, Love’s Baby Soft becomes a lingering musk reminiscent of freshly washed or moisturized skin, yet with  more depth . Immerse yourself in the scent of love, and an innocence befitting of your womanliness.

A Male Perspective

If there’s one thing that a large proportion of Love’s Baby Soft fans will unanimously agree upon, it’s that their men love this fragrance. There’s something about the cool, sweet scent that men find both endearing and sexy, however out-going or confident the woman in her life. Deep down, beneath the swagger and the smile, is a woman with a girl’s heart. Some call it ‘cuteness’, other’s call it real femininity, but a woman wearing Love’s Baby Soft is agreed to be a woman who still embraces her ‘girly-ness’ to some degree.

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Blod Can Be Beautiful – English Leather Cologne

Posted on June 15, 2011 by admin

A stalwart of 1950′s clean-cut vogue; English Leather has stood the test of time for over fifty years, and continues to be one of the most affable masculine colognes from the House of Dana. Surprisingly, the cologne was actually a product of M.E.M’s inception, they too being a time-honored perfumer responsible for some truly inspirational scents. Much to the disappointment of an international consumer fan-base, M.E.M themselves struggled with financial issues throughout the unpredictable 80′s, however, Dana Classics couldn’t see such an enduring range of fragrances face extinction.

Dana’s decision to continue the prestigious English Leather range, was for many, a fragrant breath of fresh air, since they could now be assured English Leather was not confined to the vintage sections of auction sites. English Leather has proven to be a worthy undertaking for Dana Classics, notably more so since the  company expanded the cologne’s profile, and increased it’s ‘areas of interest’. The rustic, rich cologne is now a favorite of gents the world over, continuing to receive rave reviews for it’s timeless versatility.

The Warmth of English Leather

A deep sandalwood base note has been the primary reasoning behind English Leather often being called a warm scent. Sandalwood vetiver is renowned for being a lasting aromatic essence, which unlike weaker woody scents, does not dry down to an indistinguishable musk. For this reason, English Leather is often favored for it’s longevity, and the fragrant projection of it’s aroma. It’s not exactly subtle, yet the oakmoss and citrus dampen down what could otherwise be an overpowering ‘one-note’ sillage.

Reborn, Not Reformulated

Many fragrances adopted by new perfumers often suffer from extensive reformulation; a motion which usually affects the quality and caliber of the cologne. There is also the issue of substitutes and synthetics being used to cut down costs, in place of the original notes which defined the fragrance. Happily, Dana Classics are not one of those perfumers. A veteran of the fragrance industry, Dana have long known the detrimental effects of ‘fake’, and have remained true to the brief  of all the fragrances they sell. You’ll find English Leather still retains all the dynamism of the old vintage fragrance, including that subtle spice which swings it in the favor of a younger consumer base.

Size Matters

Yes guys, that’s right. Size does matter when it comes to cologne. Especially in this modern age of hectic lifestyles and lack of routine. Dana Classics know that every man needs the versatility of a cologne that can be adapted to such a lifestyle, hence the variegated sizes of bottles on offer. A handy ’0.5′ ounce bottle is the compact ideal for the ever traveling corporate entity, while the ’8 ounce’ alternative means you won’t run short too quickly. In between, are the suitcase friendly 1 and 3.4 ounce bottles.

Boldness In A Bottle

Is it even possible for a cologne to be bold, without being overpowering? In a word, yes. Providing the composition is such that no one set of notes suffocates the next, and the concentration of ingredients is exact. The dynamic appeal of English Leather, is largely down to how each set of notes dries down to reveal a new layer of fragrance. The zesty top notes are refreshing, revitalizing and invigorating, yet the cologne yields a sumptuous set of floral heart notes, which really kick the rustic base up a notch. It’s no wonder the majority of women agree that their men should “ wear English Leather, or nothing at all!”

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Dana Classics Chantilly Perfume – Orientals and Lace

Posted on June 15, 2011 by admin

Dana; a name synonymous with beauty, and also attributed to some of the most timeless fragrances to be found on the international market. Houbigant; one of Paris’ oldest fragrance houses (1775), Napoleon’s personal perfumer, and the creators of many a surviving vintage eau de parfum. Houbigant contrived fragrances for both French royalty, and the aristocracy for over a century, which goes some way to explaining why Chantilly conjures the kind of luxury one would associate with couture.

Dana Classic are synonymous with enduring fragrances, both of their own inception, and the acquisition of vintage greats. Chantilly has proven to be a perpetual coup for Dana, ever since the company acquired the sumptuous oriental in in the 1990′s, with a ‘lifetime’ consumer base who continue to adore the warmth and vitality of this charismatic fragrance.

Love and Lace

It is thought the original naming of Dana Classics Chantilly was inspired by a village just North of Paris, renowned for fine porcelain and lace-making. Chantilly lace is decadent, elegant and delicate – much like the personality of Chantilly itself. For a fragrance of the ‘oriental’ family, Chantilly is surprisingly sweet, belying an accord designed for a true lady of the 1940′s. Having said that, Chantilly is no powder-puff weakling. In fact, many agree that the fragrance is ideally suited for evening wear, due to the spiciness of its basal notes. Laced with a beautiful combination of moss and sandalwood, the overall accord is involving, inviting and seductive.

Classy, But Contemporary

Chantilly is a classic floral oriental, however the inclusion of orange blossom to the composition creates an edgier, fresher accord with a hint of sweetness. Rose and carnation combine to induce a powdery lightness, not all that dissimilar to bestselling Love’s Baby Soft, however Chantilly is grounded by amber-like base notes and that distinctive sandalwood that takes it from sweet and innocent, to sultry and seductive. It is possibly why many of Chantilly’s long-time fans wear it as a ‘day-to-night’ fragrance, and remark widely upon it’s versatility.

Some modern oriental fragrances are reported to be such an eclectic melange of notes, that the harmony of the fragrance is disrupted. Instead of a gradual sillage, florals, citrus and woods jostle impatiently for space, within a composition that becomes almost sickly to the nose. Chantilly on the other hand, is an eau de parfum with a deliciously melodious composition. Those musky, spicy base notes act as a spring board for the building of additional note groups, boosting each as the fragrance wears throughout the day.

The Chantilly Woman

The woman who wore Chantilly during the 50′s was undoubtedly elegant and highly refined – indeed the fragrance epitomizes luxury, so one cannot help but feel classy wearing it. But she was also delicately feminine, perhaps even demure in character. Deep down, she was also sultry, seductive, perhaps even playfully provocative too. Chantilly captures that playfulness, while maintaining an inherent feminine floral that defines a true woman’s heart. Soft, yet alluring. Spicy, yet warm. Chantilly allows a woman to express her true nature, through a scent that evolves with her mood and style. Whether she’s casual in combats and a t-shirt, or ascending the steps to her prom, a young woman can feel grown up, sexy and classy. Maturer ladies will love the light feminine florals of this capricious scent, which dry down to a musky undertone that exudes sexuality. Chantilly; for the woman you really are!

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Dana Classics Canoe – Putting The Zing Into Every Morning

Posted on June 15, 2011 by admin

Dana’s slick, suave power-boat of a male fragrance is regarded somewhat a veteran of men’s aftershave for it’s survival of seven decades. Born out of the debonair 1930′s in glamorous Paris;  Canoe is yet another of the classic early Dana fragrances to have been created by acclaimed perfumer Jean Carles. It’s timelessness accounts for it’s popularity among both older gents, and a decidedly new and younger audience, many of whom are experiencing the sophistication of early 20th Century fashions the second time around.

Canoe is an oriental with a riddle-like list of complimenting fragrances, yet the discern is far from overpowering. If it had to be defined, many would concur that Canoe is a subtle spice with a hint of citrus, and an underlying patchouli kick that adds to it’s masculine musk. Dana’s Canoe is often described as belonging to the “aromatic Fougére” family of fragrances, all of whom are characterized by a ‘fern-like’ base-note combination of fern, lavender and oakmoss. Instilled with the essence of the richly aromatic South American Tonka Bean; a first nose of Canoe yields a heady waft of spicy cinnamon, sweet vanilla and even almonds! Cedarwood, slightly milder and woodier than sandalwood, influences a distinctively soothing base note, enlivened by the citrus zing of lemon, and the energetic blend of clary sage and lavender to top it off.

Canoe: The Personality

Fans of Dana Canoe Cologne are uniformly divided in their opinion of the musky fragrance, with some agreeing the lively citrus burst and subtle sweetness dry down to a distinctly energetic, and sporty style of fragrance. Conversely, some users concur that Dana Canoe is a subtle spicy musk, with very gentle floral overtones, even likening it to some of the limited summer fragrances which reappear annually. Bourbon Geranium could have some influence upon the floral notes, since the indispensable aromatic oil is often likened to the scent of roses. Rather than impact the fragrance with feminine tones, Bourbon Geranium contributes to the sweetness of spice and smokiness, that many regard as the finest characters of the fragrance.

Canoe: The Man

With a suave, citrus burst upon first splash, Dana Classics Canoe is undeniably a fresh and awakening scent. Jean Carles (the perfumer behind the third creation from the House of Dana) was an iconic fragrance enthusiast, attributed with the grouping of base notes into specific combinations and categories – a system which is still in use today. Aside from his more scientific achievements, Carles was also an expert in the creation of a fragrance for a particular profile or personality.

With Canoe, the target was to create a fragrance that could be worn from day to night, by the suave, sophisticated outdoor sporting gentleman of the 30′s. His creation certainly lived up to the brief. The complex blend of contrasting spice, citrus and sweetness combining to offer an energetic, yet slightly sultry aroma, designed to withstand strenuous sport and still exude a noticeable sillage at the close of the day.

Timeless Versatility

Canoe fans are unanimous in verdict that the cologne sets itself apart from many modern counterparts for one reason – versatility. Colognes ARE meant to be noticed, yet not to the extent of some brands whose emphasis upon packing in the patchouli leads to an eye watering, throat tickling vapor. Canoe is fortunate to have been created at the hands of one of France’s premiere perfumers, whose defining work in the field of experimentation led to a striking balance of top and base-notes. The subtle floral infusions, combined with spice and nutty notes contribute to a fragrance with that morning zing and masculinity, that dries down to a musky, woody scent that works with the body throughout the day.

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