A "Lightweight" Oriental

I love big, gorgeous, heavy orientals like Opium, Tabu and Youth Dew. Used with caution (don't overdose yourself unless you're home alone alone or spouse likes the stuff as much as you do.)

But there are times when something lighter will be more appropriate. Like when you're working in an office all day, going to a friend's house for dinner (where you don't want to compete with the smell of food) or going to a movie where you'll be sitting next to a perfect stranger for the next two hours.

Jaipur Saphir is a great compromise between the self-indulgent luxury of a gorgeous oriental and the sophisticated, elegant, inoffensive ladylike daytime cologne.

It has the woody, mysterious notes that you expect from the best Orientals, but they are "hidden" behind light, powdery, soft notes.

"Jaïpur Saphir can serve as a model of refinement and proportion." said one reviewer

My Favorite of the Day - Byzance by Rochas

My favorite of the day-
Byzance by Rochas



Do be careful with this one- you may not notice because of the cobalt blue, nearly opaque bottle, but this fragrance is actually purple. It may stain clothing.

I broke a miniature bottle in my gym bag and stained some socks. But I'm almost glad I did because my bag has smelled delicious for weeks and the socks were a small sacrifice.

Warning aside, Byzance is a woody, heavy, gorgeous oriental with a little sparkle of citrus in the opening notes. It is also unusual enough that isn't something that everyone will recognize. You won't find this one at Wal-Mart or on anyone else at a party.

I also love Opium, another heavy, gorgeous oriental, but I don't like the fact that many people recognize it. I think some of the less commercially popular fragrances are great just because they're more mysterious. People can't immediately recognize them and don't already have other associations of people and events connected with them.