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Browsing by tag: prescriptives

Top 10 Spring Fragrances 2011

Posted by Erin on 29 April 2011 140 Comments

Green buds

Blech. Despite being born a May baby, I have never been a fan of spring. I’m sure it’s different in the other parts of the world, but every year, people above the 39th parallel in Europe and North America stand on street corners at this time of year, leaning at a 75 degree angle into gusting drizzle, and insist: “It wasn’t like this last year!” Trust me, it was. The mud, the wind, the Easter snow or hailstorm, the false hope of that one giddy day near April Fool’s when the sun shone and the warm breezes blew, like in a laundry detergent commercial, before the rain and gray chill returned — it all happened last year. I am not a pessimist. It is merely that I believe in the motto of mothers everywhere: let’s not get worked up here. Crazed displays of Birkenstock sandals and patio furniture will only end in tears. I support measured celebrations of spring’s small pleasures. For one, it is ramp season. Perhaps you have received your tax return. The road salt has melted away and you can go to 2D movies without being subjected to aliens, robots or robotic aliens. And it is time for some of your freshest, prettiest, newest fragrances to grace the air.

Composing a Top 10 for this most uncertain of seasons, I have tried not to dwell on lost favorites or the flood of recent scents I’ve missed. Jean Patou Vacances, Gobin-Daudé Sève Exquise, and L’Artisan Jacinthe des Bois are all gone and it somehow felt irresponsible to include them in the list. I have vintage samples of the many spring classics that have been damaged or ruined by reformulation — Balmain Vent Vert, Caron Violette Précieuse, the silver fluidity of Diorissimo, the mysterious smoky-green of Worth Je Reviens, the original Dior Fahrenheit’s honeysuckle-and-wet-blacktop — and I use them sparingly and despairingly. I have not tried MDCI Un Coeur en Mai, Byredo La Tulipe, ElizabethW Magnolia or CB I Hate Perfume Wild Pansy and am trying to convince myself that I don’t need to do so. With no further excuses, my Top 10 of Spring…

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News flash: Prescriptives Calyx will not be discontinued

Posted by Robin on 18 September 2009 16 Comments

Many of you have already heard that Estee Lauder is discontinuing the Prescriptive brand. Distribution will cease in January 2010, after which products will continue to be available on the Prescriptives website while supplies last. Prescriptives Calyx, however, is safe: it will continue in production and will be distributed under the Aramis fragrances division beginning February 1st, 2010. (via email from Estee Lauder)

Prescriptives Calyx Sheer Exhilaration, Givenchy Very Irresistible Summer Sorbet ~ new fragrances

Posted by Robin on 28 February 2009 11 Comments

Prescriptives Calyx Sheer Exhilaration perfumePrescriptives will launch Calyx Sheer Exhilaration in May. The new fragrance for women is a limited edition flanker to 1986's Calyx.

Calyx Sheer Exhilaration is described as “energizing”, and features notes of passion fruit, mango, guava, lily, jasmine, sandalwood and vetiver.

Prescriptives Calyx Sheer Exhilaration will be available in 50 ml Eau de Toilette…

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Prescriptives Calyx: an appreciation

Posted by Robin on 2 June 2006 39 Comments

Prescriptives Calyx advertPrescriptives Calyx advert

[Update: in 2013, Prescriptives Calyx became Clinique Calyx, the Prescriptives brand having now been phased out by Estee Lauder. It seems to be much fresher and less sparkling than it was, but I have no idea when that happened. Likely it’s been reformulated more than once over the years.]

Calyx was the debut fragrance from the skincare and color cosmetics line Prescriptives. It was created by perfumer Sophia Grojsman and launched in 1986; the notes include mandarin, bergamot, passion fruit, mango, guava, spearmint, muguet, lily, jasmine, marigold, melon, rose, cyclamen, raspberry, musk, moss and cedar…

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