What's hot: Fragrance

It may surprise you, it sure had me stunted, that Britney Spears has grossed $1.5 billion in fragrance sales to date. Also one of the top sellers is still Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds despite it being launched over 20 years ago.

I suppose it's the love of a certain celebrity that drives these sales figures. I'm no different but personally I would rather smell like my fave fashion house. So I can't afford that Chanel bag (one day!!!) but I can afford to drench my boy in Chanel Allure so my fave accessory, him, can smell like a little piece of luxury. 

I took myself down to Smith and Caugheys in the city to seek out some knowledge and Liz Pink, Fragrance Manager talked me through what's hot.

Most Popular Fragrances

Men's Fragrance: Victor and Rolf Spice Bomb $115ml 50mls. Warm, yummy and almost edible I can see why this has been a hit. It has manly ingredients such as white leather, chilli and tobacco but rounded off with grapefruit and bergamot.

Women's Fragrance: Narciso Rodriguez For Her $140 50ml. This has been a killer hit from the moment it came on to the market in 2003, it has the ability to be both unique and yet incredibly wearable. I'm told that's down to the warm and inviting scent of Egyptian musk. 

I tried Vivienne Westwood's latest Cheeky Alice and Naughty Alice but I didn't think much. Queen Viv does do an amazing job with her fragrance Boudoir which honestly takes you to Marie Antoinette's powder filled bedroom, $126 50ml of la - de - dah.

Delice de Cartier from $130 is grown up and refined but delicious and almost foodie, warm and unique.

Hermes un Jardin Sur le nil $199 for 100mls. Hermes's personal perfumer took inspiration from the rooftop gardens of the fashion house's Paris address to create 3 scents. This one is Liz's pick, it is her 'hidden treasure' and I can smell why. It's like a spring day in a floral Parisian garden, and there I am!

But that is the power of nose, her classic fragrance pick is Dior Poison $245 100ml. It was a quick lesson in how linked our smell sense is with memory, I was transported to how I first enjoyed this scent by regularly sneaking a spray with my best friend from her sisters vanity. Poison is a true French '80s classic: sweet, heavy, heady and intoxicating. 

I enjoyed my time in the fragrance department of Auckland's only true Department store. It was a lovely sensory experience and I may have left smelling like a flower shop. 

Mimi's Top Picks

Women's Fragrance: Chloe Love $170 50mls. It may be that I'm just crazy about all things Chloe but this was intense but innocent, sexy, and nostalgically romantic. I'm in love with Chloe Love!

Men's Fragrance: Chanel Allure Homme Sport eau Extreme $167 100mls. As mentioned Allure is already a favorite, but this is the third in the collection, released in March this year. It has a dynamic intensity being both sensual and powerful with exotic key notes as Sicilian mandarin and Venezuelan tonka bean.

Fragrance is an affordable daily ritual of luxury and pleasure ... I mean who doesn't want to smell AMAZING!!! 

X Mimi 

Karen Walker Candy Bar

The Karen Walker Candy Bar concept launched on Wednesday at RESTIR in Tokyo, Japan, check out the pics below. Over the next twelve months, the Karen Walker Candy Bar will travel around the globe with Karen’s latest collection of limited edition sunglasses in a series of yummy toffees, caramels and liquid centered chocolates; HARVEST milky cream, HELTER SKELTER strawberry, NUMBER SIX toffee, DEEP FREEZE bubblegum & PERFECT DAY vanilla. 

The next stop for the Candy Bar is the United States to feature at boutiques TenOverSix Los Angeles and Cloak & Dagger NYC, followed by Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Shanghai.

The Karen Walker Candy Bar will arrive here in November so stay tuned!

Warrior

You've probably heard the catchy new track 'Warrior' that Converse brought together as part of their Three Artists. One Song collaboration. Featuring rising star Kimbra, Mark Foster from Foster The People and DJ A-Trak, Warrior is 4 minutes of pop heaven. Recorded at Converse Rubber Tracks studios in Brooklyn, NY and remotely while on tour, 'Warrior' blends the best parts of each artist’s contributions and personalities.

“I had such a good time diving into the creative process working with two incredible artists to create a sound that is uniquely our own,” said Mark Foster of Foster The People. “This project has given me a new found appreciation for the power of collaboration which is something that Converse really understands.”

Converse has worked on eight of the Three Artists. One Song collaborations so far, with recent collaborations including Gorillaz, James Murphy and Andre 3000. The track and video's launch has conincided with the launch of Converse's latest footwear collection which offers Chuck Taylor All Star collection in seasonal fluorescent colors and prints.

R&V Selling Fast

It has been 10 years since New Zealand’s biggest New Year music festival Rhythm and Vines first opened its doors. Starting as a popular spot for a group of university mates to drawing in crowds of more than one hundred and fifty thousand, this 3-day festival are going to be celebrating their ten year anniversary in style. And, they are off to a good start! When ticket sales opened this week they sold over ten thousand tickets in just over ten hours, breaking records and implying this will be the party of the decade. Gisborne’s Waiohika Estate has housed some of music’s biggest names over the years such as Pendulum, Calvin Harris, N.E.R.D. Public Enemy and Moby. With this year promising to bring even more amazing global and local acts to R&V, we’re reckon Gizzy is going to be the place to be this New Years.

 Get your ticket now from www.rhythmandvines.co.nz

WIN A RUBY MUSIC MONTH CD

In honour of NZ Music Month RUBY have teamed up with some of their favourite New Zealand musicians to produce a compilation CD featuring new releases or yet to be released kiwi tunes. With tracks from Lawrence Arabia, Watercolours, Pikachunes, So So Modern and more, the album is free with any purchase from a RUBY store.

We have 3 x copies of the CD to give away. Just tell us your favourite track by a New Zealand artist to go in the draw. Click HERE to enter.