why perfume is the best thing ever.

Those of you who know me well will know that I have an uncontrollable obsession with perfume. Last year, my best friend in the UK mailed me a box filled with miniature perfumes (and appropriately lined with bubblewrap) that she used to collect/use, most of which were at least half full. On the rare occasion Mother Dearest is on a plane and in a good mood (those two things rarely occur simultaneously), she might purchase a small bottle of perfume for me from Singapore Airline's well-stocked KrisShop catalogue. My lovely boyfriend got me a set of 5 Jo Malone miniatures for Christmas, and another close family friend treated me to Bvlgari's Omnia Amethyst. I am a huge perfume junkie, because there are so many reasons to love perfume.

some of my all-time faves!

Perfume has the power to make or break your outfit and your impression. Scent is a powerful thing; too much, too little, or the wrong scent altogether can have surprisingly adverse effects. I once sat next to someone at a fashion show who was conservatively dressed, well-mannered and had beautiful, understated eye makeup - and reeked of cheap Playboy cologne. Enough said. Selecting a scent is similar to selecting an outfit - it reflects who you are and should communicate what you wish to portray yourself to the world as.

some more of my favorite fragrances!

It makes SUCH a great gift for a close girlfriend or someone you know well. It's so much fun to stroll through the perfume section of any department store to sniff out the best concoction for someone you care about - especially if you're familiar with their scent preferences! Think of it as identifying the perfume equivalent of your friend... Is she flowery and light or intense and dark? Best results when a different girlfriend accompanies you on this excitable quest for the perfect fragrance.

Images sourced from here, here and here

Perfume bottles are among the most beautiful things in this world. I never throw away empty perfume bottles because I believe they are so well-crafted and ornate enough to double as lovely-smelling decorations (I love to sandwich pink/gold perfume bottles in between my coffee table books on a shelf in my room for aesthetic effect), especially the ones with carefully laser-cut finishes that reflect light.

Images sourced from here, here, here and here

Lastly, as shallow as this may sound, perfume is an easy way to own something from your favorite designer. While a teenage girl like me can't exactly get her hands on Dior's runway pieces, she can probably save up for a bottle of Miss Dior Cherie. To be perfectly honest, I'm very rarely label-conscious when it comes to dressing; I'm not embarrassed to wear Forever 21/thrift because I don't believe that price tags dictate style. That being said, it's nice to have a small "token" item from the same designer who's runway presentations you gawk at - be it makeup, phone/laptop cases, or in this case, perfume. Considering I spend hours poring over backstage videos, makeup tutorials, livestreams, reviews and articles of the latest Chanel show, it's certainly a lovely feeling to be able to squirt a little (yet equally legit) delicious-smelling Chanel 'magic' into the air while I live out my fashion dreams behind a computer screen. I might be thousands of miles away from the action, but I'll be holding a bottle of it in my hand. It's nice to feel like a part of something you care about. 

Do you love perfume as much as I do? Let me know what your favorite fragrances are in the comments below!

balmain ivoire fragrance launch!

"Ivoire is the name I gave to a dream. The name of a woman of sovereign beauty, draped in ultra-pale silk. We crossed paths for a moment on the staircase at the Opéra, before she disappeared into the night." 

- Pierre Balmain

 Last Thursday, a small cluster of fashion enthusiasts gathered at the Art Trove, a dazzingly crisp white location tucked in the outskirts of Orchard Road, to sample Balmain's gorgeous fragrance, Ivoire. Since Oliver Rousteing was named one of Balmain's designers in 2011, he has succeeded in reinventing the original Ivoire fragrance which debuted in 1979 by accomplishing a modern take on this wildly-famous eighties fragrance. This virginal scent is pure, powdery, and surprisingly long-wearing considering it's featherlight complexion. It's not simply a generic floral cocktail though; infused with slightly peculiar essences such as earthy Vetiver and musky Galbanum, the scent is full-bodied whilst maintaining a breezy, mild nature. 
 

Honestly speaking, this was one of the best events I've attended in a long time. It wasn't a huge publicity stunt with an overwhelming guest list, it was an intimate gathering of people in a simple setting (complete with a mini fragrance gallery containing artwork of the various ingredients found in "Ivoire"). It was nice to be able to have meaningful conversations with new faces too; it's not everyday you can say you went to an event and spoke to almost everyone there! We listened to a great speaker share her love for Balmain, as well as information on how the brand has evolved through its lengthy existence before enjoying some delicious canapes. There were also a few mannequins set up for guests to enjoy some of Balmain's most exquisite pieces up close and personal! Last but certainly not least, guests were each sent off with warm wishes in the form of their very own bottle of Ivoire - how generous!

"Ivoire is a tribute to beauty and women. A solemn and uncontrollable fragrance as the purest of ivories. I offer this perfume to all the women in the world who love Ivoire, as I do." - Pierre Balmain