Chocolate Chi

Fragrance in perfume doesn’t always have to be reminiscent of flowers or musk or sandalwood. Vanilla became popular in the mid-1990s and was followed by other foody-fragrances. Men have not been left out.

For a while Thierry Mugler sold a coffee-aroma infused cologne for men and while it was well-received, according to their representatives, it is no longer available. So what in the way of an unexpected fragrance for men is available now?

Armed with research that says nearly 70% of women around the world ranked chocolates as more irresistible than shopping, jewelry, or, yes, even sex, Axe has launched Dark Temptation, an intriguing blend of chocolate with other fragrances.

The result is more complex and captivating than you might expect. A blend of red peppercorn and hot chocolate amber, the overall olfactory effect is an agreeable and different aroma.

Shower Gel and Bodyspray and the cost is an affordable $4.99 each

Color yourself prudent

Everyone with any sense is trying to spend less. Even the phrase “disposable income” seems like a definition from another decade, far, far away.

So anything you can do at home rather than in say, a salon, is one way to save a little money that can be spent on food, gas, or heat.

Consider hair coloring. Yes, it is nice to go to a salon and have someone else color your hair and shampoo and whatever, but this is something you can do at home. You can color your own hair or take turns with a friend. There are so many brands of hair color and some have very precise applicators so you really can’t go wrong.

Perfect 10 Nice’n Easy by Clairol has a selection of 20 gorgeous permanent shades and a comb-like applicator to help you (or your friend) get the color to were it is needed most. This formula has a lower PH to better protect the hair and to reduce any harsh unpleasant odor. The fragrance is a bit like a bouquet of roses and violets next to a bowl of fresh pineapple, peaches and melon. And it offers 100% gray coverage.

And when you just want to touch up the roots, whether they are gray or a color other than the rest of your head, use one of those root touch-up products. They work very well and Nice n Easy now has a more generous amount of color to really do the job. This can take as little as 15 minutes and just rinses out and can hold off a full coloring job for few weeks.

And, you know what? Sometimes going to a salon can be annoying on a day you just don’t feel like having pleasant chit-chat with 10 people at a time who, even though they be genuinely nice individuals, you know they expect some kind of tip for the services they provide. And justifiably so. Still, it is one more thing to manage.

So use the time to stay home and color your hair yourself. Or a friend’s. It doesn’t have to turn into a Makeover Event, but that might be fun, too.

Mascara Madness

Mascara has come a long way over the recent years. The choices are dizzying—do you want to lengthen? Plump up? Be waterproof? Be able to remove with soap and water—something that should bring tears to most eyes--?, curl while you color? ? ? ?

Now there are at least two types—Double Extend by L’Oreal, which promises a “lash extension effect” and The Colossal Volum’ Express (with collagen) by Maybelline that swears you will get 9 X the volume in one coat and no clumps.

Double Extend has “beauty tubes technology” and has two applicators. The first step is to apply a nourishing base coat. Then the Ultra Lengthening Tube Top Coat is applied.

Testing will commence shortly.

Making Scents of Food Flavors

What makes a scent acceptable or even beloved for a perfume? When did Vanilla become a fragrance and not just a flavor? Some claim it all began in 1993 with Coty’s launch of Vanilla Fields.

If a Vanilla perfume, then what about Chocolate? Or Coffee? They are already here. More later.

Sunscreen

The season may be slouching towards Fall but you still need to wear sunscreen daily. It is not needed when it is raining, of course, but have you noticed how many times the forecast calls for rain and then the sun comes out or the day starts drizzly and gray and then just when you are outside exposed to the weather, here comes the sun.

Go ahead. Slather some on your face and hands just to be sure. You’ll be glad you did later.