Kenzo Friends and Family: November 2-9, 2009

Kenzo's New Fragrances: For Indigo Girls & Boys

I’m a winter fragrance kind of gal. I like my scents rich, regal and gourmand. So when the mercury starts to rise and it comes time to retire my cold weather perfumes to the rear of my vanity, a part of me hibernates with them.

Yes, straightforward citrus, green grass, and delicate bouquets are more fitting fragrances for summer. But, with a few exceptions, they just don’t speak to me.

For quite some time, I’ve been on a quest to find my ideal summer scent. But I didn’t know, specifically, what I was looking for…which is probably why it’s eluded me for so long. After a while, I just pretty much threw my hands up - hoping that my holy grail perfume would, somehow, find its way to my pulse points.

Well, I’m happy to report that I’ve finally found one I luvre. And while it didn’t magically materialize on the insides of my wrists, it did show up on my doorstep.

Last week, I received samples of L'Eau par Kenzo Eau Indigo, “a pair of sensual fragrances for him and her inspired by the seductive dance of color and scent as dusk settles on the water. The bottles, deep blue for men and purple for women, fit together to create a true indigo.”

L'Eau Par Kenzo Eau Indigo pour femme is IT, y’all. This perfume is a warm Friday evening at sunset. You’ve got on a sexy sundress and your hair is doing exactly what it’s told. There are some beads of perspiration on your shoulders and collarbone, but you’re not sweating - you’re glistening. You’re on your way to meet the girls, and there’s a sense of mystery and adventure regarding where the night might take you. Simply put, Kenzo Indigo is the personification of a summer night, ripe with promise.

This eau de parfum has a gentle, zesty start with notes of bergamot and mandarin, then unfolds into a sunny floral heart of sambac jasmine, orange blossom and ylang-ylang. Amber and tonka bean anchor this complex and seductive scent.

Like its female counterpart, L’Eau par Kenzo Eau Indigo pour homme explodes with zesty notes which unfold into a sensual base built around an amber note. Decidedly the more summery of the two, this eau de toilette also features hints of ginger, coriander, vetiver and cedar. I solicited Papa Spoiled Pretty’s opinion of the scent, so he sprayed a little on his forearm and inhaled. Then he sniffed again, this time more deeply. Then he misted his other arm and neck. “This is great,” he proclaimed. Then he made off with the bottle.

L’eau par Kenzo Eau Indigo, for him and her, are available at kenzousa.com for $55 (1.7 oz).

Congratulations To The Winner of Kenzo's Belle de Jour Giveaway!

Congrats to Wendy Wong, winner of the Belle de Jour giveaway. Wendy has won KENZO's new face cream, which - besides moisturizing -protects skin from free radicals and reduces the stress hormone cortisol. And it has the most wonderful fragrance...you'll never forget to apply it because the fragrance is so addictive.

Thanks to all who participated in this giveaway - and to KENZO for making it possible; Spoiled Pretty appreciates the support!

Don't forget to enter the Love Enamel Bracelet giveaway. There are still a few hours left before the contest closes and I choose a winner. Good luck!

Kenzo Belle de Jour Giveaway!

Listen up, ladies. There’s a new moisturizer in town - and I am so enamored, I just cannot keep it on the DL.

KENZO’s new face cream, Belle de Jour enhances the skin’s natural beauty by protecting it from free radicals and the harmful stress hormone – Cortisol. High levels of Cortisol increase blood pressure and can weaken the immune system, making the body prone to illness and fat accumulation.

In clinical studies conducted by LVMH CEC (Cosmetic Evaluation Center), 75% of women using Belle de Jour showed a drop in their Cortisol levels by 25% after a single application. Further tests show a 28% reduction in reactive oxygenated elements (free radicals) on the skin’s surface.

White lotus, long regarded as a sacred flower in Asia, is at the heart of its secret formula. White lotus water, grown and harvested specially for KENZO in East Asia, has proven relaxing and anti-free radical effects. This natural and potent ingredient helps restore skin to its natural balance by stimulating cellular metabolism, leaving it luminous and soft. It is suitable for all skin types and may be used day and night.

Belle de Jour is quite possibly the most luxurious face cream I’ve ever used. In addition to reducing Cortisol levels and protecting against free radicals, this voluptuous moisturizer soothes and increases radiance. While Belle de Jour is one heck of a hydrator, the fragrance is the selling point. Without hesitation, I would say that Belle de Jour is one of the best smelling beauty products I’ve ever met; and as you know, I get around.

When I apply Belle de Jour in the middle of my harried morning routine, it calms me and makes me slow my pace just a little. And I love slathering it on right before bed, so that I can breathe in its delicate perfume as it lulls me to sleep. If KENZO wants to make a gazillion dollars, they’ll create an entire line of skincare, bodycare and fragrance with this exact bouquet. I would buy every single thing. You hear me, KENZO?

One lucky reader is going to hear me loud and clear, because Spoiled Pretty and KENZO are giving away one 1.7 oz jar of Belle de Jour (retail value $105!).

To enter, send an email to fotohotcewekcontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address. The subject line should read "Belle de Jour Giveaway." The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Saturday, February 7th. One winner will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Sunday, February 8th, I'll announce the winner’s name. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.

Kenzo Friends & Family

Kenzo Parfums is celebrating 20 years in the biz by re-launching their website, kenzousa.com. Today, the newly re-designed website is unveiled to the public – and to mark the occasion, they’re hosting their first ever Friends and Family Anniversary Event! Now through November 24th, get 20% off your entire purchase at kenzousa.com.


And just in time for the Friends and Family promotion, Kenzo debuts a rich and spicy new fragrance for her - KenzoAmour Le Parfum. The perfect scent for cooler weather, KenzoAmour Le Parfum is a woody oriental evocative of a slow, sensuous journey through the exotic landscapes of Asia. The richness of benzoin balm and amber combines with the softness of frangipani blossom and vanilla to bring forth a new story in Kenzo’s Asian voyage. Inspired by the ethereal shrines of the East, designer Karim Rashid’s original bottle design has been dipped in a matte gold finish, reminiscent of the precious offerings made to the deities as thanks for the good fortune bestowed.

Actress and new Bond Girl Olga Kurylenko is the face of the fragrance, which launched this past weekend – coinciding with the national release of Quantum of Solace.

KenzoAmour Le Parfum is available in 1 oz and 1.7 oz ($52/$68 with the 20% discount, $65/$85 without).

80s Ladies Week: Cool Beans Courtesy of Kenzo

For the fourth installment of 80s Ladies Week, I am inspired by one of the most heinous fashion felonies - shoulder pads.

Sometime in the early 1980s, someone had the asinine idea to create these mini monstrosities. Their original purpose remains unclear…perhaps they were invented to facilitate naps on airplane rides…you know, like a predecessor to the travel pillow. But those suckers caught on, and for an entire decade, females everywhere were running around looking like cross-dressing football players. Even arch rivals Krystle Carrington and Alexis Colby shared a mutual love for the dy-NASTY shoulder pads. And as you can see, these ladies liked ‘em big.

But bigger isn’t always better…which is why, circa 1992, women came to their senses and downsized…and also why I love Kenzo’s new (shoulder pad-shaped) RYOKO fragrance pebbles.


This collection of five pocket-sized, leak-proof fragrance atomizers has become a summer staple in my handbag. If you’re a gal who likes her fragrance to go, you’ll love the creativity and convenience of the RYOKO. In your cavernous bag (I know you’ve got one), it’s a breeze to find thanks to the punchy colors. And its ergonomically-designed packaging just begs to be handled.

The RYOKO is available in five fabulous fragrances:

Flower by Kenzo
Kenzo Amour
L'eau Par Kenzo
L'eau Par Kenzo Pour Homme
Tokyo by Kenzo

My pick? Flower by Kenzo – without a doubt. I’m so obsessed, Kenzo might need to take out a restraining order.

The RYOKO fragrance pebbles are available for $29 at kenzousa.com.

For another 80s fix, check out Amber’s 80s inspired product review over at Beauty Blogging Junkie.