How important is packaging to you when it comes to perfumes? I've seen really expensive ones that come in simple bottles - I guess in those cases, the scent is queen. But I do like having beautiful mini-sculptures to have as a keepsake. Someday, when I have my dream dresser, I'm going to keep my favorite bottles there just to look at.  ^_^

Anyhoo, I recently received the new Anna Sui La Vie De Boheme Eau de Toilette to review. The box and bottle alone immediately made my day (it doesn't take a lot, really!) because they look so striking. I don't have anything like it!

This scent is inspired by the modern bohemian woman. She lives an unconventional lifestyle. She's an adventurer who loves to travel, an artist with a romantic streak. She prefers to be herself and to express herself, sometimes against what is considered acceptable in today's society. The ruffled, printed skirt and floppy hats are just optional!

My favorite fashion designer is Elie Saab. I can't say I'm an avid runway follower, but I always watch out for the Lebanese designer's new collections. Mr. Saab is the only one who I feel understands the female form, who knows our deepest desire to be beautiful. He doesn't come out with unrealistic clothes that no one outside of the catwalk or a pop concert would wear. Season after season, his dresses never fail to stun and amaze.  

Sigh! I want to be rich enough to afford that $8,000 dress one day! For now though, I'm happy just having the Elie Saab Le Parfum, the designer's first foray into the world of fragrances.

The Le Parfum is in keeping with Mr. Saab's very strict aesthetics. The bottle has the same intricacy as his haute couture creations, and can even be considered a work of art with its many glimmering facets and elegant curves.

A perfume review is the most difficult to do. To begin with, how can I communicate a scent over a monitor? What are the right words to use? It takes me time to review scents because I need to know the perfume first until we are old friends.  

Merely saying that a scent is "nice" or "good" is not enough. Most fragrances smell nice anyway (which is why they are called such, ha ha). These days, they are more about creating a mood, an image, or a story than just merely smelling good. That's why packaging and branding are just as important as the actual formula.

So what is Elizabeth Arden's Pretty Hot EDP about? It's a feminine scent, but with an undertone of smoldering allure. This is the girl you meet wearing chiffon dresses and dainty heels, but she is also extremely confident, competitive, and crafty.

Sigrid Villamil, the product manager of Guerlain, once told me how Guerlain perfumes are distinct from each other with their own stories to tell. I completely agree. Shalimar is rich with tradition, the anthem of sophisticated women who never take no for an answer. Herba Fresca is a field of grass dotted by wildflowers, with sunlight streaming in a gentle glow.

And Guerlain Idylle? It's a bouquet of flowers presented to you by a charming gentleman as you walk in a candle-lit room wearing a gorgeous, flowing dress and strappy stilettos. You just met him, and you're excited to get to know him better, drunk with the promise of love. That moment in time is an idyll - a perfect scene, beautiful because you know it will never last.

I find Guerlain Idylle (P2,998) to be a truly versatile fragrance. It's not as heavy and musky as Shalimar nor as light and sharp as Herba Fresca - it's right in the middle, which allows you to wear it during the day or night.