Retrodiva's Beauty Bar: private collection

More than anything, I think this bottle is a work of art on it's own, to say nothing of the fragrance inside. The cap is embellished with natural semi-precious gems including White Jade, dark and light Lapis, Sodalite, Black Agate, Mother of Pearl and Blue Lace Agate stones. The stones selected for each cap are different, making each piece unique. I find the thought of a uniquely designed bottle to be extremely appealing.

Like the three other fragrances in the Aerin Lauder Private Collection, this one has a bit of a backstory. Aerin Lauder, the Estée Lauder Senior Vice President and Creative Director visited the archives and found a previously started but never finished work by Estee Lauder herself. Called Formula #546AQ, it had languished in the archives for ages. Aerin took the rough formula, added modern technology and finished with a beautiful merging of jasmine and white moss. The fragrance celebrates the past and present, and is a first in the world of fragrance and Estee Lauder.

The top notes include Mandarin, and Absolutes of Black Currant Bud (crisp and fruity,
a new quality captured for the very first time with a new extraction technique), Galbanum and Bergamot.
Middle notes are Jasmine Sambac Absolute selected by Aerin and subtly blended with the Ylang Ylang and Jasmin India Absolutes Estée herself had chosen, plus Violet, Orange Flower Absolute and Orris.
And the base notes include Absolutes of Patchouli Heart, Vetiver and White Moss Mist (an
Estée Lauder exclusive).

You will be able to find this lovely fragrance at www.esteelauder.com and specialty doors
Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and Bergdorf Goodman beginning July 2009.

Selections and prices include: Parfum Spray, 1oz., $325.00. Eau de Parfum Spray, 1oz., $80.00. Eau de Parfum Spray, 2.5oz., $135.00. Body Creme, 6.7oz., $75.00. Perfume Solid Pendant (limited edition) $195.00

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I am absolutely dying over this offering, and I'm not even a huge Estee Lauder fragrance person. But the combination of amber and ylang ylang is just thrilling to me, since I don't have anything remotely like it in my collection.

And aren't these bottles absolutely gorgeous? They do have a bit of a backstory. Apparently, the parfum bottle cap is adorned with semi precious stones of tiger eye, smokey quartz and red agate. The eau de parfum bottle cap was inspired by an exquisite hammered gold necklace and matching bracelet Aerin received as a gift from her grandmother Estee.

The top notes are Italian bergamot, geranium, and ylang absolute. The heart includes Bulgarian rose absolute, cinnamon, and incense. The dry down is amber, sandalwood and vanilla bean.

Sounds absolutely lovely! Although I admit that sandalwood always terrifies me. I continue to try it out, though.

Private Collection Amber Ylang Ylang will be available in November from EsteeLauder.com, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, and Bergdorf Goodman.