BEYONCE UNVEILS HER NEW FRAGRANCE

Just what glorious gift has Beyonce brought us this cold, hung-over Friday? Her very own fragrance, of course. She is aiming to light a much-needed fire under the beleaguered fragrance business this February with the release of her first scent, Beyoncé Heat. Industry sources estimate it could do $100 million at retail globally in its first year on counter. At least half of that figure is expected to come from U.S. sales. “A lot of my performances have had fire involved, so we thought ‘Heat,’" she told WWD. As for the red-and-gold bottle: "Also, red is one of my favorite colors, as is gold."

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Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson stars in the campaign for his new fragrance Power. The image of the rapper pulling off his white button-down shirt looks heavily Photoshopped, as evidenced by his missing stomach tattoo, doll-like face, and missing shirt buttons or button holes.

EXTRAORDINARY SWAG

This week Diddy revealed his billboard for the I Am King frangrance in Times Square. He celebrated a the Dream Hotel in NewYork. Gotta love this dude! He makes serious moves!

GOTTA LOVE VICTORIA BECKHAM

Victoria Beckham doesn't fail to impresss as she attends a photocall for the launch of hers’ and her husband David Beckham’s new fragrance entitled Signature at the Harvey Nichols in Manchester, England yesterday.

The fashion icon, dressed in an ivory sheath from Giambattista Valli's Fall 2008 collection, looked like an angel as she signed autographs and chit-chatted with the first hundred constumers who purchased her latest perfume. She literally, looked like an angel. She appeared to be wearing a pair of angel wings. As she turned on her heels, she revealed the back of the otherwise simple dress was covered in tufts of fox fur. Gotta love her.

DIDDY, THE KING OF THE FRAGRANCE GAME

We know we're not alone when we say this, but as much as I hate to admit it, I completely heart Diddy. His brazen love of self, tendency of speaking in the third person, how much he enjoys being rich... Some say he's "arrogant," and that his grand showings of nouveau riche wealth are "vulgar" but, to hey, in the words of Diana Vreeland, 'better to be vulgar than boring,' right? And we all know that Diddy is far from boring (case in point: his recent YouTube dispatch warning that levels of global "bitchassness" are reaching record highs, WTF!).

So it didn't come as a surprise when I learned that he was naming his new fragrance I Am King. (We were however surprised to hear that it's expected to make more than $100 million globally within its first year alone. For reals?!) WWD reports that the new cologne will launch exclusively at Macy's in December before going global in February, to be followed by an I Am Queen perfume in 2009.


The print and TV campaign for I Am King portrays Diddy as a mogul in a suit, frolicking around Monaco and Saint-Tropez with models Bar Refaeli and Ana Paula, on jet skis, lounging aboard his palatial yacht and playing the tables inside the Casino de Paris in Monte Carlo. So, you can just about imagine what really goes on in his everyday life. (Ridiculous.)

“The first [fragrance, Unforgivable for Men] was pure
sexuality,” said Combs. “I Am King is more about sophistication. It’s strong and also sexy, with an elegance and simplicity to it.”

ELIZABETH ARDEN TEAMS UP WITH JAY-Z FOR ROCAWEAR FRAGRANCE

Rocawear, the fashion label established by Jay-Z, will launch their first fragrance this fall. The new fragrance for men, 9IX Rocawear, was created under licensing arrangements with Elizabeth Arden. Arden hopes to bring added urban appeal to department stores by September.

Carter continues to be involved in the business and retains creative control over the fashion, and Arden said that Carter had a strong hand in developing the fragrance — but 9IX is not intended to be “a Jay-Z celebrity fragrance,” said Ron Rolleston, executive vice president of global fragrance.

The scent, concocted by International Flavors & Fragrances, has top notes of Asian coriander, mandarin zest and living cantaloupe; a heart of spike lavender, raw geranium leaf and suede, and a drydown of golden amber, musk and timberwood.

SMELL ME!!!

Bond No.9 is at it again…this time mixing and matching the fragrances we love, to the point of perfection. This holiday season, keep an eye out for 4 limited-edition fragrances, all adorned in Swarovski crystals. Each scent represents a small section of our fabulous New York City, with names such as Eau de New York, Chelsea Flowers, Bleecker Street and Chinatown. (A personal favorite)

ERYKAH BADU NEW FACE OF TOM FORD FRAGRANCE

Tom Ford's White Patchouli will breathe boutiques air when it debuts later this year and the campaign is lead by Erykah Badu, who was handpicked by Ford himself. Erykah looks radiantly beautiful in the ads. It was shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and will begin appearing in fashion and lifestyle magazines in September.