December beauty news: editor’s picks

Perfume tools by Jody Kochen
 
Looking for a solution to overcome her perfume allergy, Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Jody Kochen developed a set of jewellery that works as a vehicle for fragrance on the body. Each piece is first afixed to a perfume bottle, where it absorbs the fragrance, before being used as a wearable diffuser. Placed in strategic areas where the skin is finer (such as wrists and earlobes), the metal warms up and releases the fragrance. The small collection of prototypes includes a cuff, a pair of earrings and a necklace that all feature minimal, utilitarian design elements.

www.jodykocken.com

Writer: Rosa Bertoli

Arquiste Boutonniere no. 7

Born from the mind of an architect whose specialty is historic preservation, Arquiste is a collection of scents that explore different moments in history through olfactive experiences. The latest creation is inspired by a group of late 19th century young opera-goers and the perfume that emanates from the gardenia boutonniere on their jackets and melds with the notes of cologne they are wearing. This unique combination starts to play and merge during the opera's interludes, to become a distinct perfume, which Arquiste has captured, and aptly called Boutonniere n.7. Sold with a limited-edition gardenia pin-boutonniere designed by jewelers M. De Phocas, it carries notes of lavender, bergamot and gardenia.

$195; www.arquiste.com

Barber, Amsterdam

Amsterdam's Haarlemmerdijk and its adjoining streets have become quite the independent shopping area with quirky boutiques, organic food halls and quaint restaurants. Its newest tenant is Barber, a shaving salon housed in a 19th Century building on one of the tiny cobblestone-covered streets. For Barber, Dutch architect Ard Hoksbergen aimed for a raw but warm look by choosing natural materials and installing 'a giant spider web' of copper pipes to carry water and electricity throughout the shop. When in town, pop in for The Morrison, a hot towel and razor shave.

Binnen Oranjestraat 24, Amsterdam; Tel: 31.20 33 73 755; www.barber.nl

Writer: Micha Van Dinther

By Kilian In the Garden of Good and Evil

Each concoction created by French perfumer Kilian is strictly linked to a narrative, and his latest set explores olfactive sin with a collection of three fragrances named 'In the Garden of Good and Evil'. 'In the City of Sin' features notes of bergamot, peppercorn and Turkish rose absolute combined with atlas and Virginia Cedar woods to evoke carnal temptation and desire. 'Good Girl Gone Bad' explores prohibition through a composition of Jasmine Sambac, Rose of May and Indian Tuberose. 'Forbidden Games' represents the ultimate temptation with amber notes mixed with the fruity notes of apple, peach and plum, and flowers such as Bulgarian rose and midnight jasmine. The perfumes come in a simple flask-shaped bottle, which plays with the garden theme through a white engraved motif, which is then encased in a box featuring a serpent for a clasp, which doubles as an evening purse once the perfume is removed.  

£160; www.bykilian.com

Writer: Rosa Bertoli

Kjaer Weis Essential Sets

Since launching her eponymous brand in 2010, Kirsten Kjaer Weis has acquired a dedicated following of enthusiastic customers for her all-natural luxury colour beauty. The love was so mutual that, upon receiving a few enquiries about the single-packaged products being made into a kit, she obligingly brought together some of the brand's key items, in their Marc Atlan-designed metal cases, in a longer version of the signature red box. Combinations of colours range from grown-up, polished matte tones to classic and natural more glowing, holiday-themed shades, all in the warm, pink-focused palette the brand is known for.

$75 for the duo, $125 for the trio; www.kjaerweis.com

Writer: Rosa Bertoli

Kjaer Weis Essential Sets

Since launching her eponymous brand in 2010, Kirsten Kjaer Weis has acquired a dedicated following of enthusiastic customers for her all-natural luxury colour beauty. The love was so mutual that, upon receiving a few enquiries about the single-packaged products being made into a kit, she obligingly brought together some of the brand's key items, in their Marc Atlan-designed metal cases, in a longer version of the signature red box. Combinations of colours range from grown-up, polished matte tones to classic and natural more glowing, holiday-themed shades, all in the warm, pink-focused palette the brand is known for.

$75 for the duo, $125 for the trio; www.kjaerweis.com

Writer: Rosa Bertoli

retaW x Neighborhood

Since its launch in 2009, the Japanese luxury fragrance brand retaW (named after the word Water, reversed) and its founder, the multi-talented creative Hiroshi Fujiwara, have gained legions of fans for their uniquely packaged scents. For the recent partnership with military-inspired streetwear label Neighborhood, retaW created an original scent entitled Number One*, which has been applied to a fabric detergent, a room tag and a lip balm. The capsule collection is available from Neighborhood stores in Harajuku and Shibuya as well as online.

www.neighborhood.jp

Writer: Micha van Dinther

Svenskt Tenn scented candles

In the 1920s and 30s, Svenskt Tenn founder and keen traveller Estrid Ericson was met with criticism for sourcing exotic and foreign objects for her Stockholm store at a time when the fashion was for promoting home grown design. However, her many travels remained the main source of inspiration throughout her life. This month, Svenskt Tenn has teamed up with fragrance house Byredo to create three scented candles - Tolvekarna, Orienten and Gardenia - each in dedication to a destination or item that she loves. The lids and emerald green containers are designed by Swedish interior designer Jakob Solgren.

SEK850; www.svenskttenn.se

Writer: Micha van Dinther