Pretty by Elizabeth Arden

Last week, a few lucky Total Beauty bloggers and I went to Givaudan only to be introduced to a slice of heaven: Pretty by Elizabeth Arden.

Pretty was created by master perfumer Claude Dir of Givaudan. His vision was of something pretty, fun and flirty. It's as if he wanted to "capture a dream in a bottle" so to do this he went to his palette of ingredients (about 4,000!) and searched for the notes that would create this vision. The search was over when he was sent a molecule, exclusive to Givaudan, which he instantly named Petalia. Dir describes Petalia as a charming and unique note that has a peony effect.

Other notes in this scent include:
Top Notes (or the hook, as Dir said, what grabs you in):
-Italian Mandarin Orpur
-Orange Blossom
-Peach Nectar

Middle notes (the heart of the fragrance):
-Petalia
-Star Jasmine
-Pink Iris
-White Peony

Drydown (the "sexy/ flirty" part of the fragrance):
-Fluffy Musk
-Jacaranda Wood
-Creamy Amber

There is a continuity amongst the notes- that is, no one note is identifiable. It is not easy to pinpoint the different notes in this scent. It is truly a complex floral and with his mixture of over 100 ingredients, each of the notes blends beautifully together to create a fragrance that is wearable to work or school in morning and holds you over for dinner at night.

Dir was able to create a timeless and wearable scent that stands out from the masses. “There are so many fragrances on the market, people are confused,” he said. True to his vision, Pretty is one of those fragrances that you will remember the name, smell, and where you were when you first wore it. There

If you don't fall in love with the scent alone, then the package reels you in even more. The bottle was inspired by a bud vase and feels both sensual and substantial in your hand. Elizabeth Arden hit the nail on the had with this one...the packaging and the fragrance is nothing short of, well, Pretty.

Special bonus!

Going on 'till April 19th Elizabeth Arden is hosting the "I Feel Pretty" sweepstakes with Style.com. Visit http://www.style.com/promo/elizabetharden/pretty/ to enter for the opportunity to win a Spa Vacation for 2 plus the entire Pretty Elizabeth Arden collection!

Prize includes:
Airfare
Accommodations for 5 nights
Massage treatment
$100 credit toward additional spa services
The entire Pretty Elizabeth Arden collection, a value of over $150

Good Luck!