Last night I was invited to the chic and beautiful, Hudson Hotel in Manhattan, by Elizabeth Arden (the company, not the woman) to attend a cocktail reception for “Danielle,” a new fragrance inspired by, and influenced by, romance author Danielle Steele that just recently hit fragrance counter shelves this month.
I’ve only read one Danielle Steele book, and that was because it was in a hotel room, it rained constantly for a few days, and we had a balcony overlooking the sea, and not much else to do. But
But Ms. Steele’s fans are legion. If nothing else, I can’t help but admire a woman who has been able to build an empire of books so large, she’s almost a permanent staple on the New York Times Best Seller List. Cosmetics companies know that when you put a “celebrity” name on a product, fans will buy it even if they’re not really in the market for anything new. In the case of this new fragrance, Danielle, I am fairly certain I overheard more than one of the Elizabeth Arden brass (who seemed to be out in force) say that it’s selling lightening-fast off the shelves, as we speak.
If you’re not an abandoned heiress, a sea captain’s daughter being forced to marry someone she doesn’t love, or a jet-setting (but lonely) princess going incognito to find her true heritage…and so forth…you can still smell like a heroine in one of Ms. Steele’s dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of books. Or, if you’re a writer like me, you can imagine that Ms. Steele’s success is your own, at least in the way you have scented yourself for the moment!
There weren’t any press kits available last night (I’ll be getting the holiday collection and will review it in The Advice Sisters DECEMBER What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion review column http://www.advicesisters.net/whatworkscol3.html (look for it the first week in December) but somewhere on the net I found a description of the notes that seems relatively correct as I sniffed the mainly fresh and fruity (and light) blend: “lush green notes and Mediterranean mandarin; a heart of butterfly jasmine, sunset orchid and hydroponic rose, and a drydown of blue vetiver, white amber and cashmere musks.”
Obviously, a fragrance with the famed romance novelist’s name on it, has to present a feminine, but intruiging face. At the event, regular and mini-sized versions of the perfume bottle were cleverly laid out as pieces on the chessboards in the Hudson Hotel Library, and on a pool table, suggesting chance, mystery, and a challenge. The bottle is truly stunning: a simple, substantial, sensual square of crystal with a nearly-clear pale yellow, fragrance, inside. The Eau de Parfum Spray is a larger, chunkier version, with a large chunk of clear plastic over the spray atomizer, featuring a simple “DS” (for Danielle Steele) on the top in simple, gold, serif, letters. The outside box is pale pink packaging adorned with a black lace motif.
Since I’d never met the author before, I had no idea what to expect. I thought she was tall, but, in actuality, she is a smallish woman radiating a lot of presence. Her “toreador-style” outfit was rimmed in dramatic, gold thread from stem to stern, making a fashionable statement as the woman of the moment. I mistook her for a fashion editor, until the flashbulbs began to pop.
We drank champagne (rose and regular) and enjoyed little puffs filled with brie, and other lite but elegant, bites. Finally, Ms. Steele was introduced by the CEO of Elizabeth Arden. She seemed almost humble, shy, as if she was unfamilar with all the attention (but of course, she has been to a gazillion of her own book signings, so she’s used to being in the public eye). She had just a few words to say about her new fragrance. She thanked Elizabeth Arden and the publicists for their great work and for enjoyable experiences with them (very gracious, I thought), but she said little about the fragrance or what her inspiration was for it (I later found out that the pink and black lace was inspired by a favorite gown, the crystal bottle, evocative of her large collection of crystal, however). The scent itself, conveys qualities embodied by the writer, who is also the mother of nine children. Two of those are certainly, femininity and strength.
The collection includes two sizes of Eau de Parfum: 1.7 oz. for $49.50 and 3.3 oz. for $65, as well as a 0.5-oz. parfum, $125, and a 6.8-oz. body lotion for $35
I’m more of a floriental fan (that’s a floral fragrance mixed with spices) but Danielle is a pleasing, fruity fragrance that has enough depth to take you from the cooler months right into Summer, without having to switch to another fragrance if you choose this one as your signature. It will make a great gift for the holidays!
*just one last note: the Hudson Hotel is chic and eye catching. The library bar is a clubby, comfortable, and actually, sort of romantic place to spend a moment away from the hustle and bustle of New York streets. I’ll be back!