Giveaway Winners: No More Waity Katie and Zeta Samples

There are worse ways to start the week than spreading the love, so here are the winners of last week's two giveaways:

No More Waity, Katie:
RedNails

Zeta:
Dawn (DSH)
Veroushka
Pam (and her future daughter-in-law)

Congratulations to all and please email me your snail mail address!

Tauer Perfumes- Zeta (and sample giveaway)

I often have a hard time starting a review of a Tauer perfume. Andy Tauer's creations speak to me on such an emotional and personal level that makes it difficult to talk about notes and development. I feel these perfumes and live in them more than I wear the scents.

Zeta, the newest perfume to join the Tauer collection is summer. An ideal and picturesque one-- full of soft light and gossamer air that carries the scents of delicate white blossoms, cold water with thin slices of lemons and oranges floating in them, crisp vintage white linens on tables and beds and the promise of romance if you just go out there and try.

Linden flowers smell and look so very delicate and the quality of the stuff Andy Tauer bottled here is amazing- it's so easy to go terribly wrong, loud synthetic and harsh with floral notes- but Zeta is the real thing, shaped by a sensitive artist and it lets you know it from the very first whiff. I smell honey as soon as I put Zeta on my skin. A light-colored and very gentle honey, but it's there (don't be scared, though. This is most definitely not Miel de Bois). I can almost mentally separate the little white flowers that come next- a pile of linden and a pile of orange blossoms. But then I'd want to draw them back into one heap and roll in them not very gracefully. Then again, we can just wear Zeta and avoid the embarrassment of this animalic behavior, right?

Zeta mellows down a little over time. It becomes both particles and waves. It hangs closer to the skin than any of the other Tauer perfumes and is different enough from them that I'd advise even non-Tauerheads to give it a try. There is a smooth wood and orris accord there that is a bit more cerebral than the pagan bacchanal of rolling and dancing amidst the blooming trees, but is equally enjoyable.

If you know someone who gets married this summer, give her or him a sample as a suggestion for a wedding scent/wedding shower gift. While I can't help thinking of Zeta in feminine terms and as a bridal perfume, I have no doubt that men who aren't afraid of flowers can pull it off. Especially those who liked the aesthetics of Tauer's Carillon Pour un Ange.

Now to the giveaway: I have three samples of Zeta to give away. To enter the draw please leave a comment and tell me which (if any) Tauer Perfumes you've already tried. Did you like them? Why (or why not)?

Zeta by Tauer Perfumes ($150, 50 ml) is now available from luckyscent.com (they also sell samples). The three samples for the giveaway were sent to me by the perfumer, as was the sample I tested and already used up. The full bottle I ordered from Luckyscent should be here on Friday afternoon, and believe me, that's not a moment too soon.

Notes: Lemon, bergamot, sweet orange, ylang, orange blossom absolute, neroli, linden blossom, rose, orris, sandalwood, vanilla.

Top photo by Regina Relang from theformofbeauty.tumblr.com
Linden Blossom photo by Katrin Shumakov

About Kate Middleton's Eyeliner (and a No More Waity Katie giveaway)

I can't help it. I'm a royal nerd and I like Kate Middleton. She has a great eye for princess-appropriate fashion, knows what's flattering on her and she's just right for the role. There's just one little thing I wish I could fix for her- the harsh eyeliner she uses on her waterline. I think something softer (and even smokier for nights out) would look better. Otherwise, she's a perfect almost-princess.

In honor of Kate Middleton and the upcoming wedding we'll have the little giveaway I promised of a brand new bottle of Butter London No More Waity, Katie limited edition nail polish (you can see swatches here). Because of postal restrictions I have to limit this one to US residents. Yes, it's a drag, I know. In order to participate please leave a comment and tell me how you feel about the royal wedding, Kate and William or a special memory you have from (watching) the Charles & Diana wedding. Or just say who's your favorite royal and why.

The giveaway will be open until Friday, so I can mail it in time for you to get the polish before the royal wedding.

Photos of Kate Middleton: Pacific Coast News via Zimbio.
Butter London No More Waity, Katie nail polish photo by me.

Winner Of Tauer Le Cologne du Maghreb

There's quite a bit of stuff to fit in today before the end of the day and the year, but first is announcing the winner of Andy Tauer's Advent Calendar giveaway. A fabulous bottle of Tauer Perfumes Le Cologne du Maghreb goes to Spike. Please drop me an email so we can make arrangements. Congratulations!

Photo: tauerperfumes.com

Andy Tauer's Advent Calendar, A Giveaway And My Mother's Marzipan

Today is day 23 of Andy Tauer's Advent Calendar. I'm honored to host a giveaway of a very special bottle of Andy's creation Le Cologne du Maghreb- an all natural, all botanical eau de cologne. It's a real prize- a 50 ml of a scent that can't be purchased anywhere. And, of course, it smells wonderful- rich citrus like you rarely encounter nowadays over a light wood/incense base. This is Andy's gift (details at the bottom), and here is mine:

December celebrations in my family have always been about more than just Hanukkah. Not that the Festival Of Light on all its deep-fried goodness is anything minor, but my dad's birthday is the 17th of December, my late grandfather's was the 22nd (he would have been 98 this year) and my parents' wedding anniversary is the 28th. This means December has really been one big countdown. With food.

One of the treats that always appears on the table is homemade marzipan. I believe my mom has refined and improved an old family recipe. Her marzipan is delectable, flavorful and ridiculously easy to make. I still remember when I was very young that my mother used a manual food mill to grind the almonds, but that was over 30 years ago. A food processor simplifies preparations- grind, mix and roll into cute little balls. It takes very few ingredients, just make sure not to compromise on quality and freshness. The basic principle is equal parts almonds and sugar, some seasoning and a binding ingredient (the egg white). Quantities can be easily adjusted as is the seasoning. My mother uses vanilla-laced (store vanilla pods in your sugar for a couple of weeks). Or add a few drops of the best vanilla extract to the mixture. This last adjustment is not mother-approved (I'll hear about this in tomorrow's phone call), but it works in a pinch.

Nina's Marzipan

9 oz (250gr) raw unblanched almonds
9 oz (250 gr) sugar
an egg white (probably a little less- depending on the mixture)
zest of a medium lemon, finely grated
a few drops of almond extract


1. Blanch the almond in boiling water- let soak for 1 minute, rinse in cold water and pat to remove skins. Dry. No shortcuts on this- never buy blanched almonds because they are seriously lacking in taste, aroma and texture.

2. Process the blanched almonds and sugar into a very fine and uniform meal.

3. Add egg white one spoonful at a time and mix by hand to dough-like consistency.

4. Mix in extracts and lemon zest.

5. Roll into balls, about 3/4-inch round. Place each ball in a paper candy cup, store in an airtight container and refrigerate until serving.

Yes, that's it.

And now to Andy's giveaway- to be entered please leave a comment and tell us about a favorite holiday treat or a scent memory. 
Art by Craig Stephens