Many a celebrity has launched a fragrance and most of them were done by the fragrance giant, Coty. Entertainer and businesswoman Beyonce Knowles is the latest to join forces with the company. The two parties will launch her first scent, Heat, in February, with special events on February 2 and 3 in Union Square and Herald Square, respectively.

Given her personality and the name of the fragrance, it’d be obvious to anyone that appreciates perfumes what this might smell like. Now, it’s worth noting that all mass marketed fragrances have a high alcohol volume, which is why they don’t last as long as those with a high oil concentration. That said, this is an interesting blend of notes in a glam bottle. Before we go any further, if nothing else, we must applaud her team for launching this just weeks ahead of Hallmark’s favorite holiday, Valentine’s Day.

The use of red, her personality and the name, Heat, might make one assume this would be a supremely spicy scent, but it is actually quite balanced. Vanilla and magnolia weren’t surprises, nor were musk, amber or tonka bean, but some other notes were pleasant surprises. The addition of neroli, perhaps symbolic of an exotic characteristic most don’t know, followed by peach and honeysuckle nectar, possibly to embody her soft side, and milkwood, make for a balanced scent for women like Beyonce: strong, multi-faceted, and always feminine.

Overall, it seems this launch could be as successful as SJP’s but there’s only one issue with the media accompanying it. The woman that coined the word Bootylicious should always be proud of her curves. The ad for the perfume seems a bit touched up (left leg!), which while it is a normal occurrence in the art department, is unfortunate for the many women and girls that look up to Beyonce. Her beautiful curves should reinforce the idea that sexy comes in all packages. Maybe, in the future, celebrities might consider not just reviewing their contracts for the right licensing and pay clauses, but also for a no- or low-airbrush clause.

Perfumer: Claude Dir & Olivier Gillotin from Givaudan

Packaging: Lutz Herrmann Design

EVENTS

Tuesday February 2 starting at 6 p.m.

“Beyoncé Heat, the visionary artist is illuminating the central destination with fiery red light and smoky fog, infusing the winter landscape with a steamy, sexy aura that embodies Beyoncé’s unique appeal,” according to the announcement.

Wednesday February 3 The customer meet and greet will start at the Macy’s in Herald Square on 34th street. This will follow the 4:30 p.m. red carpet event. The first customers to buy the 3-piece fragrance set for $122.00 will meet and pose with Beyonce for a picture.

Product Details: Eau de Parfum 1 ounce $39; 1.7 ounce $49; 3.4 ounce $59

The Gold Sparkling Body Lotion, with a shimmery tone and light scent, is $24 for a 6.8 ounce bottle.

Recording artist Chris Bridges, AKA Ludacris, introduced Conjure on The Jay Leno Show on October 20. Conjure is a warm cognac developed with Birkedal Hartmann, a creator of cognac since 1887.

Led by Kim Birkedal Hartmann, the relationship with Bridges created the blend of thirty to forty eaux-de-vie, aged in oak barrels up to fifty years old. Conjure includes hints of vanilla, rich toffee, spice, apricot and dried prune leave, leaving a warm taste.

Supermodel and fashion icon Kate Moss launched her third fragrance this September, Vintage. Inspired by Moss’ love of vintage clothes and art, as well as perfumes from the 1920s and 1930s, the fragrance is classic yet refined with Moss’ contemporary twist.

A sweet floral blend mixed with warm notes of tonka bean and almond flower, the fragrance creates a feminine and sensual experience. Other notes include pink pepper and white freesia.

The bottle mimics the name by its smoky glass tint decorated with Kate’s signature in rose gold. The rose gold pattern can also be found on the folding box the fragrance is packaged in, providing a last touch of the antique inspired style.

Tammy Olsson and Anne Yeo were acquaintances until a chance conversation led to a new business idea. Both Vancouver residents, Olsson worked in a tea shop and Yeo was in advertising. The duo joined forces and created a Matcha tea product, Domo Tea, which they push as a way for coffee addicts to get used to a healthier caffeine. The reasoning is that matcha functions more like a time-release caffeine than coffee’s spike-and-crash jolt. Add to that the supposed antioxidants of green tea and you have a healthy morning pick-me-up.

Domo Tea comes in Vanilla Cloud, Chocolate Ecstasy and Ginger Kiss. The difference between drinking green tea and incorporating Domo into your daily ritual is that Domo is comprised of ground up whole tea leaves that can be fully ingested by combining with hot water and hot milk, or with smoothies. Matcha is believed to have up 200 times the antioxidants of regular green tea. It is believed to lead to a higher metabolic rate and sometimes helps to control blood pressure and cholesterol. The tea plant is also believed to contain Theanine, an amino acid found to having calming and immune boosting effects.

We used Domo Tea two ways: in smoothies and as a hot caffeine afternoon drink. In smoothies, Domo serves as the caffeine source, alongside vitamin and mineral additions. It satisfied even us coffee addicts, carrying us through from about 9:30 a.m. until lunchtime around 1 p.m. For a nice afternoon drink instead of the unhealthy trip to the vending machine, mix a spoon or two of Domo with hot water, stir, and add a few ounces of hot cow, soy or hemp milk. We like vanilla flavored milk options because they add a touch of sweetness. The drink is soothing, healthy, satisfying and offers a health dose of caffeine.

Bonus:
The company is planning a new line of tea-based products. In an effort to diversify, the new line might have a vitamin, health and immune slant. Also on the roster is a Rooibos line, originating from South Africa, with an immune booster, hangover cure slant. The duo is also thinking about distributing green tea-based oil.

Where:
For more information or to buy Domo Tea, visit the Domo Tea website.

The Dirt:
Though candles are the ultimate in ambience, some brands offer decorations and home fragrance options in one item. Seda France is our new obsession, partially for the fabulous packaging. When we sought out Seda, we were impressed by the many options, but we settled on Taj and Bouganville Sapote. Taj comes packaged in a fabulous paisley pagoda box, with elements a pineapple leaf, hibiscus, and ginger flower. The combination offers a subtle background scent that is gender neutral. However, the Bouganville Sapote, is a sweet combination of peach, white tea, sapote and mango.

Another new company on our favorites list is Sweet Grass Farm. The candles and fragrance sticks from Sweet Grass Farm offer country chic scent combinations that are sophisticated and yet homey. While we love the idea of calming Lavender and homey Maple Sugar, we latched onto the Sugared Mint. The company also offers delicious scents for the fragrance oils, such as Warm Vanilla Milk and New England Woods, but our new obsession if Fig & Cedarwood. Subtle enough to provide a light undertone in the air, the fig scent creeps up on you when in the vicinity of the oil and sticks, and draws you in. On a rainy day, it’s the perfect pick-me-up.

Where:
Seda France’s candles retail for about $28 but are on sale for $20, for a limited time. For availability information, visit the Seda France website.
Sweet Grass 8oz candles are $9.95 and the fragrance stick sets are $29.95. For availability information, visit the Sweet Grass website.

The Dirt:
Massachusetts drink company Mixerz is the upscale, healthy alternative to the sugar-heavy cocktail mixers of the past. Throw all your sour mix and bloody mary mixes out the window, because Mixerz has options for everyone, and they use cane sugar to sweeten! The collection ranges from bloody mary mix to lemoncello to one of our favorites, the sweet thick mango mix. However, we have to give props for the Blueberry Acai option. Couple the flavors with fabulous packaging design that is gender friendly and you have a ready-made bar.

That leads us to our new favorite infused vodka company, Van Gogh Vodka. While the company has an 80-proof vodka, we favor their flavored options. The collection of infused vodkas is too long to list, so we’ll give you the low down on our favorites. For an exotic drink, try the Acai-Blueberry, in fact, pair it with the same flavor from mixers and a bit of ice, and all your guests will be pining for the recipe. We also love the Double Espresso to satisfy our sweet tooth. It’s strong but sweet and excellent as is over ice. The collection also includes delicious flavors such as vanilla, pomegranate, melon and coconut vodka. With that range and help from Mixerz’s blends, you just can’t miss.

Where:
For more information on Mixerz flavors and retails, visit the Mixerz website. For more information on Van Gogh varieties and retailers, visit the Van Gogh Vodka website.

The Dirt:
The latest addition to the sector of ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages is Coole Swan, a creamy Irish liquor that might double as a subtler pre-made White Russian. The ready-to-drink market is growing fast, with both regular and alcoholic beverages, largely because it helps other brands, be they companies or pop stars, earn additional income and clout. However in this case, it’s simply about taste.

The drink is made up of vanilla from the African island nation of Madagascar, chocolate, single malt Irish whiskey and cocoa from the African nation of Ivory Coast, all of which mixes with the cream base. Best served chilled, the dairy drink has the consistency of a thin cream and is sweet at first taste but has a slight kick that hits on the way down. The combination makes for a sweet drink with just enough bite. While it’s not a low-calorie drink, its makes a great after-dinner liquor because all that’s required is ice and a chilled glass. The product must be kept cold and has a shelf life of about six months, on average.

Where:
Coole Swan is 16% alcohol and is available in 750ml and 1 liter bottles, for $24.99 and $34. To purchase Coole Swan, visit Morrell’s website. For more information, visit the Coole Swan website.