Beauty: The New Weight Of Scent

Even the most pungent scent eventually fades into the ether, which may be why fragrances are becoming heavier—literally. Resembling lip balm, solid perfumes are long-lasting and portable. Marc Jacobs's eponymous gardenia blend is stored in a compact that slips neatly into a zip-up leather case ($55; sephora.com). London-based bespoke perfumery Miller Harris makes Geranium Bourbon Fragrance Balm ($60; millerharris.com). Some cases are more complex than the scents within; Estée Lauder's Pleasures is packed in a bejeweled spider ($250; esteelauder.com). Paying homage to its handbags, Leiber perfume is encased in a crystal-encrusted Miniaudiere purse ($185; neimanmarcus .com). Yves Saint Laurent conceals a smidge of Elle in its dangling-cube charm, attachable to a tote ($56; sephora.com). And the musky Sublime by Jean Patou is presented in a faux-diamond case that slides open ($95; zitomer.com). Pretty solid.

© 2008