WHAT'S NEW: CELEBRITY SCENTS

McClatchy Newspapers

Published Sunday, January 11, 2009

Here are some of the latest celebrity scent offerings:

USHER

What: "I wanted a fragrance that really evokes who I am and how I’ve evolved," Usher says of his new duo, UR for Men and UR for Women.

Sniff, sniff: The men’s scent sounds good enough to eat: Thai basil mixed with bay oil and nutmeg. The women’s is juicier, with pops of freesia and jasmine.

ANTONIO BANDERAS

What: "I’m obsessed with big smiles, a sense of humor, femininity," says Banderas about his Blue Seduction. "I want a woman to be a woman."

Sniff, sniff: With a raspberry base, BS is a bit sugary, but hey, proceeds go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

TIM McGRAW

What: "McGraw by Tim McGraw is just an extension of who I am," the country star in the ever-present hat says about his just-launched fragrance. It’s "a means of expressing myself and reaching out to people."

Sniff, sniff: Woodsy-spicy with dashes of bergamot and nutmeg. The finishing touch: aged whiskey.

GWEN STEFANI

What: Inspired by the electric street scene of Tokyo’s shopping district, the Harajuku Lovers collection is too-too adorable. The five scents come in doll decanters, so it’s ideal for your kid - although she’ll want ‘em all eventually.

Sniff, sniff: All (Love, Lil Angel, Music, Baby and G, for Gwen herself) are different. The G bottle, which resembles a cartoonish Gwennie, might end up as a collector’s item, mark our words.

JESSICA SIMPSON

What: "I wanted to create a pretty fragrance, one that I could be just as comfortable wearing on the red carpet or every day with my favorite jeans," Simpson says of her debut scent, Fancy.

Sniff, sniff: Girly, with apricot nectar and sparkling pear and toasted almond. Probably not for the over-30 crowd.

PARIS HILTON

What: "It’s delicate in the morning, sensual during the day and seductive in the evening," says the heiress about her fifth perfume, Fairy Dust.

Sniff, sniff: Think about what the color pink smells like. This is it: peony, orange blossom, gardenia and vanilla creme. Dessert more than entree.

PATRICK DEMPSEY

What: "The really fun part for me was discovering different layers of juices - the top note, the finish and all the science behind it," says Dempsey of Unscripted.

Sniff, sniff: Zingy, spliced with lavender, fig, cardamom and cracked black pepper. We hear all the hunks are spritzing it on the "Grey’s Anatomy" set.