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Embracing the new season isn’t only about transitioning your wardrobes from summer to fall, it’s also time to consider a fragrance switch out—your perfume tray called, it would love to be updated with a few current and of the season scents. While you may love smelling like a rose garden or spritzing on a little syrupy sweetness reminiscent of the warm dewy months, opting for warm and spicy notes are a great way to embrace the new season. So as you begin to push your beloved summer scents aside, allow a few of our fragrance picks to harmonize and fall perfectly in line with the fresh air of the season.

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According to The Black Health Zone, about 40 million people in the U.S. have seasonal allergies, and many of these individuals are also “allergic” to allergy pills. This can be a challenge for those who love wearing perfumes and scents. But, instead of relying on sleep-inducing allergy treatments like Benadryl (which can also cause water retention), reduce your sneezing, watery eyes and sniffles with these allergy-free perfumes. These scents are perfect for summer, and safe for all-day wear.

Every time Easter comes around I begin to search for accessories and apparel that mimic the colors of bright Easter eggs and beautiful Spring flowers. One of my favorite hues is lilac or what some may call purple/lavender. Plus, since pastel colors are once again in this season it makes adding them to your wardrobe that much easier.

Since Easter is just around the corner, I decided to share some of my pretty purple picks….

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Photo via MSNBC

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and it’s time to update your fragrance wardrobe. By now, most people have developed a signature scent, but its allure may have diminished because a significant other or friends have gotten used to it. And since smell is the strongest tie to memory, why not create brand new ones with a new brand of perfume this V-Day? We’ve searched high and low to bring you several fragrances that will spice up, freshen up, or sweeten things up a bit.

Purchase a bottle for yourself or “hint” to your lover which perfume is your heart’s desire: “Honey, I’d love that bottle of perfume on page __ of this Madame Noire article!” Let’s face it, there’s no time for subtly. Just remember that a great fragrance – like a great outfit – is an investment and subjective. If possible, visit the store to get a whiff of these scents in person. Even try a sample for a day because the scent can change as it wears. Still, we’ve included the complete notes of each perfume to make it easier for those who know what scents they like and are willing to purchase online.

With all that said, browse our picks and find the one that speaks to your heart…

This piece might seem a bit random, but I would love to hear opinions on hair hibernating in the winter…

A few months ago, like many other women, you could catch me in the shower shaving my legs every few days, my armpits every other day, and more (if you know what I mean) in the hopes of having hairless areas and those baby smooth legs that with the help of Shea butter, glisten in the summer sun. Any sign of stubble had to “get got,” and any and every sleeveless tank or top required a check up. Those shaving days required a bit more out of a chick in the morning and out of my morning routine, but when the weather was hitting 80 degrees, I wasn’t complaining about it.

I don’t know if you have checked outside recently, it’s colder than a polar bear’s toenail.

I’m talking cold even in places that are usually somewhat warm year round. I think I spend more time in the shower just trying to warm my bones and revive myself for the work day than I do worried about reaching for the Veet and doing some body lawn mowing. I’m rocking sweaters and jeans for the next few months, so I’ve decided to go on a shaving hiatus for the winter. I’m talking the whole nine yards. No razors on me, no more small nicks and cuts under my arms, just a trim in certain places, and I’ve heard many women say they opt out of the big shave during this time, too. So it so wrong of me? I guess it depends on who you ask.

I’m not trying to go for the Mo’Nique look or anything (though last I checked, she made a big leap and shaved), I’m just hoping to keep my legs from being any colder than they need to be as the temps hit 30 and lower. Not only can a good pair of thermals keep your limbs toasty, but so can a nice layer of womanly hair. And seriously, unless you’re talking about busting out some skirts (which I’m not–at least not without tights), going hairy for a month or two can’t really be that gross.

But there are negatives to doing such a thing also it seems. Some men don’t seem to be fans of Chewbacca chicks (go figure). I noticed when the question was asked on an answers site, a guy tried to claim there was nothing nastier than a woman with hairy legs. Really? NOTHING WORSE? It has always boggled my mind how a chick with a little bit of hair here and there can catch the ire and disgust of a guy whose pubic hair can resemble a wooly coat of fur for the nether regions. But as a single chick at the moment, I’m not too worried about any sort of backlash or reaction to it by a guy. If I have one coming to see me at house soon, the BIC will come out to play.

But on top of some negative manly attention, word on the streets is that shaving is supposed to help exfoliate dry skin that’s ever-present during the winter. If your legs are covered in hair, no matter what you put on your legs early in the day while you’re in get-ready-mode, they will probably feel and appear a bit more scale-y and look like they were dipped in powder after a few hours. And, as a friend of mine pointed out, a lot of hair can trap in heat, and heat can cause you to sweat, and sweating can of course, create must (or mustation as I would like to call it). I like to pride myself on smelling like a ray of sunshine thanks to my love for lightly scented baby powders and statement making perfumes, but it makes sense that the hairier, the funkier you could wind up. I can’t go for all that now…

I seem to struggle to get out of the house (and do so on time) more when it’s colder outside than when it’s warm, so despite the negatives associated with a hairy chick, I think I’ll let my hair grow for a few weeks instead of months, and if the mood strikes me, maybe I’ll shave sooner than later. But if I don’t? Well, I’ll just double up on the baby powder. Who’s with me!? Nobody? Awww man…

Do you often ditch shaving in the winter? Anything wrong with that? What do the fellas have to say?

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As a child, I remember the joys of dumping out my stocking on Christmas morning to find fun trinkets from Santa. While it was nice to find any and every little thing at the bottom of them, when a chick dumps out her stocking today, she needs to find something she can use. Looking for small gifts to give friends, daughters, secret-Santa coworkers, and a boyfriend (or last minute gifts to ask others to get you)?  Here are a few of my beauty must-haves for the holidays.

Yorokobi Super Orgasm (Sephora, $39)

Ladies! If you have never tried Orgasm (blush, get your mind out of the gutter) by Nars, you will want to pick up this awesome set. The super shimmery, peach shade looks great on all skin tones. It is a staple in my own makeup bag and this holiday kit is a great way to introduce yourself or loved ones to new cosmetic lines. For the price of one blush you will also get a nail polish and a lipgloss! The perfect set for the chick who stays reapplying her look on the go. It doesn’t get much better than this.

You know how men’s cologne seems to last all day but as soon as you leave the house, the smell of your perfume has already died? Biologists are paying attention, and there may possibly be a solution on the way—swallowable perfume.

Yes, popping perfume pills may soon be a way to keep that fresh smell all throughout the day. According to Netherlands artist Lucy McRae and synthetic biologist Sheref Mansy — who are developing the idea:

Swallowable Parfume is essentially a capsule containing synthetic fragrant lipid molecules that mimic the structure of the fat molecules naturally found in the body. When those lipids get metabolized by the body’s enzymes, fragrant molecules are released and excreted through the skin’s surface through perspiration. The strength of the resulting scent is determined by the individual’s acclimatization to temperature, stress, exercise, or sexual arousal.

I’ll take that over the smell that usually results from sweating. But according to scientists, as cool as this sounds, the pill may not truly be effective. If this idea does ever make it’s to way to shelves, though, would you even try it? It seems a little out there to me. How about you?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Hot songstress Rihanna revealed her new second fragrance called “Rebelle.”

Here is what our favorite bad girl had to say about her new scent:

“My new fragrance is about taking control but still being a lady. There’s a feminine, romantic element to the fragrance — but there’s also a defiant quality in it.  I love its duality.”

 I think we’re going to love this one too, even if it makes us a “Rebelle.”

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As a self-proclaimed perfume fiend, I think I know a thing or two about what kind of smell goods actually smell good. I think my experiences from stalking the perfume counters at Macy’s and other big name department stores have given me “the nose.” That and the fact that every Mother’s Day my mom has received yet another perfume that I find myself sniffing out helps too. Know that one perfume in a woman’s arsenal is never enough, and collecting scents when you can will help you move from day and night, and work to play smelling and feeling like a whole new person everyday. Here are a few recommendations of some very popular fragrances that you’re sure to fall in love with.

*Note, these perfumes shouldn’t be piled on all in one day, hence the day by day breakdown of appropriate smellies…just in case you were wondering.

Good thing he has the money (we think). Prince has been ordered to cough up $3.95 million to Revelations Perfume and Cosmetics Inc. for hobbling its efforts to market a perfume after it had already liscened Prince’s name and and likeness and the album title “3121″ in 2006. The perfume launched in 2007 but Prince did not cooperate with the agreed-upon business deal and broke promises to help with promotions, said the company. Obviously, Prince’s litigation team are appealing the verdict.