Perfume

Usher's new scents make you wanna...

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Usher

Photo courtesy of Clifford-Bratskeir

Usher introduces two new fragrances for men and women.

As a five-time Grammy winner and star of the big screen and Broadway stage, Usher is a man who believes in dressing well and smelling good. Just in time for the holidays, Usher Raymond IV recently unveiled his new fragrance, UR for men and women, available at Macy's.

En route to his next destination after a sold-out show in San Francisco, the 30-year-old heartthrob took time to discuss his olfactory ventures as well as his music and family traditions. Here are some excerpts:

Describe your new scent. What did you have in mind when you created it?

Outgoing. Dazzling, unforgettable. It's perfect for a date, a job interview or a special evening out. Fragrance speaks to our personalities. We want to be outgoing, we want to be sexy, we want to have sex appeal. For the men, I wanted the scent to be masculine, and at the same time very confident and fresh. For the women, I wanted it to be outgoing.

What scents do you find comforting?

I honestly try to find inspiration for the places I've been and the things that I've smelled, things that mean something personally, while at the same time being cognizant of the consumer. The one thing that I think makes a woman very attractive or very desirable is an edible scent, like peach nectar or red currant. Those are the scents that I play with.

How important is it for you, as an entertainer, to wear the right scent?

It means everything. Having on the right scent can mean the beginning of the greatest experience that you'll every have in your life, or the one experience that you won't forget. You've got to have the right tools.

You and your wife, Tameka, are expecting your second child. Congratulations! How do you and your family plan to spend the holidays?

For me, being with family is what the holidays are all about, cherishing the time that you have with your family and the moments that you have together. Thanksgiving has always been a big festival for my entire family. I have family that comes from far and wide, from as far as California, D.C., Florida, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Houston. We come together to eat some good food, enjoy ourselves and take pictures.

Who are your favorite clothing designers?

I really enjoy and find inspiration from Tom Ford, Giorgio Armani, Roberto Cavalli and Marc Jacobs. All of these guys have a unique style and know how to dress men well.

Who were you wearing when you performed recently at the Warfield in San Francisco?

Yeah, during the entire show, I was dressed by Dean and Dan Caten of D-Squared. Ah, it was such a pleasure to perform in San Francisco. I was there with family and friends. I really enjoyed myself. So many great, legendary artists have played at the Warfield, so I saw it as an honor to perform there. I'll be in the studio working on a new album at the beginning of the year. And I'll be back to the Bay soon!

What does the election of the first black president of the United States mean to you?

Oh, it means progress for us as minorities, as African Americans. I was in D.C. -- the official new home of Obama and his family, when I got the great news.

Any plans to perform at Barack Obama's inauguration?

I haven't spoken officially about it, but in the event that I'm invited to perform, I'd love to!

-- Interview by Shelah Moody, Chronicle Staff

Posted By: Amy Moon (Email) | November 24 2008 at 04:10 PM

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Paris and Fairies

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Courtesy of Parlux

Late last week, a present sat waiting at my desk in the morning, seemingly delivered by elves: a bottle of Paris Hilton's new perfume (her fifth, if you're counting) called Fairy Dust on top of a laminated publicity folder. The folder showed Paris in a gold bandeau top, small piece of teal fabric serving as a skirt and ribbons laced up her legs. The perfume bottle itself is a little more demure. No Gaultier-style womanly curves, it strikes an appropriately young note with a crystal etching of a Tinkerbell princess.

The box sat on my desk for the remainder of the week and well into today, until I remembered that this Monday was the day that Paris would land at Macy's for a noon in-store appearance. (By "remember," I mean got an e-mail from our in-house fashionista Sylvia Rubin informing me that The Chronicle had time reserved to talk to Paris, something I didn't think was part of the deal.) Let's just say that I didn't spend so much time prepping for this interview. A few squirts of Fairy Dust and my notebook, recorder and I were off to meet the lady herself.

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Posted By: Reyhan Harmanci (Email) | November 10 2008 at 01:59 PM

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