‘ANG bango-bango! Amoy artista talaga!”
I would always hear that from a fan or two after posing in a selfie with their favorite celebrity. Besides the good looks and, hopefully, their gracious attitude, the scent of a star is one thing that always makes a mark. So it’s no wonder that stars make it a point to not only look good but also smell great.
Smelling good, I guess, is expected of a celebrity. Even if they have sweated it out after an hour-long motorcade in the sweltering sun, fans still expect their idols to not shed a sweat, much more have funky body odor.
That’s why I know a lot of artistas who really make it a point to smell good. One TV host orders a 100 ml bottle of his favorite cologne every week from his favorite suki. His suki now actually drives a brand-new SUV, no doubt earned from the weekly bulk orders of the TV host. I also know one who really invests in her fragrance and goes to France at least once a year and hoards her favorite bottles from a quaint store just outside of Paris, as she once told me. And then one time, I actually got the shock of my life when I was sharing a dressing room with a male starlet who suddenly barked to his driver and his PA, “Oh eto!” and handed them two perfume bottles and they sprayed him all over. He was bathing in the perfume as sprayed by his two alalays. It was like a scene from a bad soap opera. I wanted to scream, “Hoy, hindi ka sikat!”
From these three, I can “safely” assume that the perfume industry is really thriving. Part of people’s fascination with celebrities is their smell. Many stars have capitalized on this and even came out with their own fragrances. From Britney to Béyonce, they sell their signature scents to fans and the gaggle always seem to buy in with gusto.
Honestly, I want my idols to smell good when I see them. It adds to their appeal. I like them smelling fragrant and in fact, it has happened a lot of times that I remember a certain artista and how he or she smells good. The opposite can also happen, and I have blacklisted many of them for smelling yucky. I remember this bold star back in the early-2000s who was so beautiful and sexy, and she successfully reinvented herself to become a respected drama actress—but oh, how she smelled bad. As in she smelled like rotten food!
Maybe she should have been invited to the launch of Aura Mugler by famed fashion designer and icon Thierry Mugler, so she could have at least a clue or two on what smells good. Aura Mugler is the latest Mugler fragrance that, according to the web site, invites you to listen to your instinct, reconnect with your inner nature, and unleash all your femininity and, yes, your aura. By blending botanical freshness with feline sensuality, the fragrance releases vibrant notes with an assertive personality.
Aura Mugler Eau de Parfum comes to life in an iconic bottle shaped like a universal symbol: the heart—the very source of life and the realm of the emotions. This Mugler creation is adorned with the brand’s metallic M. The spray bottle may be refilled with Refill Bottles and is already available in the Metro in your favorite fragrance shops and department stores.
Back to the launch of Aura Mugler: it was graced by various influencers and celebrities namely Bianca King, Carla Humphries, Antoinette Taus, Issa Litton, Tim Yap, Fabio Ide and Franco Laurel, among others. And, yes, they actually smell good already in person but I’m pretty sure they would smell even more alluring when they spritz on Aura Mugler.
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OPM hitmaker Ogie Alcasid marks his 30th anniversary in the industry with one of the biggest musical events this year—his concert, dubbed OA: Ogie Alcasid 30th Anniversary with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, happening on August 24 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Ogie is all set to give an all-out performance as he sings to the music to be played by no less than the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, the ensemble he first collaborated with in 2017 for his OPM tribute album Nakakalokal.
Joining the Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids judge in this musical milestone are Vice Ganda and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.
Also featured in the OPM icon’s much-awaited show are Rey Valera, Michael V, Janno Gibbs, Yeng Constantino, Moira de la Torre, Leila Alcasid, Sarah Alcasid, Nate Alcasid, Ban Sot Mee and the Hotlegs.
The OA concert is staged by Star Events, ABS-CBN Events and the A-Team. Tickets are available at www.ticketnet.com.ph and priced at P5,075 (VVIP with free Nakakalokal album), P3,710 (VIP), P3,180 (Patron A), P2,650 (Patron B), P1,590 (Lower Box), P745 (Upper Box) and P425 (General Admission).
Call 911-5555 for inquiries.